Challenger Disaster Live on CNN

January 28th, 1986 at 11:39am EDT - The Space Shuttle Challenger Explodes on its 10th flight during mission STS-51-L. The explosion occurred 73 seconds after liftoff and was actually the result of rapid deceleration and not combustion of fuel.

CNN was the only national news station to broadcast the mission live, so thus what you are witnessing on this video is the only coverage of the disaster as it happened when it did. Approximately 17% of Americans witnessed the launch live, while 85% of Americans heard of the news within 1 hour of the event. According to a study, only 2 other times in history up to that point had news of an event disseminated so fast - the first being the announcement of JFK's assassination in 1963, the second being news spread among students at Kent State regarding the news of FDR's death in 1945. It has been estimated at the time that nearly 48% of 9-13 year olds witnessed the event in their classrooms, as McAuliffe was in the spotlight.

The 25th Space Shuttle mission altered the history of manned space exploration and represented the first loss of an American crew during a space mission (Apollo 1 was during a training exercise).

Christa McAuliffe was slated to be the first teacher in space for the Teacher in Space Program. As her maximum altitude was ~65,000ft (12.31 miles), she never made it to space. That title was given to Barbara Morgan of STS-118 aboard the shuttle Endeavour in August 2007, 22 and a half years after the Challenger Disaster. Morgan served as McAuliffe's backup during STS-51-L. As Morgan is now part of the Educator in Space Program, she will be credited as the first "educator" in space, to distinguish her from McAuliffe.

Aboard Challenger during STS-51-L:

Francis "Dick" Scobee (Commander)

Michael Smith (Pilot)

Judith Resnik (Mission Specialist)

Ellison Onizuka (Mission Specialist)

Ronald McNair (Mission Specialist)

Gregory Jarvis (Payload Specialist)

Sharon Christa McAuliffe (Payload Specialist - Teacher in Space)

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• space
• shuttle
• challenger
• mcauliffe
• sts-51-l
• nasa
• cnn
• disaster
• explosion
• regan
• 1986
• liftoff
• live
• kennedy

[20MOJO20]

Jeez, I cannot believe this will very soon be 26 years ago. I still remember it like it was yesterday. I was only 10 years and 2 days old. Much respect to the explorers of our world.

[iF0rk]

A challenger disappears.

[MrAJR76]

"Result of rapid deceleration"?? No, it wasn't. A sudden cross-wind set in motion the chain of events, not a sudden deceleration. Where on earth did you get that idea from? Watch 'Seconds From Disaster' for the full explanation of exactly what happened.

[lilrandyva]

i just turned one year old when this happen

[strangernmoscow]

"Explosion" actually caused by rapid deceleration? Where did u get that fact? All I've ever heard was, plume from failed o-ring breached liquid hydrogen tank, that failed and the thrust pushed it into the intertank/lower liquid oxygen tank, and rotating right booster crashed into the liquid oxygen tank and the released propellant ignited. U can actually see that process happening on video.

[IraqiRomanceKing]

@20MOJO20 Happy Birthday

[GoCowboysMAustin]

I was living in Algeria when it happened, I remember it , I was 11

[GabrieleAzzuppardi]

Incredibile...

[iXelsior]

RIP all Russian cosmonauts who perished.

[iXelsior]

R.I.P The crew of STS-51-L (Jan 28), STS-107 (Feb 1) and Apollo 1 (Jan 27).

[ElenaTheMonster]

26 years ago this day... RIP.

[dgsvalrico723]

I remember this like it was yesterday. I live here in Florida in the Tampa area. It was a cold clear morning that day and you could see the vapor trail from here.