The crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger which broke apart 73 seconds into its flight on 28 January 1986, 40 years ago. Back row from left to right: Ellison S. Onizuka, Sharon Christa McAuliffe, Greg Jarvis, and Judy Resnik. Front row from left to right: Michael J. Smith, Dick Scobee, and Ron McNair. By the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (public domain; https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Challenger_flight_51-l_crew.jpg).
On January 28, 1986, 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. This photograph, taken a few seconds after the accident, shows the main engines and solid rocket booster exhaust plumes entwined around a ball of gas from the external tank. By the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (public domain; https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Challenger_explosion.jpg).
On this day, 28 January, 40 years ago in 1986, the #SpaceShuttleChallenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, killing all seven crew members aboard.
