A Tragic Day

Challenger Seven: Remembered in Loss

A Tragic Day

The world was stunned when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after launch on January 28, 1986, claiming the lives of all seven crew members aboard. The tragedy occurred just 73 seconds into the mission, as the shuttle's right solid rocket booster failed, causing a catastrophic explosion.

Honoring the Heroes

The seven astronauts who perished in the disaster were: Michael Smith, Dick Scobee, Judith Resnik, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Gregory Jarvis, and Christa McAuliffe. They were all highly skilled and experienced astronauts, and their loss was a devastating blow to the space program.

Michael Smith, the pilot, was a veteran of two previous space flights. Dick Scobee, the commander, had flown on two missions as well. Judith Resnik, an electrical engineer, became the second American woman in space when she flew on the Discovery mission in 1984. Ronald McNair, a physicist, was making his second flight as a payload specialist. Ellison Onizuka, an astronaut of Japanese ancestry, had previously flown on the Discovery mission in 1985. Gregory Jarvis, an engineer, was making his first space flight. Christa McAuliffe, a high school teacher, was selected as part of NASA's Teacher in Space program.

Following the disaster, President Ronald Reagan addressed the nation, honoring the Challenger Seven and their sacrifice. The space shuttle program was suspended for two years as NASA conducted a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident. The Challenger Seven are remembered as heroes who gave their lives in the pursuit of space exploration.