May 5
5 moments across history
WHO Declares COVID-19 No Longer a Global Public Health Emergency
On May 5, 2023, the WHO declared COVID-19 no longer a global public health emergency. The decision ended the highest alert level first invoked in January 2020. Declining mortality, population immunity, and improved treatments enabled the shift. The WHO warned that SARS-CoV-2 remained a persistent threat requiring continued surveillance.
WHO Declares COVID-19 No Longer a Global Public Health Emergency
WHO Declares COVID-19 No Longer a Global Public Health Emergency
WHO Declares COVID-19 No Longer a Global Public Health Emergency
Year: 2023
On May 5, 2023, the WHO declared COVID-19 no longer a global public health emergency. The decision ended the highest alert level first invoked in January 2020. Declining mortality, population immunity, and improved treatments enabled the shift. The WHO warned that SARS-CoV-2 remained a persistent threat requiring continued surveillance.
NASA Launches InSight Mars Lander from the U.S. West Coast
NASA Launches InSight Mars Lander from the U.S. West Coast
Year: 2018
On May 5, 2018, NASA launched the InSight Mars lander from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. It was the first interplanetary mission ever launched from the U.S. West Coast. A French-built seismometer detected marsquakes and revealed the size and state of Mars's core. The mission bridged NASA's Curiosity and Perseverance rover campaigns with contributions from European space agencies.
Secretariat Wins the Kentucky Derby
Secretariat Wins the Kentucky Derby
Year: 1973
On May 5, 1973, Secretariat won the Kentucky Derby in a record time of 1:59⅖. The chestnut colt became the first horse in Derby history to finish under two minutes. The victory launched his iconic Triple Crown sweep, ending a 25-year drought since Citation. The win provided a unifying national spectacle during a divisive era of Vietnam and Watergate.
Freedom 7: First American in Space
Freedom 7: First American in Space
Year: 1961
On May 5, 1961, Alan Shepard became the first American in space aboard Freedom 7. The 15-minute suborbital flight reached 116 miles altitude and demonstrated manual control. Coming just three weeks after Yuri Gagarin's orbital flight, it boosted U.S. morale in the Space Race. The mission validated NASA's Mercury program and underpinned Kennedy's challenge to reach the Moon.
Paris Agreements Restore West German Sovereignty
Paris Agreements Restore West German Sovereignty
Year: 1955
On May 5, 1955, the Paris Agreements took effect, restoring full sovereignty to West Germany. The pacts ended the postwar Allied occupation and transferred authority to the Federal Republic. Four days later, West Germany became a founding NATO member and began building the Bundeswehr. The agreements deepened Cold War divisions and prompted the Soviet Union to establish the Warsaw Pact.