What happened in January 1990?
The top front-page story of each day in January 1990, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Jan 1🚀 Satellites Launched Successfully – A Titan 3 rocket launched British and Japanese communications satellites after nine delays, marking a significant step for commercial space ventures.
- Jan 2🌍 10,000 Rally for Democracy – About 10,000 people staged a peaceful demonstration in Hong Kong today in support of democracy in China.
- Jan 3🌋 Volcano Erupts Again – Redoubt Volcano erupted today, marking its largest outburst since reawakening from a 25-year dormancy in December.
- Jan 4🌋 Alaskan Volcano Erupts – Redoubt Volcano quieted down after a violent outburst that sent ash and steam eight miles into the sky, disrupting airline flights.
- Jan 5🚀 Countdown for Shuttle – The space agency began the countdown for the launch of the space shuttle Columbia on a 10-day satellite rescue mission.
- Jan 6🛳️ 71 Ships Use Suez Canal – Seventy-one ships sailed through the Suez Canal today, the highest number in 12 years, earning Egypt $6 million in tolls.
- Jan 7🚀 Space Shuttle Launch – The space shuttle Columbia is set to launch on a mission to retrieve a satellite that is falling out of orbit, marking a significant post-Challenger mission.
- Jan 8🎨 Rousseau Landscape Stolen – A painting by 19th-century artist Theodore Rousseau was stolen from a museum in the Russian Republic, reported by Pravda.
- Jan 9🌋 Reawakened Volcano Erupts – Redoubt Volcano in Alaska erupts, sending an ash plume over eight miles high, marking its largest eruption since reawakening last month.
- Jan 10🚀 Shuttle in Orbit – Five astronauts aboard the space shuttle Columbia rocketed into orbit today on a mission to deploy and retrieve satellites.
- Jan 11🌍 Lithuanians Cry 'Freedom!' – Tens of thousands of Lithuanians gathered, chanting for independence as they prepared for Gorbachev's visit, signaling a push for freedom.
- Jan 12🔭 Giant Galaxy Discovery – Astronomers confirmed one of the largest concentrations of galaxies ever found, potentially changing views on the universe's structure.
- Jan 13🔭 X-Ray Glow Discovery – Astronomers revealed that mysterious X-ray radiation in the universe comes from distant galaxies birthing new stars.
- Jan 14🤝 P.L.O. Backs Peace Talks – Leftist rebels accept a government proposal for mediation in El Salvador, indicating progress towards peace.
- Jan 15🌍 Two Auto Makers Agree – General Motors and Suzuki will establish production plants in Hungary, marking a significant investment in Eastern Europe.
- Jan 16🎨 Duchamp Painting Slashed – A Marcel Duchamp painting at the Museum of Modern Art was slashed, confirmed museum officials yesterday.
- Jan 17🔬 Rostropovich Regains Citizenship – Cellist Mstislav Rostropovich and soprano Galina Vishnevskaya have had their Soviet citizenship restored after 12 years.
- Jan 18🌾 Soviet Wheat Purchase – The Soviet Union bought 525,000 metric tons of U.S. wheat under a long-term grain supply agreement, boosting agricultural trade.
- Jan 19🌍 Czech-Vatican Ties Restored – Czechoslovakia's government decided to restore full diplomatic relations with the Vatican after a break of over 40 years.
- Jan 20🌍 Gorbachev's Environmental Call – President Mikhail S. Gorbachev urged for an international program to save the global environment.
- Jan 21🚀 Shuttle Columbia Lands – The space shuttle Columbia landed safely, concluding the longest and most successful rescue mission in shuttle history.
- Jan 22💻 Sun Leads Work Stations – Sun Microsystems Inc. leads the global market in workstations with a 28.7% share, up from 27% in 1988, according to Dataquest.
- Jan 23🌍 Yugoslav Communists Vote – The Yugoslav Communist Party voted to end its 45-year monopoly on power, allowing for a new political system with competing parties.
- Jan 24🌍 Japan Parliament Dissolved – Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu dissolved the lower house of Parliament, setting national elections for Feb. 18, with the ruling party expected to lose seats.
- Jan 25🚀 Japan Launches Moon Rocket – Japan became the third nation to launch an unmanned rocket to the Moon, marking a significant milestone in its space exploration efforts.
- Jan 26✈️ Colombian Jetliner Crash – A Colombian jetliner crashed in heavy fog near New York, killing at least 9 of the 149 people aboard.
- Jan 27✈️ Avianca Flight 52 Crash – Avianca Flight 52 crashed near New York, killing 72 and injuring many, raising concerns about aviation safety.
- Jan 28🏛️ Berlin Wall Crumbles – The Berlin Wall, once a symbol of division, shows signs of deterioration, reflecting the collapse of Communist faith.
- Jan 29🏆 49ers Win Super Bowl – The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Denver Broncos 55-10 in Super Bowl XXIV, solidifying their status as a dominant NFL franchise.
- Jan 30🔬 Optimism for Heart Transplants – New theories on newborn immune systems bring hope to surgeons treating infants with severe heart defects.
- Jan 31🌍 New Oil Find in Sahara – Algerian agency Sonatrach and Italian AGIP confirm a promising oil discovery at 12,000 feet in the Sahara, enhancing regional energy prospects.
Happy Birthday! 1990 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1990 in real headlines. See the 1990 book →
Born in January? Pick the day
Every birthday in January has its own On This Day in Headlines book: