What Happened on July 20

Space Desk

1976 — Viking 1 Lands on Mars, Sends First Photos

After an 11-month voyage, the NASA spacecraft touches down on the red planet — a milestone in the quest to find life beyond Earth.

PASADENA, July 20 — In the annals of space exploration, a new chapter opened today as the Viking 1 lander became the first spacecraft to successfully touch down on Mars and begin its mission. The craft, launched in August 1975 as part of a NASA program pairing an orbiter with a lander, settled onto the rusty plains of the red planet after an 11-month journey.

Scientists at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory erupted in applause as confirmation signals reached Earth. The lander's cameras are already scanning the surface, beaming back the first close-up images of Martian terrain. The $1 billion project aims to detect signs of life in the soil.

Viking 1's success follows years of Soviet attempts, several of which ended in failure. The lander's instruments will sample the atmosphere and test for organic compounds, while the orbiter photographs the planet from above.

The Viking program, which includes a second lander scheduled to arrive later this summer, is expected to continue operating for several years. The mission officially ended in May 1983 after both landers had ceased functioning, having far exceeded their designed lifetimes.

• Viking 1 landed on Mars in July 1976, becoming the first successful, functioning Mars lander.
• Viking 1 was launched in August 1975 as part of a NASA program that included an orbiter and a lander.
• The Viking program mission ended in May 1983 after both landers had stopped working.

Moon Watch

1969 — Armstrong, Aldrin Walk on Moon

Apollo 11 astronauts take first steps on the lunar surface, watched by an estimated 530 million viewers.

HOUSTON, July 20 — Neil Armstrong stepped onto the Moon's surface and declared, "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind," as an estimated 530 million viewers watched live on television.

Armstrong, commander of Apollo 11, descended from the Lunar Module Eagle onto the Sea of Tranquillity, followed nineteen minutes later by Buzz Aldrin, who set foot at 03:15:16 on July 21, 1969 (UTC). The two spent two and a half hours outside the craft, collecting rocks and planting the American flag.

Aldrin, an elder of his church, privately took communion on the lunar surface, the first religious ceremony on the Moon. He also performed the Boot Print Soil Mechanics Experiment, making two bootprints that were photographed before liftoff.

The astronauts are scheduled to return to Earth later this week, splashing down in the Pacific.

• Buzz Aldrin set foot on the Moon at 03:15:16 on July 21, 1969 (UTC), nineteen minutes after Neil Armstrong.
• Armstrong's first words on the lunar surface were: 'That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.'
• Armstrong and Aldrin spent two and a half hours outside the Lunar Module Eagle on July 21, 1969.
• The moonwalk was broadcast live to an estimated 530 million viewers worldwide.
• Aldrin became the first person to hold a religious ceremony on the Moon, privately taking communion.

Balkans Beat

1917 — Serbs, Croats, Slovenes Agree on Union

Exile government signs declaration on Corfu to create a unified South Slav state.

CORFU, July 20 — Serbian Prime Minister Nikola Pašić and Yugoslav Committee president Ante Trumbić signed the Corfu Declaration today, agreeing to seek the establishment of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. The declaration followed the Serbian army’s retreat through Albania after Bulgarian forces cut it off.

• The Corfu Declaration was signed by the Serbian government in exile on the Greek island of Corfu.
• Serbian Prime Minister Nikola Pašić led the government in exile that signed the declaration.
• The declaration paved the way for the creation of the future South Slav state of Yugoslavia.
• The signing followed the Serbian army's retreat through Albania after being cut off by Bulgarian forces.

Flood Report

1977 — Six Dams Fail, Flood Johnstown; 84 Dead

Stalled storm dumps nearly 12 inches of rain in 24 hours, killing at least 84.

JOHNSTOWN, Pa., July 20 — A stalled thunderstorm dumped nearly 12 inches of rain in 24 hours, causing six dams in the Conemaugh Valley to overtop and fail, flooding this city and killing at least 84 people.

• Nearly 12 inches of rain fell in 24 hours when a thunderstorm stalled over the Johnstown area on July 19, 1977.
• Six dams in the Conemaugh Valley overtopped and failed, with the largest, Laurel Run Dam, releasing over 101 million US gallons of water.
• The Laurel Run Dam failure unleashed water that poured through the village of Tanneryville, killing 41 people.
• Well over 128 million US gallons of water from the dams alone poured down the valley, inundating Johnstown with six feet of water.
• Ron Shawley, executive director of Laurel Highland's Historical Village, said on July 20: "It was like somebody dropped an atomic bomb on Johnstown."

Sports Desk

1968 — 1,000 Athletes Open Special Olympics at Soldier Field

Eunice Shriver leads first games for the intellectually disabled in Chicago.

CHICAGO, July 20 — A thousand athletes from 26 states, Canada and France marched into Soldier Field this morning for the opening of the first Special Olympics.

Eunice Shriver, founder of the games, gave the athlete's oath: "Let me win. But if I can not win, let me be brave in the attempt."

The competitors, all with intellectual disabilities, will race in track and swimming events. The Chicago Park District and the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation are co-sponsors.

Most events are at Soldier Field; smaller indoor contests will be held at the Conrad Hilton Hotel.

• 1,000 athletes from 26 U.S. states, Canada, and France competed in track and swimming.
• Founder Eunice Shriver introduced the athlete's oath at the opening ceremony: 'Let me win. But if I can not win, let me be brave in the attempt.'
• The event was co-sponsored by the Chicago Park District and the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation.
• Most of the event was held at Soldier Field, while smaller indoor aspects were held at the Conrad Hilton Hotel.

Foreign Desk

1951 — Abdullah of Jordan Slain by Assassin in Jerusalem

Assassin fired three shots into King's head and chest during Friday prayers.

JERUSALEM, July 20 — King Abdullah of Jordan was assassinated at the entrance to the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Mustafa Shukri Ashu, a tailor's apprentice linked to a nationalist group, fired three shots into the King's head and chest during Friday prayers. Guards shot the assassin dead immediately after the attack. The plot also implicated Colonel Abdullah at-Tell and members of the Husseini family, with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. Abdullah's grandson Prince Hussein survived when a medal deflected a bullet.

• King Abdullah I of Jordan was assassinated on 20 July 1951 at the entrance of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
• The assassin, Mustafa Shukri Ashu, was a Palestinian tailor's apprentice linked to a nationalist group seeking an independent Palestinian state.
• Abdullah was shot three times in the head and chest during Friday prayers; his grandson Prince Hussein survived when a medal deflected a bullet.
• Assassin Mustafa Shukri Ashu was shot dead by King Abdullah's guards immediately after the attack.
• The assassination plot implicated Colonel Abdullah at-Tell and members of the Husseini family, and was linked to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Nautical Beat

1997 — Old Ironsides Sails Again After 116 Years

USS Constitution, world's oldest commissioned warship, cruises for her 200th birthday.

BOSTON, July 20 — The United States Navy's oldest frigate, USS Constitution, took to the sea under her own power for the first time in 116 years, celebrating her 200th birthday.

Launched in 1797, the 204-foot ship, with a hull 21 inches thick, is the world's oldest commissioned warship still afloat.

• USS Constitution sailed under her own power for her 200th birthday in 1997.
• Constitution is the world's oldest commissioned warship still afloat.
• The frigate was launched in 1797 and is one of six original frigates authorized by the Naval Act of 1794.
• Constitution's hull was built 21 inches thick and her length overall was 204 feet.
• Her crew consists of 75 active-duty Navy officers and sailors.

Patents & Inventions

1807 — Niépce Brothers Patent First Internal Combustion Engine

French inventors receive imperial grant for Pyréolophore boat motor.

PARIS, July 20 — Claude and Nicéphore Niépce have obtained from Emperor Napoleon a patent for their Pyréolophore, the world's first internal combustion boat motor. Tested successfully on the River Saône, the engine burns a mixture of coal dust and lycopodium powder.

• The Pyréolophore, invented by the Niépce brothers, was the world's first internal combustion boat motor.
• The Niépce brothers successfully tested the Pyréolophore on the River Saône.
• Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte granted the Niépce brothers a patent for their internal combustion engine in 1807.
• The initial Pyréolophore engine used a fuel mixture of coal dust and lycopodium powder.

From the North West Frontier

1793 — Mackenzie Reaches Pacific, First Across Continent

Scots explorer completes the first recorded crossing of North America north of Mexico.

BELLA COOLA, July 20 — Alexander Mackenzie, the Scottish explorer, today beheld the Pacific Ocean, having led his party overland from the Atlantic seaboard, the first man to cross the continent north of Mexico. He arrived at this trading post on North Bentinck Arm, guided by Nuxalk and Carrier people along the 420 km Grease Trail. His company included his cousin Alexander MacKay, six Canadian voyageurs, two native guides, and a dog. Mackenzie's feat precedes the American expedition of Lewis and Clark by twelve years. He is expected to mark his triumph by writing a message on a rock near Dean Channel before returning east.

• Mackenzie reached the Pacific coast on July 20, 1793, at Bella Coola, British Columbia, on North Bentinck Arm.
• He completed the first recorded transcontinental crossing of North America north of Mexico, 12 years before Lewis and Clark.
• Mackenzie wrote a message on a rock near Dean Channel using vermilion and bear grease, dated July 22, 1793.
• He was guided by Nuxalk and Carrier people along the 420 km Alexander MacKenzie Heritage Trail, also called the Grease Trail.
• Mackenzie's party included his cousin Alexander MacKay, six Canadian voyageurs, two native guides, and a dog.

Pacific Fleet Desk

1950 — UN Air Power Wipes Out Most of Red Air Force

Allied headquarters announces the North Korean air force has been largely destroyed in a month-long campaign, with the first naval jet kill logged on July 3.

TOKYO, July 20 — United Nations air power has destroyed much of the North Korean air force after a month-long campaign, Allied headquarters announced today. The enemy's once-formidable squadrons have been driven from the skies, their bases pounded and their aircraft claimed in scores of aerial combats. On July 3, a fighter pilot from the carrier USS Valley Forge scored the first kill by a naval jet, shooting down a Korean People's Air Force Yak-9P. Since then, UN pilots have met dwindling opposition. Soviet reports indicate the Red air arm is no longer operating effectively.

• On July 3, 1950, VF-51 from USS Valley Forge claimed the first kill by a naval jet, shooting down a KPAF Yak-9P.
• Soviet sources reported the KPAF was no longer operating after August 10 and was wiped out by a US Navy strike on August 22.