The NASA space shuttle Challenger exploded 40 years ago, on January 28, 1986, just 73 seconds after liftoff. The disaster claimed the lives of all seven astronauts aboard, including Christa McAuliffe, a teacher from New Hampshire who would have been the first civilian in space. “The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives,” President Regan said in an address to the nation that night. “We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them,

2.3M views · 31K reactions | On January 28th, 1986 the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded and broke apart on take off. This week, Destruction Decoded explores the top 10 most dramatic space accidents, from Baikonur to Cape Canaveral. Watch Destruction Decoded on Wednesdays at 8pm, on National Geographic UK. | National Geographic UK | Facebook

7.2K views · 202 reactions | On January 28, 1986, the space shuttle...

On February 1, 2003, NASA’s Space Shuttle Columbia broke apart during re-entry, just 16 minutes before landing. The hidden damage from launch — a small hole in the left wing caused by falling foam — turned deadly as superheated air entered at over 1,650°C, ripping the shuttle apart over Texas skies. Among the seven astronauts who perished was Kalpana Chawla, the first woman of Indian origin in space, whose legacy continues to inspire millions. This video explains the step-by-step events of that