Events of 1983

Internet is born
February 28:Final episode of M*A*S*H airs

The final episode is seen by the largest audience ever to watch a televsion program.

March 23:Strategic Defense Initiative (1983-1993)

Reagan announces initiative to develop a space based system, also known as "Star Wars", to defend the U.S. from ballistic missiles.

March 24:First test tube babies in America born

Heather Jean and Todd McDonald Tilton become parents of first set of twins conceived in vitro and born in the United States.

June 18:Sally Ride becomes first American woman in space
September 1:USSR shoots down commercial Korean airliner

Soviet fighters shoot down KAL Flight 007 after it enters Soviet airspace. 269 people on board are killed.

October 23:Beirut terrorist bombing attack

A truck bomb kills over 200 in a U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon.

October 25:U.S. invades Grenada

The United States invade Grenada to rescue 1,000 Americans on the island, days after a military Marxist government seized power in a bloody coup.

December 2:Dr. Barney Clark receives first artificial heart implant

Dr. Clark receives artificial heart implant, but dies 112 days after.