Major Events of March 1982: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from March 1982 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of March 1982: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Mar 1982 Venera 14 Spacecraft Lands on Venus: The Soviet spacecraft Venera 14 successfully landed on Venus, transmitting valuable scientific data about the planet's harsh surface conditions. This mission was part of the Soviet Union's extensive Venus exploration program, providing unprecedented insights into the planet's geology and atmospheric composition.
02 Mar 1982 Shining Path Prison Break in Peru: The Peruvian terrorist group 'Shining Path' (Sendero Luminoso) conducted a significant prison break, freeing 260 prisoners. This event highlighted the group's operational capabilities and the political instability in Peru during the early 1980s.
03 Mar 1982 US Senate Debates Senator Harrison Williams' Expulsion: The United States Senate commenced formal proceedings to debate the potential expulsion of Senator Harrison Williams, a Democrat from New Jersey, amid ongoing investigations related to political corruption and the Abscam scandal.
04 Mar 1982 Bertha Wilson: First Woman on Canada's Supreme Court: Bertha Wilson made history by becoming the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada, a groundbreaking moment for gender equality in the Canadian judicial system. Her appointment represented a significant step forward in recognizing women's capabilities in high-level legal and judicial roles.
05 Mar 1982 Soviet Venera 14 Mission to Venus: The Soviet space probe Venera 14 successfully landed on the surface of Venus, continuing the Soviet Union's groundbreaking planetary exploration program. This mission provided critical scientific data about the harsh Venusian environment, characterized by extreme temperatures and high atmospheric pressure.
06 Mar 1982 Death of Ayn Rand: Ayn Rand, the influential Russian-born author and philosopher known for seminal works like 'The Fountainhead' and 'Atlas Shrugged', passed away in New York City at the age of 77. A key figure in Objectivist philosophy, her writings significantly influenced libertarian and conservative thought in the 20th century.
07 Mar 1982 NCAA Tournament Selection First Live TV Broadcast: The NCAA Tournament Selection was televised live for the first time, marking a significant milestone in sports broadcasting and increasing public engagement with college basketball.
08 Mar 1982 US Embargo on Libyan Petroleum: The United States imposes a strategic economic embargo on Libyan petroleum imports, citing Libya's alleged support of terrorist organizations, marking a significant geopolitical action during the Cold War era.
09 Mar 1982 US Embargo on Libyan Oil Imports: The United States government imposed a comprehensive embargo on Libyan oil imports, citing concerns over Libya's alleged support for international terrorist organizations. This action was part of the broader geopolitical tensions during the Cold War era.
10 Mar 1982 John Belushi's Funeral: Actor Dan Aykroyd served as a pallbearer at the funeral of his friend and fellow comedian John Belushi, who tragically died at age 33 from a drug overdose. The service was held at West Tisbury Congregational Church on Martha's Vineyard.
11 Mar 1982 Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty Signing: Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat signed a historic peace treaty in Washington DC, marking a significant diplomatic breakthrough in Middle Eastern relations.
12 Mar 1982 Yasser Arafat on Nightline: Yasser Arafat, the chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), appeared on the influential American television news program 'Nightline', hosted by Ted Koppel. This appearance provided a significant platform for Arafat to discuss Palestinian perspectives during a complex period in Middle Eastern geopolitics.
13 Mar 1982 Elaine Zayak's Historic Figure Skating Performance: Elaine Zayak from the United States made history at the World Ladies' Figure Skating Championship by landing an unprecedented 6 triple jumps, revolutionizing women's figure skating and setting a new standard for athletic performance.
14 Mar 1982 South African Government Bombs ANC Headquarters in London: In a controversial international incident, the South African government conducted a bombing attack on the headquarters of the African National Congress (ANC) located in London, escalating tensions during the apartheid era and drawing international condemnation.
15 Mar 1982 Nicaragua Suspends Citizens' Rights: The Nicaraguan government suspended citizens' constitutional rights for a 30-day period, signaling a significant political crackdown during a tumultuous period in the country's history.
16 Mar 1982 Argentine Flag Raised in South Georgia: An Argentine scrap metal dealer raised the Argentine flag on South Georgia island, a provocative act that would later be seen as a precursor to the Falklands War. This territorial assertion signaled growing tensions between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the Falkland Islands and its dependencies.
17 Mar 1982 Dutch TV Crew Murdered in El Salvador: Four Dutch television journalists were tragically killed while reporting in a conflict zone controlled by leftist guerrillas in El Salvador. The victims were Hans ter Laag (sound technician), Jan Kuiper (news editor from IKON), Joop Willemsen (cameraman), and Koos Koster (newscaster from IKON). Their deaths highlight the extreme dangers faced by journalists in war-torn regions during the Salvadoran Civil War.
18 Mar 1982 Argentinian Flag Raised in South Georgia: An Argentinean scrap metal dealer raised the Argentinean flag on South Georgia island, which was a significant early action in the lead-up to the Falklands War between Argentina and the United Kingdom.
19 Mar 1982 Argentine Invasion of South Georgia Island: Argentine forces landed on South Georgia Island, a British overseas territory, marking a critical escalation that would precipitate the Falklands War. This strategic move involved Argentine scrap metal workers and marines who raised the Argentine flag, directly challenging British sovereignty and setting the stage for a significant international conflict.
20 Mar 1982 French Nuclear Test: France conducted a nuclear test, continuing its nuclear weapons development program during the Cold War era, demonstrating its military technological capabilities.
21 Mar 1982 Hokkaido Earthquake: A significant magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck the Hokkaido region of Japan, potentially causing local disruption and geological impact.
22 Mar 1982 NASA Space Shuttle Columbia STS-3 Mission Launch: On March 22, 1982, NASA's Space Shuttle Columbia launched on its third mission (STS-3) from Kennedy Space Center. Astronauts Jack R. Lousma and C. Gordon Fullerton piloted the spacecraft, conducting critical engineering tests with a focus on thermal properties. This mission was notable for being the first time the Canadian-built Remote Manipulator System (RMS) robotic arm was used to manipulate a payload.
23 Mar 1982 Guatemala Military Coup: A significant military coup in Guatemala led by right-wing General Efrain Rios Montt, resulting in the ousting of President Romeo Lucas Garcia. This event marked a turbulent period in Guatemala's political history, characterized by military interventions and political instability.
24 Mar 1982 Bloodless Military Coup in Bangladesh: Army Chief Lieutenant General Hussain Muhammad Ershad successfully overthrows Bangladeshi President Abdus Sattar in a bloodless coup, suspending the Constitution and imposing martial law. This political transition marks a significant moment in Bangladesh's post-independence political history, demonstrating the military's influential role in the nation's governance.
25 Mar 1982 Wayne Gretzky's Historic 200-Point NHL Season: On March 25, 1982, Wayne Gretzky made hockey history by becoming the first NHL player to score 200 points in a single season. This extraordinary achievement highlighted Gretzky's unprecedented skill and scoring ability, solidifying his reputation as 'The Great One' and setting a benchmark that would be remembered for decades in professional hockey.
26 Mar 1982 Canada Act 1982 Receives Royal Assent: The Canada Act 1982 receives Royal Assent, a crucial step in Canada's constitutional independence from the United Kingdom, setting the stage for full constitutional repatriation.
27 Mar 1982 Imran Khan's Remarkable Cricket Performance: Imran Khan, the legendary Pakistani cricketer, achieved an extraordinary bowling performance by taking 14 wickets for 116 runs in a cricket match against Sri Lanka at Lahore, demonstrating his exceptional skill and dominance on the cricket field.
28 Mar 1982 José Napoleón Duarte Wins El Salvador Elections: José Napoleón Duarte's Christian Democratic Party won the national elections in El Salvador, marking a significant political moment during the country's turbulent period of civil conflict.
29 Mar 1982 Canada Act 1982 Receives Royal Assent: The Royal Assent was given in London to the Canada Act 1982, a pivotal moment in Canadian constitutional history that set the stage for the repatriation of the Canadian Constitution, effectively ending British legislative control over Canada's constitutional amendments.
30 Mar 1982 Space Shuttle Columbia STS-3 Mission Landing: The third space shuttle mission, STS-3, successfully completed its flight by landing the Columbia spacecraft at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, marking another milestone in NASA's Space Shuttle program.
31 Mar 1982 U.S. Gold Commission Recommends Gold Bullion Coins: The U.S. Gold Commission submitted a comprehensive 227-page report to Congress, recommending that the Treasury issue new gold bullion coins, which would later become known as American Eagle gold coins. This recommendation was significant for the potential revival of gold coinage in the United States.