Historical eventMarch 311970

Explorer 1

Explorer 1 re-enters the Earth's atmosphere after 12 years in orbit.

Everything on March 31Original source

In context

When
Tuesday, March 31 197056 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
20th century · 1970s
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

At a glance

Dates: From 1970.

What happened

Explorer 1 re-enters the Earth's atmosphere after 12 years in orbit.

March 31 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 1970Explorer 1
  2. 1995TAROM Flight 371
  3. 1998Netscape
  4. 2004Old National Library Building
  5. 2004Anbar campaign (2003–2011)
  6. 2005Dwarf planet
  7. 2016NASA
  8. 2018Gyumri
  9. 20182018 Armenian Revolution
  10. 2023Tornado outbreak of March 31 – April 1, 2023
  11. 2023Belvidere Apollo Theatre collapse

Also in 1970

  • May 11Lubbock, TexasLubbock, Texas, was struck by a tornado that left 26 people dead.
  • September 9Popular Front for the Liberation of PalestineA British airliner is hijacked by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and flown to Dawson's Field in Jordan.
  • September 17AmmanThe Jordanian army entered Amman as part of operations to oust Palestinian fedayeen from the country in events later known as Black Septe…
  • September 51970 Italian Grand PrixDuring the practice session of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza Circuit, Jochen Rindt was killed and subsequently became motor racing's on…
  • September 5Vietnam WarVietnam War: Operation Jefferson Glenn begins: The United States 101st Airborne Division and the South Vietnamese 1st Infantry Division i…
  • November 17Vietnam WarVietnam War: Lieutenant William Calley goes on trial for the My Lai Massacre.
  • November 17Luna programmeLuna programme: The Soviet Union lands Lunokhod 1 on Mare Imbrium (Sea of Rains) on the Moon. This is the first roving remote-controlled…
  • November 5Military Assistance Command, VietnamThe Military Assistance Command, Vietnam reports the lowest weekly American soldier death toll in five years (24).

Everything we record for 1970 →

Sources

Cite this page

“Explorer 1”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/explorer-1-1970-march-31, accessed October 24, 2026.

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Questions about this entry

When did Explorer 1 happen?

March 31 1970 — 56 years ago, on a Tuesday.

Where does this text come from?

Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints.

How do I cite this page?

Use the ready-made citation near the sources at the bottom of the page, and follow the source link to cite the underlying record as well.

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