Key Dates

3rd August 1958

An atomic powered submarine, the USS Nautilus, crosses the North Pole underwater.

9th October 1958

Pope Pius XII dies.

5th December 1958 British Motorway system opens with the M6 Preston bypass.

3rd January 1959 Alaska becomes the 49th US state.

21st August 1959 Hawaii becomes the 50th US state.

21st March 1960

A police massacre in Sharpeville, South Africa, left 69 black protestors dead.

January 20th 1961 President John F Kennedy made his inaugural address.

12th April 1961

Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space.

13th August 1961 East Germany begins constructing the Berlin Wall.

20th February1962 Lt. Colonel John Glenn becomes the first US citizen to orbit the earth.

31st July 1962 Algeria becomes officially independent from France.

5th August 1962

Nelson Mandela is arrested and charged with inciting rebellion in South Africa.

Radio Mercur - Key Dates

1958

1960

1962

11th July 1958	Cheeta leaves port and anchors in international waters off Copenhagen
17th July 1958	Test transmissions start for Radio Mercur
17/18th July 1958	Cheeta’s anchor chain breaks and the ship drifts, running aground off Malmo, Sweden
25th July 1958	Cheeta returns to her anchorage off Copenhagen
31st July 1958	Test transmissions start again for Radio Mercur
2nd August 1958	Radio Mercur begins official programmes from 6.00pm
14th August 1958	Panamanian authorities threaten to withdraw the Cheeta's registration
25th August 1958	Cheeta's registration withdrawn by Panama
1st September 1958	Radio Mercur changes frequency to avoid interference to a Swedish station

1st February 1959	Radio Mercur in financial difficulties and saved by loan from banker Alex Brask Thomsen
1st August 1959	A public opinion poll shows after one year on the air Radio Mercur was attracting an audience of 38% of Copenhagen's population

31st January 1961	Radio Mercur starts test broadcasts from a new ship, Cheeta 2
1st February 1961	Regular Radio Mercur programmes broadcast from Cheeta 2
7th April 1961	Radio Mercur makes the first stereo broadcasts from Cheeta 2
1st July 1961	Cheeta, the original Radio Mercur ship taken to a port in Norway and used as a cargo vessel
1st November 1961	Cheeta returns from Norway to anchor off Zeeland
25th November 1961	Broadcasts of Radio Mercur (West) start from the Cheeta
14th December 1961	Cheeta's new mast collapses during a storm, after repairs Cheeta and Cheeta 2 swap anchorages

12th February 1962	Cheeta in difficulties during a storm, towed into port and impounded by the authorities
** February 1962	Lucky Star takes over broadcasts of Radio Mercur (East)
10th July 1962	Radio Mercur (West), from Cheeta 2, ceases transmissions prior to legislation being introduced
31st July 1962	Radio Mercur (East) closes at 12 midnight as legislation comes into effect
13th August 1962	Unofficial transmissions start from Lucky Star using old programme tapes
15th August 1962	Lucky Star boarded by police and impounded