Mars Observer September 25, 1992 The $813 million spacecraft is launched. NASA lost contact with it three days before it was scheduled to arrive at Mars in August of 1993. The most probable cause of the failure was a rupture of the fuel pressurization side of the spacecraft's propulsion system causing the spacecraft to...

Little Rock Crisis September 24, 1957 U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower orders federal troops to enforce the court order allowing blacks to enter Central High School in Little Rock. Three weeks earlier, Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus had ordered the Arkansas National Guard to prevent nine blacks from entering all-whi...

Nixon's Checkers Speech September 23, 1952 Vice-Presidential candidate Richard Nixon gives his famous speech explaining an $18,000 campaign fund he was accused of using for personal expenses. He claimed the only personal gift he received was a cocker spaniel puppy named Checkers (1952-64) - which he refused to give up....

Jimi Hendrix Chokes to Death on His Own Vomit September 18, 1970 Jimi Hendrix's girlfriend awakes at 11 a.m. to find him unresponsive, but still breathing. She called an ambulance and he was pronounced dead at the hospital at 12:45 p.m. The coroner would rule that the legendary singer had aspirated his own vomit and di...

M*A*S*H September 17, 1972 The TV show M*A*S*H premieres. It was almost canceled due to poor initial ratings. However, it grew in popularity and the series finale was the most watched single U.S. TV episode in history up to that point, seen by 125 million viewers. The Hawkeye Pierce character was based on the experienc...