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Challenger Destroyed 73 seconds into Launch

The NASA space shuttle Challenger, carrying 7 astronauts on orbital mission STS-51-L, exploded during the launch, killing all on board including the first "teacher in space" Christa McAuliffe. The other six killed were pilot Michael J. Smith, mission commander Dick Scobee, and specialists Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Gregory Jarvis, and Judith Resnik.

The external fuel tank, containing tons of liquid hydrogen and oxygen, was ruptured by a flare of hot gas from one of the two solid-propellant booster rockets, causing a breakup that destroyed the vehicle. The shuttle crew compartment and the two SRB boosters (both remotely destructed) all fell into the ocean. The bodies of the astronauts were not recovered until March 9th.

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14y ago

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