This day in history

Pioneer 10, the world's first outer-planetary probe, is launched from the United States on a mission to Jupiter.

In December 1973, after successfully negotiating a distance of 620 million miles and the asteroid belt, Pioneer 10 reached Jupiter and sent back the first close-up images of the spectacular gas giant.

A decade later, the spacecraft left the solar system. Headed in the direction of the Taurus constellation, Pioneer 10 will pass within three light years of another star in the year 34,600. Bolted to the probe's exterior wall is a plaque displaying a drawing of a human man and woman, a star map marked with the location of the sun and a map showing the flight path of Pioneer 10.
 

Former Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet returns home to Chile after the British government decides not to extradite him to Europe to face trail on torture charges.

Rhodesia declares UDI - the Universal Declaration of independence – breaking from Britain to become an Independent Republic, under the leadership of Ian Smith.