What Happened in 2003

Important Events

  • Feb 1 Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrates during reentry into the Earth's atmosphere, killing all seven astronauts aboard.
  • Feb 15 An estimated 6-11 million people around the world take to the streets to protest against war with Iraq
  • Mar 13 The journal Nature reports that 350,000-year-old footprints of an upright-walking human have been found in Italy
  • Mar 19 Airstrikes by an American and British-led coalition signal the beginning of the invasion of Iraq, without United Nations support and in defiance of world opinion
  • Apr 9 Baghdad falls to U.S. forces, ending the invasion of Iraq, but resulting in widespread looting
  • Apr 14 The Human Genome Project is completed with 99% of the human genome sequenced to an accuracy of 99.99%
  • Apr 16 Treaty of Accession is signed in Athens admitting 10 new member states to the European Union
  • Jun 10 The Spirit Rover is launched, beginning NASA's Mars Exploration Rover mission
  • Aug 11 NATO takes over command of the peacekeeping force in Afghanistan, marking its first major operation outside Europe in its 54-year-history.
  • Dec 13 Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is captured near his home town of Tikrit, during Operation Red Dawn by US forces
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2003 in Film & TV

2003 in Music

  • Nov 17 Britney Spears, at 21 years old, becomes the youngest singer to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

2003 in Sport

  • Apr 28 Andre Agassi recaptures the world no. 1 ranking to become the oldest top-ranked male in the history of the ATP rankings (33 years, 13 days)
  • May 22 In Fort Worth, Texas, Annika Sörenstam becomes the first woman to play the PGA Tour in 58 years.
  • Jun 23 Barry Bonds steals second base against the LA Dodgers, becoming the first player in MLB history to have 500 career homers and 500 steals
  • Nov 16 Lionel Messi makes his official debut for FC Barcelona in a friendly against Porto

Famous People Born in 2003

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World Leaders in 2003

Famous People in 2003

Would You Believe?

The last 'old style' Volkswagen Beetle rolls off the assembly line in Mexico

On July 30, 2003

Famous Weddings

  • Jan 1 "Lord of The Rings" actress Miranda Otto (35) weds actor Peter O'Brien (44) at St. Mary's Cathedral in Sydney, Australia
  • Jan 1 "A Beautiful Mind" actress Jennifer Connelly (32) weds actor Paul Bettany in Scotland
  • Jan 3 Actress Emily Mortimer (31) weds actor Alessandro Nivola (30) in Chilterns, Buckinghamshire

Famous Divorces

  • May 27 Actress Angelina Jolie (26) divorces actor Billy Bob Thornton (47) due to irreconcilable differences
  • Sep 27 Actress Halle Berry announces her separation from second husband, R&B singer Eric Benet
  • Dec 29 Retired NFL quarterback John Elway (43) divorces first wife Janet Buchan after 18 years of marriage
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Famous Deaths

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Articles on Events in 2003