1953day.year
CIA director Allen Dulles launches the mind-control program Project MKUltra.
In April 1953, CIA Director Allen Dulles launched Project MKUltra, a top-secret mind-control program. It became infamous for its clandestine experiments on unwitting subjects.
Project MKUltra was authorized by CIA Director Allen Dulles to explore methods of influencing and controlling human behavior. The program investigated the effects of LSD, hypnosis, sensory deprivation, and other techniques on unknowing participants. Many subjects, including prisoners and mental patients, experienced severe psychological trauma and lasting harm. Funding was routed through front companies and academic institutions to maintain secrecy. Revelations during the 1970s congressional hearings exposed the program’s breadth and ethical violations. MKUltra prompted reforms in human research ethics and oversight procedures within U.S. intelligence agencies.
1953
CIA
Allen Dulles
mind-control
Project MKUltra
1960day.year
The United States launches Transit 1-B, the world's first satellite navigation system.
On April 13, 1960, the United States launched Transit 1-B, the world’s first satellite navigation system. The mission pioneered space-based positioning for naval vessels.
Transit 1-B was developed by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory as part of a classified U.S. Navy program. The system used Doppler shift measurements to calculate precise positions at sea for Polaris submarines. Initial tests revealed signal and orbit stability issues, but engineers quickly improved satellite design and tracking methods. Transit laid the technical foundation for later global navigation satellite systems such as GPS. Over its operational life, Transit provided critical geolocation data for military and civilian users. The program was decommissioned in the early 1990s but remains a milestone in space technology history.
1960
Transit 1-B
satellite navigation
1970day.year
An oxygen tank aboard the Apollo 13 Service Module explodes, putting the crew in great danger and causing major damage to the Apollo command and service module (codenamed "Odyssey") while en route to the Moon.
On April 13, 1970, an oxygen tank in Apollo 13’s service module exploded en route to the Moon. The accident led to a near-disastrous mission and a dramatic rescue.
Approximately 56 hours into the flight, an explosion in the Service Module’s oxygen tank crippled the spacecraft’s power and life support systems. Astronauts Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise reported the famous line, “Houston, we’ve had a problem,” as mission control assessed the damage. To conserve resources, the crew used the Lunar Module Aquarius as a lifeboat, repurposing its systems for survival. Engineers on the ground devised innovative procedures to navigate back to Earth safely, including power-up sequences and course adjustments. The crew splashed down safely on April 17, 1970, demonstrating ingenuity and teamwork under pressure. Apollo 13’s successful return became a testament to NASA’s problem-solving capabilities.
1970
oxygen
Apollo 13
Apollo command and service module
Moon