The Space Shuttle Challenger flew nine successful missions before that fateful day. Shuttle mission 51L was much like most other missions. The Challenger crew consisted of mission commander Francis R. Scobee; pilot Michael J. Smith; mission specialists Ronald E. McNair, Ellison S. Onizuka, and Judith A. Resnik; and payload specialists Gregory B. Jarvis and Christa McAuliffe, the first of a new program, TISP, the Teacher In Space Program. Seventy three seconds into the mission, the Challenger exploded, killing the entire crew.

• Learn what else happened on This Date in Astronomy & Space.
  
• Space is a dangerous place. Read more about Space Disasters and Tragedies.
  
• NASA's most recent tragedy was the loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003. A musical tribute to the crew of the Columbia has been nominated for a Grammy.
  
• Forum Post of the Day:
  
  Subject: Challenger Disaster
  
  ^{In response to the question, "Where were you and/or what were you doing when you heard about the Challenger disaster?"}
  "I was still in high school. I had 3 classes back to back in the same room (speech, drama and debate) and the teacher had it on the tv. We spent the next 2 hours watching the space shuttle go up and explode. We must have seen it over 100 times in that period, I think it is permanently etched on my brain. I couldn't believe it - it just seemed so impossible."
  Aetavatianna
• Can we ever truly understand such a tragedy? Check out these Top Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster Books.

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