Online Encyclopedia
1962 in science
The year 1962 in science and technology included many events, some of which are listed below.
See also: 1961 in science, other events of 1962, 1963 in science, and the list of years in science.
Astronomy and space exploration
- January 26 - Ranger 3 is launched to study the moon. The space probe later missed the moon by 22,000 miles.
- February 2 - For the first time in 400 years Neptune and Pluto align.
- February 20 - Mercury program: While aboard Friendship 7, John Glenn orbits the Earth three times in 4 hours, 55 minutes becoming the first American to orbit the Earth.
- April 26 - The Ranger 4 spacecraft crashes into the Moon.
Awards
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Nobel Prizes
- Physics - Lev Davidovich Landau
- Chemistry - Max Ferdinand Perutz, John Cowdery Kendrew
- Medicine - Francis Harry Compton Crick, James Dewey Watson, Maurice Hugh Frederick Wilkins
Deaths
- February 19 - Georgios Papanikolaou, inventor of the Pap smear (b. 1883)
- March 24 - Auguste Piccard, physicist and explorer (b. 1884)
- November 18 - Niels Bohr, Danish physicist
- December 20 - Emil Artin, mathematician (b. 1898)
- December 24 - Wilhelm Ackermann, mathematician (b. 1896)
Last updated: 11-05-2004 21:41:44