December 3rd, 2008

Today in History

1973:
Pioneer program: Pioneer 10 sends back the first close-up images of Jupiter.

1970:
October Crisis: In Montreal, Quebec, kidnapped British Trade Commissioner James Cross is released by the Front de Libération du Québec terrorist group after being held hostage for 60 days. Police negotiate his release and in return the Government of Canada grants five terrorists from the FLQ's Chenier Cell their request for safe passage to Cuba.

1904:
The Jovian moon Himalia is discovered by Charles Dillon Perrine at Lick Observatory.

1818:
Illinois becomes the 21st U.S. state

1982:
A soil sample is taken from Times Beach, Missouri that would be found to contain 300 times the safe level of dioxin.