2008 World Events

January 2: Crude oil prices hit $100 a barrel for the first time.

January 7: In the BCS title game, the Louisiana State University Tigers defeat the Ohio State Buckeyes 38-24 to win the BCS national championship.

February 4: The New York Giants defeat the New England Patriots 17 to 14 in Super Bowl XLII.

February 7: NASA launches space shuttle Atlantis on STS-122. It delivers and installs the European built Columbus science laboratory on to the International Space Station.

February 17: Nascar racing driver Ryan Newman wins the 50th running of the Daytona 500.

February 19: President of Cuba, Fidel Castro, announces his resignation from the Presidency to be effective on February 24th.

February 20: The United States Navy launches a missile to destroy an out of control orbiting U.S. spy satellite to alleviate a re-entry threat from the satellite's toxic steering fuel.

February 22: A U.S. B-2 bomber crashes after takeoff from a military air base in Guam. Both crew members eject safely.

February 24: The 80th annual Academy Awards Ceremony is held in Los Angeles, California. The film "No Country for Old Men" wins the Oscar for best picture. Actor Daniel Day-Lewis wins the Oscar for Best Actor for his role in "There Will Be Blood." Actress Marion Cotillard wins the Oscar for Best Actress for her role in "La Vie en Rose".

March 2: Dmitry Medvedev is elected as the President of Russia. He is to succeed Vladimir Putin in May in the position. However Putin will remain in power as Prime Minister.

March 9: The European Space Agency's Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle launches from French Guiana. Jules Verne is an unmanned cargo vessel for supplying the International Space Station.

April 3: The European built Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle docks for the first time with the International Space Station.

April 28: India launches a rocket that delivers 10 satellites into orbit on a single launch. That is a record for the most satellites orbited on a single launch.

May 3: Cyclone Nargis devastates the South East Asian nation of Myanmar. Over 130,000 people are believed to have lost their lives.

May 3: A horse named Big Brown wins the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby. The runner up in the race was a horse named Eight Belles. Eight Belles was euthanized after the race because it had fractured both front ankles during the race.

May 12: A 7.9 magnitude earthquake strikes central China. Over 60,000 people are presumed dead.

May 15: California becomes the second state to recognize same sex marriages.

May 25: Scott Dixon wins the ninety second running of the Indianapolis 500.

May 25: NASA's Phoenix spacecraft makes a successful landing on the planet Mars.

May 31: NASA launches space shuttle Discovery on STS-124 at 5:02 EDT. It is another mission to continue the construction of the International Space Station with the delivery and installation of the Japanese laboratory named Kibo. My wife and me watch the launch from the Banana Creek VIP site at the Kennedy Space Center. For the story and photos from this launch, please follow the STS-124 link.

June 3: United States Presidential Candidate Barak Obama appears to have secured enough delegate votes to become the Democratic Presidential Nominee.

June 4: The Detroit Red Wings defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4 games to 2 to win the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup.

June 7: Motorcycle daredevil, Robbie Knievel jumps 21 Hummers at Texas Motor Speedway before the IRL race. Knievel is the son of the famed daredevil Evel Knievel. For my account of this motorcycle jump follow the Knievel link.

June 15: A ceremony is held at Ellington Air Field in Houston, Texas for the return of the STS-124 crew. Mary and I attended the ceremony. For my account and photos of the crew return ceremony follow the STS-124 Return link.

August 7: The former Soviet state of Georgia sends troops into the breakaway republic of South Ossetia.

August 8: Russia responds with a massive invasion of South Ossetia and Georgia. Over the next few days, the Georgian military is decimated. Some see this as a means for Russia to re-exert their influence over world politics.

August 10: At Texas Motor Speedway I complete my rookie experience with the Richard Petty Driving Experience. I am training to race against Apollo 15 Command Module Pilot Al Worden at the Richard Petty Driving Experience at Walt Disney World in October. For my account of my rookie experience follow the Racing link.

August 15: Georgia and Russia sign a cease fire brokered by the president of the European Union, France's President Nicolas Sarkozy.

August 18: Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf resigns before the Pakistani Parliament can enact impeachment proceedings against him. It is the end of a turbulent and unpopular political career for Musharaff.

October 17: The 40th Anniversary of the Apollo 7 mission is celebrated at the Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas, Texas. For my account of this celebration follow the Apollo 7 40th link.

November 14: NASA launches space shuttle Endeavour on STS-126. It is another mission to continue the construction of the International Space Station. My wife, 2 grandchildren and our daughter watch the launch from the Banana Creek VIP viewing site at the Kennedy Space Center. For my story and photos from this launch, please follow the STS-126 link.