Challenger Disaster Documentary Airs Tonight

The National Geographic Channel will be showing its one-hour documentary, “Challenger Disaster: Lost Tapes,” tonight, in honor of the 30th anniversary of the space shuttle explosion and the passing of Concord High School teacher, Christa McAuliffe.

The documentary features rare footage of McAuliffe practicing her in-space lesson, which she planned on presenting to children on Earth after getting into space. Other footage includes reels from news organizations, other private collections, interviews, and reactions after the explosion itself that occurred on Jan. 28, 1986.

“Thirty years later, it’s still difficult to watch footage of the Challenger,” said Barbara Morgan, the backup to Teacher in Space Christa McAuliffe, who participated in the documentary. “However, the National Geographic Channel special is very compelling and respectful.”

The documentary airs at 9 p.m. on Jan. 25, 2016, and will be broadcast across the world in numerous languages, according to the network.

McAuliffe’s life, as well as the other astronauts who lost their lives, will be heralded and celebrated with events all this week.

“Christa McAuliffe: Reach for the Stars,” a documentary about her life, will be shown at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 30, at the planetarium in Concord that bears her name.

In her hometown of Framingham, MA, the local state university where she attended college, is hosting an event highlighting all the members of the crew on Thursday.

A promo clip of the video is below:

For more information, visit www.natgeotv.com and www.natgeowild.com.