STS-51-L - Challenger disaster
01/28/1986 AD crashed
The Challenger space shuttle and her seven-member crew were lost when a ruptured O-ring in the right solid rocket booster caused an explosion soon after launch.
Because shuttle launches had become almost routine after 24 successful missions, those watching the shuttle launch in person and on television found the sight of the explosion especially shocking and difficult to believe until NASA confirmed the accident.
The crew was scheduled to deploy a communications satellite and study Halley's Comet while they were in orbit, in addition to taking school teacher Christa McAuliffe into space. The latter resulted in a higher than usual media interest and coverage of the mission; the launch and subsequent disaster were seen live in many schools across the United States.
Lattitude: 28.5241° N
Longitude: 80.6508° W
Region: North America
Modern Day United States
Subjects Who or What crashed?
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NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) An independent agency of...
Objects To Whom or What was crashed?
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Space Shuttle A partially reusable low...
Events in 1986 MORE
