Today in History

Felix Baumgartner breaks the world record for highest manned balloon flight, highest parachute jump, and greatest free-fall velocity, parachuting from an altitude of approximately 24 miles (39km).

Eric Robert Rudolph charged with the 1996 bombing during the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia; It was one of several bombing incidents Rudolph carried out to protest legalized abortion in the US.

Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Israel’s Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres for establishing the Oslo Accords and preparing for Palestinian Self Government.

Prime Minister of Grenada Maurice Bishop overthrown and later executed by a military coup.

Usher (Usher Raymond IV), singer; among the top-selling artists in music history and multiple Grammy winner (“Nice & Slow,” “OMG”).

Natalie Maines, singer, songwriter, activist; lead vocalist of the Dixie Chicks, the top-selling all-female band and country group since Nielsen SoundScan tracking began in 1991; Maines’ comments against the coming US invasion of Iraq in 2003 led to radio boycotts that virtually ended the group’s career for several years.

The British 50-pence coin enters the UK’s currency, the first step toward covering to a decimal system, which was planned for 1971.

Jim Hines, USA, breaks the “ten-second barrier” in the 100-meter sprint at the Olympics in Mexico City; his time was 9.95.

Montreal, Quebec, Canada, opens its underground Montreal Metro rapid-transit system.

Rev. Martin Luther King is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for advocating a policy of non-violence.

Cuban Missile Crisis begins; USAF U-2 reconnaissance pilot photographs Cubans installing Soviet-made missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

Mordechai Vanunu, Israeli nuclear technician who provided details of Israel’s nuclear weapons program to the British press in 1986, citing his opposition to weapons of mass destruction.

Chinese Communist Forces begin to infiltrate the North Korean Army.

Test pilot Chuck Yeager breaks the sound barrier aboard a Bell X-1 rocket plane.