Asteroid explorer Dawn lifts off
NASA launches the unmanned Dawn spacecraft, a vehicle designed to explore the two largest bodies in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Dawn will also test a new charged ion propulsion system designed to improve on the performance of traditional chemical propellants (though its fine-tuning reaction control system will still use small engines powered by “rocket fuel”). Dawn is intended to visit and orbit the asteroid Vesta in 2011, which it will then depart after mapping to explore Ceres in 2015.
Firefly: Bushwhacked
Fox airs the second episode of Joss Whedon’s science fiction series Firefly, starring Nathan Fillion.
Pathfinder falls silent
Its ability to recharge its power supply depleted, the Mars Pathfinder lander – now dubbed Sagan Memorial Station – ceases its transmissions to Earth, also cutting off communication with the Sojourner Mars rover. Originally intended for a month-long mission, Pathfinder and Sojourner last three times that long, and give scientists and engineers a wealth of data for planning the twin Mars Exploration Rovers. NASA declares the Pathfinder mission a complete success in early 1998.
Sliders: Double Cross
Fox airs the 24th episode of Tracy Torme’s alternate-universe science fiction series Sliders, starring Jerry O’Connell, John Rhys Davies, Sabrina Lloyd, and Cleavant Derricks.
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Star Trek: TNG: Liaisons
The week-long national syndication window opens for the 153rd episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Eric Pierpoint (Alien Nation) guest stars.
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Highlander: The Watchers
The week-long national syndication window opens for the 23rd episode of the fantasy series Highlander, starring Adrian Paul (War Of The Worlds), Alexandra Vandernoort, and Stan Kirsch, and based on the mythology created in the 1986 movie of the same name. Jim Byrnes joins the cast as Duncan’s mortal “Watcher” in the second season premiere.
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Star Trek: DS9: The Homecoming
The week-long national syndication window opens for the 20th episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. This episode opens the second season and is the first installment of an unprecedented (for Star Trek) three-part story. Frank Langella guest stars.
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Doctor Who: Battlefield, Part 4
The 687th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. Jean Marsh guest stars, and Nicholas Courtney makes his final original series appearance as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart. This story opens the 26th and final season of the original Doctor Who series.
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Quantum Leap: Disco Inferno – April 1, 1976
NBC airs the tenth episode of Donald Bellisario’s science fiction series Quantum Leap, starring Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell.
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Red Dwarf: Stasis Leak
The tenth episode of the science fiction comedy Red Dwarf airs on BBC 2. Mark Williams guest stars.
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Knights Of God, Episode 4
UK regional broadcaster TVS airs the fourth episode of Richard Cooper’s alternate-history series Knights Of God, portraying a struggle between oppressive government and rugged resistance fighters in a post-civil-war UK. Nigel Stock and Michael Sheard (The Empire Strikes Back) guest star. 
Doctor Who: The Trial Of A Time Lord, Pt. 4
The 645th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. Lynda Bellingham (All Creatures Great & Small) guest stars as the Inquisitor, with Michael Jayston as the Valeyard and David Selby (Dark Shadows) as Sabalon Glitz. The first four parts of the 14-part story are the final complete storyline written by former script editor Robert Holmes, who dies during production.
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Twilight Zone: Episode 25
CBS airs the 25th episode of a revival of Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone. Jeff Yagher and Shelley Duvall star in an episode comprised of two short stories, George R.R. Martin’s The Once And Future King and A Saucer Of Loneliness, adapted by David Gerrold from Theodore Sturgeon’s short story. This episode opens the series’ second season.
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Twilight Zone: The New Series
CBS airs the first episode of a modern revival of Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone. Bruce Willis stars in an adaptation of a Harlan Ellison story, while Melinda Dillon stars in a second segment. Wes Craven (A Nightmare On Elm Street) directs both stories.
Ex-Atari CEO charged with insider trading
Months after his resignation as CEO of Atari, Ray Kassar is hit with charges of insider trading by the Securities & Exchange Commission. At issue, according to the SEC, is the sudden sale of 5,000 shares in Atari’s parent company, Warner Communications, 23 minutes before a statement was issued indicating that Atari would not meet shareholders’ expectations in the fourth quarters of 1982. Other Atari executives are also charged with similar last-minute sell-offs.
Atari in the dumps
In what is perhaps the most tangible event of the entire video game industry crash in 1983, Atari dumps 14 truckloads of unsold game cartridges and other parts in the Alamagordo, New Mexico city dump, with security guards standing by to keep curious onlookers from grabbing any “souvenirs” before concrete is poured over them. The unsold merchandise is stock left over from the closure of Atari’s cartridge assembly plant in El Paso, Texas. Second-quarter earnings report reveal that Atari has lost over $300,000,000 since the beginning of 1983.
The Voice of Odyssey2
The Odyssey2 video game console gets its first major hardware upgrade in the form of the add-on voice synthesizer module, marketed as the Voice of Odyssey2. With the Type & Tell cartridge packed in, the Voice promises to add speech to numerous specially marked Odyssey2 games. The initial line of Voice games, also released on or around this date, includes K.C.’s Krazy Chase (a sequel to the sued-off-the-market K.C. Munchkin), and educational games Nimble Numbers NED and SID The Spellbinder.
Depeche Mode: A Broken Frame
Mute Records releases the second album by Depeche Mode, A Broken Frame, featuring the singles “See You” and “The Meaning Of Love”.
Hammer House Of Horror: Rude Awakening
The third episode of the Hammer Studios-produced horror anthology series Hammer House Of Horror airs on ITV. Denholm Elliott (Raiders Of The Lost Ark) guest stars.
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Doctor Who: Meglos, Part 1
The 530th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. Jacqueline Hill (who starred in early seasons of Doctor Who as Barbara, one of the Doctor’s first companions) guest stars.
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Buck Rogers: Planet Of The Slave Girls
NBC airs the second episode of Buck Rogers In The 25th Century. Buster Crabbe, Jack Palance and Roddy McDowall guest star.
Star Blazers: Episode 19
The 19th episode of Star Blazers, an English rewrite and dub of the 1974 anime series Space Battleship Yamato, premieres in syndication across the U.S.
The Lost Saucer: Transylvania 2300
ABC airs the fourth episode of Sid & Marty Krofft’s The Lost Saucer, starring Jim Nabors (The Andy Griffith Show, Gomer Pyle USMC) and Ruth Buzzi (Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In). Billy Barty guest stars.
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Shazam!: Double Trouble
The 19th episode of Filmation’s live-action Shazam! series airs on CBS, starring Michael Gray and Les Tremayne. John Davey takes over the role of Captain Marvel from this episode forward.
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Far-Out Space Nuts: Fantastic Journey
The fourth episode of Sid & Marty Krofft’s Far-Out Space Nuts airs on CBS, starring Bob Denver (Gillgan’s Island) and Chuck McCann (Herbie Rides Again).
Doctor Who: Planet Of Evil, Part 1
The 406th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. Prentis Hancock (Space: 1999) guest stars.
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Kolchak: They Have Been, They Are, They Will Be
ABC airs the third episode of Kolchak: The Night Stalker, based on the 1973 TV movie The Night Stalker and starring Darren McGavin. Dick Van Patten guest stars.
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The Six Million Dollar Man: Pilot Error
The 16th episode of The Six Million Dollar Man is broadcast on ABC, starring Lee Majors and Richard Anderson. Pat Hingle (Batman) guest stars.
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Soyuz 12: the USSR returns to space
After two years of reorganization and rethinking, the Soviet manned space program resumes with the launch of Soyuz 12, carrying cosmonauts Vasili Lazarev and Oleg Makarov. Previously a three-seater, Soyuz has been redesigned following the Soyuz 11 tragedy: the vehicle now seats a crew of two, both wearing fully pressurized spacesuits. Originally intended to visit the Salyut 2 station, Soyuz 12 is only a two-day shakedown flight for the redesigned spacecraft (Salyut 2’s own technical problems have rendered it uninhabitable by a human crew).