What happened in October 1990?
The top front-page story of each day in October 1990, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Oct 1🎭 Dance Biennial Begins – The International Dance Biennial in Lyons features American and French choreographers, exploring a century of American dance.
- Oct 2🌍 Unity of Germany – The two Germanys began their final countdown to unity, set to occur at midnight, marking the end of East and West Germany.
- Oct 3🇩🇪 Germany Reunites – Germany was officially reunited today after 45 years of division, celebrated with bells and hymns across the nation.
- Oct 4✈️ Singapore Air Boeing Deal – Singapore Airlines signed a contract with Boeing for up to 30 jumbo jets worth $5.5 billion, completing a deal first announced in January.
- Oct 5🔬 Hubble Telescope Images – The Hubble Space Telescope sends valuable images of Saturn and Pluto, aiding astronomical research despite a defective mirror.
- Oct 6🌪️ Hurricane Klaus Forms – Tropical Storm Klaus strengthened into a hurricane off Antigua, causing six deaths and flooding in Martinique.
- Oct 7🚀 NASA's Shuttle Launch – NASA's shuttle Discovery successfully launched, ending a five-month hiatus and deploying the Ulysses spacecraft to explore the Sun's polar regions.
- Oct 8🌍 Soviets Return Isles – The Soviet Union offered to return two of four disputed islands to Japan, potentially improving bilateral relations.
- Oct 9🌄 Himalayas' Rise Explained – New research reveals the Himalayas are still growing, overturning previous theories about mountain formation.
- Oct 10🚀 Shuttle Discovery Returns – The space shuttle Discovery prepares for its return to Earth after a successful four-day mission, hailed as one of the smoothest flights ever.
- Oct 11🚀 Space Shuttle Lands – The space shuttle Discovery made a flawless landing, concluding a four-day mission that boosted morale at NASA.
- Oct 12🌍 Ozone Hole Reopens – A significant hole in the ozone layer has reopened over Antarctica, with depletion levels nearing those of the worst years recorded in the late 1980s.
- Oct 13🌍 World Bank Loan to Iran – The World Bank is expected to lend up to $300 million to Iran, marking its first loan since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
- Oct 14🏅 Koreas Unify Olympic Teams – North and South Korea agree to field a unified team for the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona and other international sports events.
- Oct 15🌾 China Opens Grain Market – China opened a national wheat market to replace central allocation, marking a significant step in its economic reforms.
- Oct 16🌍 Iceberg Reveals Currents – An iceberg the size of Long Island has provided scientists with valuable data on polar ocean currents during its journey.
- Oct 17🌌 Gargantuan Saturn Storm – A storm wider than Earth has formed in Saturn's atmosphere, with astronomers planning to observe it using the Hubble Space Telescope.
- Oct 18🏭 Alaska Is Top Oil State – Alaska surpassed Texas as the leading U.S. oil producer, reaching over two million barrels daily, marking a significant recovery in production.
- Oct 19🔬 Dark Streaks on Triton – Scientists analyze Voyager 2 data, revealing mysterious dark streaks on Neptune's moon Triton, sparking curiosity in planetary science.
- Oct 20📈 Gorbachev's Economic Plan – President Mikhail S. Gorbachev won parliamentary approval for his plan to transition the Soviet Union from a Communist to a market economy.
- Oct 21💖 New Heart Machine Test – A new heart device saved a woman's life by pumping oxygenated blood for 15 hours while doctors stabilized her heart.
- Oct 22🕌 Hong Kong's Giant Buddha – The world's largest outdoor bronze Buddha sits serenely on Lantau Island, symbolizing peace and spirituality amid Hong Kong's bustling environment.
- Oct 23🔭 Biggest Telescope – Technicians at the W. M. Keck Observatory began installing mirrors in the world's largest astronomical telescope in Hawaii.
- Oct 24⚽ Koreas Compete in Soccer – The two Koreas faced off in a soccer match dedicated to friendship, attracting the largest crowd since the 1988 Olympics.
- Oct 25🏗️ Rangers New Ballpark – The Texas Rangers announced an agreement to build a new ballpark, ending speculation about relocating to downtown Dallas.
- Oct 26🩺 Historic Lung Transplant – Doctors at Stanford University performed a groundbreaking lung transplant from a mother to her 12-year-old daughter, offering hope for severe lung diseases.
- Oct 27🔬 NASA Weighs Telescope Repair – NASA considers proposals for a repair mission to fix the Hubble Space Telescope's blurred vision, responding to astronomers' pressure.
- Oct 28🏇 Breeders' Cup Tragedy – Two horses, Go for Wand and Mr. Nickerson, died during the Breeders' Cup races at Belmont Park, marking a tragic day in horse racing.
- Oct 29🏨 Hilton Hotel Demolished – The Parkview Hilton was demolished in Hartford due to lack of buyers, with 10,000 spectators watching the implosion.
- Oct 30🔬 New Medical Research Tool – Scientists have created lab mice with human organs to study human diseases, marking a significant advancement in medical research.
- Oct 31🚀 Communications Satellite Up – A Delta rocket successfully launched a satellite to enhance international communication services on various vehicles.
Happy Birthday! 1990 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1990 in real headlines. See the 1990 book →
Born in October? Pick the day
Every birthday in October has its own On This Day in Headlines book: