Timeline September 1983

Events in September 1983 9

• 1983 Guion Bluford Becomes First African American in Space STS-8 mission aboard Space Shuttle Challenger Guion Bluford flew aboard Space Shuttle Challenger on mission STS-8, becoming the first African American astronaut in space. The mission also included the first night launch and landing of the Space Shuttle program. Bluford went on to fly three more shuttle missions.
• 1983 Goikoetxea tackle fractures his ankle In a match against Athletic Bilbao, Andoni Goikoetxea executes one of the most brutal tackles in football history, fracturing Maradona's ankle. The tackle requires surgery, ends his season, and reportedly prompts Goikoetxea to frame and display the boot he used.
• 1983 The Clash fire Mick Jones Guitarist out Jones goes on to form Big Audio Dynamite.
• 1983 Korean Air Lines Flight 007 Shot Down Soviet fighter destroys airliner over Sakhalin A Soviet Su-15 interceptor shot down Korean Air Lines Flight 007 after it strayed into Soviet airspace near Sakhalin Island, killing all 269 people aboard, including a US congressman. The incident sharply escalated Cold War tensions and led to changes in civilian air navigation systems. The Soviet Union initially denied involvement before admitting to the shootdown.
• 1983 – 2011 Amy Winehouse (1983-2011) Died 23 July 2011, aged 27 The British singer-songwriter, known for the album "Back to Black" and hits including "Rehab," died of alcohol poisoning at her London home. She had long struggled publicly with substance abuse. Her death added her to the "27 Club" of musicians who died at that age.
• 1983 Amy Winehouse born in London Southgate Grows up in a jazz-loving Jewish family in north London.
• 1983 Vanessa Williams Crowned Miss America First Black woman to win the pageant Vanessa Williams was crowned Miss America, becoming the first Black woman to hold the title. She resigned the following year amid a photo controversy but went on to a successful music and acting career. Her win was seen as a milestone in the pageant's history.
• 1983 Australia II Wins the America's Cup First non-American victory in 132 years The Australian yacht Australia II defeated the American defender Liberty, ending the longest winning streak in international sport at 132 years. The victory, aided by a novel winged keel, sparked national celebration in Australia. It was the first time the America's Cup left the United States since the race began in 1851.
• 1983 Stanislav Petrov Averts Nuclear False Alarm Soviet officer declines to report missile warning Soviet Air Defence officer Stanislav Petrov judged a satellite warning of incoming US missiles to be a false alarm and did not relay it up the chain of command, likely preventing a retaliatory nuclear strike. The malfunction was later traced to a satellite misreading sunlight reflections. The incident remained secret for years afterward.