What Happened in 2003

Major 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
  • More 2003 Events

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 16-year old Lionel Messi makes his official debut for FC Barcelona when he comes on as a substitute in a friendly against Porto

More People Born in 2003

Fun Fact About 2003

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

July 30, 2003


More 2003 Deaths

Famous Weddings in 2003

  • Jan 1 "A Beautiful Mind" actress Jennifer Connelly (32) weds actor Paul Bettany in Scotland
  • 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 3 British-American actress Emily Mortimer (31) weds American actor Alessandro Nivola (30) in Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, England

Famous Divorces in 2003


More 2003 Weddings