Challenger disaster, explosion of the U.S. space shuttle orbiter Challenger, shortly after its launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on January 28, 1986, which claimed the lives of seven astronauts. The primary goal of shuttle mission 51-L was to launch the second Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-B). It also carried the Spartan Halley spacecraft, a small satellite that was to be released by Challenger and picked up two days later after observing Halley’s Comet during its closest approach to the Sun. Greatest visibility among the crew went to teacher-in-space Christa McAuliffe of Concord, New Hampshire, the winner of a national
tonight. we re learning more this evening about four tourists who died in separate incidents of carbon monoxide poisoning while at a popular vacation destination. tonight, the december coverry under water. 36 years after the world wi witnessed the challenger disaster whacht they have now found on the ocean floor. and america strong tonight. bruce springsteen, bob woodruff, and how you can stand up for heroes. good evening and it s great to have you with us here on a thursday night. and we begin tonight with the deadly hurricane and the direct hit on florida. the system now moving up the coast tonight, and there is new concern at this hour, the possibility of damaging winds and tornadoes. this will be felt all the way up through new york city. first, making landfall this morning around 3:00 a.m. near florida s vero beach with 75-mile-an-hour winds. the strongest hurricane to hit florida this late in the season in nearly 40 years.