Here’s a look at what you need to know about the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.
Facts:
Seven crew members died in the explosion, including Christa McAuliffe, who would have been the first teacher in space.
The explosion was a result of a rocket booster failure which ignited the fuel tank.
Some of the objectives of Mission STS-51L included the “Comet Halley Active Monitoring Program” (CHAMP), a fluid dynamics experiment, and lesson plans and telecasts by Christa McAuliffe.
Timeline:
April 4, 1983 – The Challenger’s maiden voyage, STS-6. The Challenger completed nine successful missions between 1983 and 1986.
July 19, 1985 – New Hampshire teacher Christa McAuliffe is chosen to be the first teacher in space.
January 28, 1986 – The Space Shuttle Challenger explodes 73 seconds into flight at approximately 11:40 a.m. EST.
Crew:
Francis R. (Dick) Scobee
– Spacecraft Commander
– Born on May 19, 1939
– Birth place – Cle Elum, Washington
– Family – Wife June, and two children.
Michael J. Smith
– Pilot
– Born on April 30, 1945
– Birth place – Beaufort, North Carolina.
Judith A. Resnik
– Mission Specialist
– Born – April 5, 1949
– Birth place – Akron, Ohio
Ronald E. McNair
– Mission Specialist
– Born – October 21, 1950
– Birth place – Lake City, South Carolina,
– Family – Wife, Cheryl, and two children.
Ellison S. Onizuka
– Mission Specialist
– Born – June 24, 1946
– Birth place – Kealakekua, Kona, Hawaii
Gregory B. Jarvis
– Payload Specialist
– Born – August 24, 1944
– Birth place – Detroit, Michigan
– An engineer who worked for Hughes Aircraft Corp.
Christa McAuliffe
– First teacher in space
– Born – September 2, 1948
– Birth place – Boston, Massachusetts