40 years ago, shuttle Challenger exploded over Florida in deadly tragedy

Looking back on the Challenger explosion 35 years later

Challenger Center on Instagram: "40 years ago today, we lost our beloved Challenger crew. Today, we pause and remember Francis “Dick” Scobee, Michael Smith, Judith Resnik, Ellison Onizuka, Ronald McNair, Gregory Jarvis, and Christa McAuliffe. In the past 40 years, we’ve stood as a living tribute to these seven brave crew members, continuing their mission to fuel curiosity and exploration. We’ve served over 7 million students since then, inspiring future generations with the Challenger crew’s sto