What happend on 23rd August

22.08
24.08
1985

Hans Tiedge, top counter-spy of West Germany, defects to East Germany.

1979

Soviet dancer Alexander Godunov defects to the United States.

1976

A major earthquake in China kills thousands of people.

1975

Successful Communist coup in Laos

1973

The Intelsat communication satellite is launched.

1968

Ringo Starr temporarily quits The Beatles

1966

Lunar Orbiter 1 takes the first photograph of Earth from orbit around the Moon.

1962

First live television connection between the United States and Europe, via the Telstar satellite.

1960

In Equatorial Guinea, the world's largest frog (3.3 kg) is caught.

1958

Chinese Civil War: The Second Taiwan Strait crisis begins with the People's Liberation Army's bombardment of Quemoy.