The Challenger Disaster -

The mission, STS-51-L, was uniquely significant because it included the first civilian participant in NASA's . Millions of students across America watched live from their classrooms, making the event a defining moment for a generation. The fallen heroes were:

On January 28, 1986, the United States suffered one of the most heartbreaking tragedies in the history of space exploration. Just 73 seconds after liftoff from the Kennedy Space Center, the disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean, claiming the lives of all seven crew members on board. The Crew: The "Challenger Seven" The Challenger Disaster