On this day: October 11
Apollo 7 Launches, Restoring U.S. Crewed Spaceflight After Apollo 1 Tragedy
On October 11, 1968, NASA launched Apollo 7, the first crewed Apollo mission to fly after the Apollo 1 cabin fire, conducting an 11-day Earth-orbital test of the Command/Service Module and helping restore confidence in the program.
British troops raid nationalist neighborhoods in Belfast amid unrest
On 11 October 1972, British Army units conducted raids in nationalist areas of Belfast during a period of intense sectarian violence and security operations in Northern Ireland. The actions formed part of wider efforts to locate weapons and detain suspects amid escalating conflict.
Military Coup Topples Elected Government in South America, October 11, 1973
On October 11, 1973, Chile’s military seized power from the democratically elected government in a coup led by General Augusto Pinochet, ending Salvador Allende’s presidency and beginning a long period of military rule marked by repression and political change.
Hansie Cronje Banned for Life Over Match-Fixing
On October 11, 2000, South African cricket captain Hansie Cronje received a lifetime ban from cricket after admitting to involvement in match-fixing and accepting money from bookmakers, ending a celebrated international career.