At 11:38 a.m. on a cold January 28, 1986, TV broadcast the launch of what was assumed would be a successful space shuttle mission.
At 11:39 a.m. the space shuttle Challenger exploded after take off killing all seven astronauts aboard.
The most well-known member of the crew was Christa McAuliffe, a high-school teacher from Concord, New Hampshire.
CNN viewers watched the accident live:
“Cape Canaveral, Fla. Jan. 28 — The space shuttle Challenger exploded in a ball of fire shortly after it left the launching pad today, and all seven astronauts on board were lost.
The worst accident in the history of the American space program, it was witnessed by thousands of spectators who watched in wonder, then horror, as the ship blew apart high in the air.
Flaming debris rained down on the Atlantic Ocean for an hour after the explosion, which occurred just after 11:39 A. M. It kept rescue teams from reaching the area where the craft would have fallen into the sea, about 18 miles offshore.”
— “The Shuttle Explodes”
New York Times, January 29, 2006
The CBS Evening News:
“The launch had been delayed repeatedly, most recently because of fears that icicles on the launch pad Tuesday morning could harm the shuttle.
A crowd of teachers was on hand to watch Concord (N.H.) High School social studies teacher McAuliffe, 37, who was chosen from 11,000 candidates to be the first ‘ordinary citizen in space.’
They stood in temporary bleachers and cheered wildly at what appeared to be a perfect takeoff into a cold but clear blue sky. Then, as three bright fireballs appeared amid what sounded like muffled thunder, more than a minute before the booster rockets were supposed to be jettisoned, there was a confused hush.
‘Oh my God!’ said Debbie Hall, a NASA security guard standing near the bleachers. ‘It never did that before.’ She has witnessed numerous launches here.
Also board the Challenger were commander Francis ‘Dick’ Scobee, co-pilot Michael Smith, Judith Resnik, Ellison Onizuka, Arnold McNair, and satellite engineer Gregory Jarvis.”
— “Space Shuttle Explodes”
Chicago Tribune, January 29, 1986
NBC Nightly News:
At the end of the tragic day President Reagan delivered a speech from the Oval Office about the Challenger crew. (Video)
The Washington Post soon published a transcript. Here is an excerpt:
“Ladies and gentlemen, I planned to speak to you tonight to report on the State of the Union, but the events of earlier today have led me to change those plans. Today is a day for mourning and remembering. Nancy and I are pained to the core over the tragedy of the shuttle Challenger. We know we share this pain with all of the people of our country. This is truly a national loss.
….We’ve grown used to wonders in this century. It’s hard to dazzle us. But for 25 years the United States space program has been doing just that. We’ve grown used to the idea of space and perhaps we forget that we’ve only just begun. We’re still pioneers. They, the members of the Challenger crew, were pioneers.
….The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them nor the last time we saw them — this morning — as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye, and slipped the surly bonds of Earth to touch the face of God.”
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