July 16, 1979: Saddam Hussein becomes President of IraqJuly 11, 1979: Skylab space station falls in Australian outback on 34,981st orbit[1]July 12, 1979: Gilbert Islands independent as Republic of KiribatiThe largest piece of Skylab debris, an oxygen tank recovered in the state of Western AustraliaJuly 2, 1979: Unpopular Susan B. Anthony dollar (left), similar to a quarter (right) begins circulation in the U.S.