: Earlier that year, on January 28, the U.S. Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated 73 seconds after liftoff, resulting in the death of all seven crew members, including teacher Christa McAuliffe.
: On April 26, 1986, a reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the Soviet Union exploded. It remains the worst nuclear accident in history, releasing radioactive material across Europe and leading to the long-term abandonment of the city of Pripyat. : Earlier that year, on January 28, the U
: President Ronald Reagan signed COBRA into law on April 7, 1986, which, among other things, authorized U.S. Customs to collect user fees for various inspection services. : Earlier that year