Space Shuttle Challenger Explosion
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NASA's space shuttle Challenger completed 10 missions before it broke apart during a launch in 1986, killing seven astronauts.
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Challenger at 40: The disaster that changed NASA
How a cold morning, failed O-rings, and flawed decision-making led to tragedy Forty years ago, Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated 73 seconds into its flight, killing its crew of seven and exposing the management culture and decision-making process that led NASA to launch on a freezing January day.
On Jan. 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after takeoff. All seven crewmembers on board were killed.
Today marks the 40th anniversary of the Challenger explosion. One of the crew members called South Carolina home.
This week marks 40 years since the Challenger disaster, a heartbreaking moment that unfolded just 73 seconds after liftoff, capturing the attention of millions across the nation.