March 11

Endeavour lifted off from Kennedy Space Center with a crew of seven astronauts tasked with assembling the initial component of Japan's Kibo laboratory module. Kibo would expand the ISS's research capabilities, enabling experiments in microgravity across disciplines. The mission also brought the Canadian-built Dextre robotic arm, enhancing the station's maintenance and assembly capacity. Over 11 days in orbit, the crew conducted three spacewalks to attach Kibo’s external facility and test critical connections. The launch showcased international cooperation among NASA, JAXA, and the Canadian Space Agency. Scientists on the ISS began preliminary experiments in life sciences and materials science shortly after installation. The successful delivery of Kibo marked a significant step in building the largest multinational laboratory ever constructed.

The undersea megathrust earthquake occurred 130 km east of Sendai, generating massive tsunami waves that swept across northeastern Japan. The accompanying tsunami inundated coastal towns, devastated infrastructure, and claimed over 15,000 lives while leaving thousands missing. At the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, cooling systems failed, leading to multiple reactor meltdowns and the release of radioactive materials. Authorities ordered the evacuation of more than 150,000 residents, creating one of the largest displacement crises in modern history. The disaster prompted a global reassessment of nuclear safety standards and emergency preparedness protocols. Japan launched an extensive recovery and decontamination campaign, rebuilding communities with improved flood defenses and seismic-resistant designs. The 2011 Tōhoku catastrophe remains a stark reminder of the interconnected risks of natural and technological disasters.

On this day in 2020, the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus outbreak a pandemic, signaling its rapid spread across continents. This historic announcement underscored the severity and global impact of COVID-19, influencing governments to enact stringent public health measures. The declaration catalyzed lockdowns, travel restrictions, and unprecedented collaboration among scientists, healthcare workers, and policymakers. It also triggered waves of economic disruption as businesses closed and supply chains were strained. The pandemic designation remains a pivotal moment in modern public health history, shaping the global response to infectious diseases.