MetroWest Daily News
FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – Thirty-five years ago, the space shuttle Challenger exploded just over a minute after liftoff, killing all seven crewmembers, including New Hampshire schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe.
NASA leaders, retired launch directors, families of fallen astronauts and space fans marked the 35th anniversary on Thursday, vowing never to forget the seven who died during liftoff.
The Challenger explosion on Jan. 28, 1986, happening just 73 seconds after liftoff due to an O-ring seal failure, was the first fatal accident for NASA since 1967.
The millions who watched the liftoff were inspired by McAuliffe, 37, who was the first American civilian to board a space shuttle. She was chosen from a pool of 11,000 teachers to board the Challenger mission as part of a NASA program called the Teacher in Space Project.
Thursday marks a solemn anniversary for the space community. On Jan. 28, 1986, seven astronauts were killed when the Challenger space shuttle exploded shortly after launch.
The crew of the Challenger in a 1986 photo. Front L-R: Michael J. Smith, Dick Scobee, and Ronald E. McNair. Rear: Ellison Onizuka, Christa McAuliffe, Gregory Jarvis, Judith Resnik.
NASA/AP Photo
Among those on board was New Hampshire high school teacher Christa McAuliffe, who had been chosen by NASA to be the first teacher in space. She was going to work on the crew as a payload specialist. The other six crew members were payload specialist Gregory Jarvis, mission specialist Judith A. Resnik, mission commander Francis R. (Dick) Scobee, mission specialist Ronald E. McNair, pilot Mike J. Smith and mission specialist Ellison S. Onizuka.
Space Shuttle Challenger disaster 35th anniversary marks week of NASA tragedies orlandosentinel.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from orlandosentinel.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Thursday marks a solemn anniversary for the space community. On Jan. 28, 1986, seven astronauts were killed when the Challenger space shuttle exploded shortly after launch.
The crew of the Challenger in a 1986 photo. Front L-R: Michael J. Smith, Dick Scobee, and Ronald E. McNair. Rear: Ellison Onizuka, Christa McAuliffe, Gregory Jarvis, Judith Resnik.
NASA/AP Photo
Among those on board was New Hampshire high school teacher Christa McAuliffe, who had been chosen by NASA to be the first teacher in space. She was going to work on the crew as a payload specialist. The other six crew members were payload specialist Gregory Jarvis, mission specialist Judith A. Resnik, mission commander Francis R. (Dick) Scobee, mission specialist Ronald E. McNair, pilot Mike J. Smith and mission specialist Ellison S. Onizuka.