Editor’s note: This story was originally published on Jan 28, 2025.
A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.
On Jan. 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after liftoff from Cape Canaveral, Florida, killing all seven crew members, including schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe.
Many of us were watching the liftoff live, and were horrified with what we saw. The Deseret News had followed McAuliffe’s preparation and now followed the sad aftermath. President Ronald Reagan, who was also watching the liftoff live, gave a heartfelt speech later that day.
Fragments of the $1.2 billion spacecraft, one of four in NASA’s shuttle fleet, fell into the Atlantic Ocean 18 miles southeast of the Kennedy Center launch pad.
Blame for the Challenger tragedy eventually was placed on faulty O-ring seals in the motors built by Utah’s Thiokol plant. More than 2½ years of research, redesign and testing were needed before America could return to space.
Here are stories from Deseret News archives on McAuliffe — America’s favorite astronaut-teacher, the investigation into the Challenger explosion and other space exploration issues:
“McAuliffe remains vivid to still-grieving New Hampshire city”
“Carrying on work of McAuliffe”
“Shuttle blasts off with teacher aboard, carrying out dream of Christa McAuliffe”
“Teacher-astronaut to speak with children as NASA considers possible repairs for Endeavour’s belly”
“Fans, friends, alumni trying to save Space Center”
“Reagan’s memorable speech on Challenger disaster”
“NASA marks 25th anniversary of Challenger accident”
“Challenger disaster — 5 years later”
“Utah’s connections to the Challenger”
“Man who predicted space shuttle Challenger disaster dies in Brigham City”
But space travel always has its dangers.
Seventeen years later, on Feb. 1, 2003, the space shuttle Columbia broke apart as it reentered Earth’s atmosphere, killing all seven crew members: commander Rick Husband; pilot William McCool; payload commander Michael Anderson; mission specialists Kalpana Chawla, David Brown and Laurel Clark; and payload specialist Ilan Ramon.
“Challenger, Columbia wreckage on public display for 1st time”
