Last Updated on January 30, 2021 by Solar System Ambassador Pam Roller
Thirty-five years ago on January 28, 1986 at 11:38 a.m. EST the world watched as the Space Shuttle Challenger lifted off the launch pad with the first teacher in space. It was an exhilarating moment in time, but 73 seconds into liftoff tragedy occurred; the vehicle had suffered a major malfunction that the crew did not survive.
The link below has the facts about the devastating accident and many great photos of the Challenger Crew as they prepared for their mission.
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/35-years-ago-remembering-challenger-and-her-crew
An enduring legacy of the Challenger accident is the Challenger Center for Space Science and Education, formed in 1986 by the families of the STS-51L astronauts. The Challenger Center and its worldwide network of Challenger Learning Centers, the first opened in Houston in 1988, use space-themed learning and role-playing to cultivate students’ skills for future success. These experiences enhance knowledge in science, technology, engineering, and math. To date, the Challenger Center has reached more than 5.5 million students globally.
Courtesy of NASA’s website