Disaster & Disease28 January 1986

Space Shuttle Challenger disaster

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Kennedy Space CenterPublic domainWikimedia Commons

On January 28, 1986, Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, killing all seven crew members. The spacecraft disintegrated about 46,000 feet (14 km) above the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 16:39:13 UTC (11:39:13 a.m. EST, local time at the launch site).

Gallery

NASA Stennis Space CenterPublic domainWikimedia Commons
NASAPublic domainWikimedia Commons
UnknownPublic domainWikimedia Commons
U.S. Air ForcePublic domainWikimedia Commons
NASAPublic domainWikimedia Commons
NASAPublic domainWikimedia Commons
NASAPublic domainWikimedia Commons
NASAPublic domainWikimedia Commons
UnknownUnknown — LoC, rights unverifiedLibrary of Congress
UnknownUnknown — LoC, rights unverifiedLibrary of Congress

Key figures

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