US EditionShe Was Supposed to Be the First Teacher in Space. 40 Years Later, Her Mission Continues
Memorials honor the seven lost crew members and STEM programs inspired by Challenger's legacy engage students nationwide, with the Challenger Center reaching millions annually.
- Forty years ago, Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated 73 seconds after liftoff, killing its seven-member crew during a launch from Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
- Thiokol engineers warned the seals risked failure in 36°F launch conditions, but NASA managers overruled them; the Rogers Commission found the decision to launch was flawed.
- Photographic and telemetry data showed early smoke puffs and a flickering flame at the right Solid Rocket Booster joint, with control corrections from 62 seconds and crew activating Personal Egress Air Packs.
- Flights were grounded and redesigns followed, halting shuttle missions for two and a half years while NASA and Kennedy Space Center visitor complex established memorials including the 'Forever Remembered' exhibit.
- The disaster forced lasting safety and cultural reforms across the global space community, while Christa McAuliffe, New Hampshire middle school teacher, was selected from more than 10,000 applicants, shaping education programs.
149 Articles
149 Articles
40 years after Challenger disaster, SC astronaut continues to inspire students • SC Daily Gazette
A monument to Ronald McNair, an astronaut who died in the Challenger disaster, stands in his hometown of Lake City, S.C., on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (Photo by Skylar Laird, SC Daily Gazette)LAKE CITY — Forty years later, Cheryl McNair remembers the shock of watching the Challenger space shuttle fall to pieces with her husband, astronaut Ronald McNair, onboard. “Now what?” Cheryl McNair, now in her 70s, remembers thinking. “Now that it has happe…
40 years after Challenger disaster, Hawaii’s Ellison Onizuka remembered as a trailblazer
As the nation commemorates the anniversary of the Challenger space shuttle disaster, here in the islands some members of the community have been paying tribute to crew member Ellison Onizuka — who is both the first Asian American and the first person from Hawaii to go to space. Today marks 40 years since the Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, killing all seven astronauts aboard. Most of it disintegrated 46,000 feet above the ocea…
Miles O’Brien joins Geoff Bennett on ‘Settle In’
Forty years ago, the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded on live television just 73 seconds after lifting off. All seven astronauts aboard died, plunging the nation into mourning. On our video podcast “Settle In,” Geoff Bennett and Miles O’Brien discussed that moment and how it changed the country.
NASA's Challenger space shuttle took off 40 years ago with an unusual crew. In addition to six astronauts, the mission took off with a teacher on board.
73 Seconds That Shook a Generation: The Challenger Disaster 40 Years Later
Waco, TX (FOX 44) - For four decades, the legacy of Challenger has shaped a nation, reverberated around the world, and left a lasting mark on an entire generation that watched it unfold. Just 73 seconds into flight, the Challenger mission came to an abrupt end for millions watching live - especially students who had [...]
How the Katherine Johnson IV&V facility in Fairmont helps prevent NASA disasters
Wednesday marked the 40-year anniversary of the Challenger space shuttle tragedy, which claimed the lives of seven people and prompted the opening of a local NASA office to prevent those kind of disasters from ever happening again.
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