Events in 1964

April 8, 1964

NASA Project Gemini Launch

NASA launched Project Gemini as its second human spaceflight program, conducting 12 missions between 1964-1966. The program served as a crucial bridge between Mercury and Apollo missions, developing essential capabilities for lunar exploration.

May 20, 1964

Discovery of Background Radiation

In 1964, American astronomers Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson made a groundbreaking discovery of cosmic microwave background radiation, which provided crucial evidence supporting the Big Bang theory. For this accidental but extremely significant discovery, they were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1978.

July 2, 1964

Civil Rights Act Signing

President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the historic Civil Rights Act of 1964, marking a watershed moment in American history by outlawing discrimination and segregation across public spaces, employment, and federally funded programs.