NASA Marks Challenger Disaster's 30th Anniversary

As America marks the 30th anniversary of the Challenger space shuttle disaster, NASA is honoring all those who have died advancing the country’s space program.

“Today, we pause to remember our fallen heroes of the Apollo 1, Challenger and Columbia crews,” the agency tweeted. “NASA Day of Remembrance commemorates the crews of Apollo 1, Challenger, and Columbia; along with all the members of its family who lost their lives while furthering the cause of exploration and discovery.”

Set for Jan. 28 each year, NASA’s Day of Remembrance coincides with the anniversary of the Challenger disaster. The Challenger was just 73 seconds post-launch on Jan. 28, 1986, when its booster engine failed, causing the space shuttle to break apart, claiming the lives of all seven crew members on board.

The much-heralded flight had captured the attention of the nation as Sharon “Christa” McAuliffe was intended to become the first schoolteacher in space. She was selected as the top candidate in the NASA Teacher in Space Project on July 19, 1985, representing Concord High School in Concord, N.H.

As McAuliffe and the Challenger crew prepared to lift off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on that January morning, the televised launched was watched from homes, offices and schools across the country, transforming thousands of viewers into witnesses of the tragedy.

Other crew members who lost their lives that day wereCommander Francis R. Scobee, Pilot Michael J. Smith, Mission Specialists Judith A. Resnik, Ellison S. Onizuka, Ronald E. McNair and Payload Specialist Gregory B. Jarvis.

For more information on the Challenger and NASA’s Day of Remembrance, visit the agency’s website.

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Photo courtesy of NASA