Challenger Disaster

Crew members of the Space Shuttle Challenger’s final mission: Ellison S. Onizuka, Sharon Christa McAuliffe, Greg Jarvis, Judy Resnik, Michael J. Smith, Dick Scobee, and Ron McNair

On January 28, 1986, the NASA shuttle orbiter mission STS-51-L and the tenth flight of Space Shuttle Challenger (OV-99) broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, killing all seven crew members, which consisted of five NASA astronauts and two payload specialists. The spacecraft disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 11:39 EST (16:39 UTC). Wikipedia

Learn more about the Challenger Disaster through historical newspapers from our archives. Explore newspaper articles, headlines, images, and other primary sources below.

Articles and Clippings about the Challenger Disaster

Interview with teacher and payload specialist Christa McAuliffe prior to Challenger disaster Fri, Jan 24, 1986 – Page 7 · The Journal News (White Plains, West Chester, New York, United States of America) · Newspapers.comBad weather delays launch of Space Shuttle Challenger on 26 January 1986 Sun, Jan 26, 1986 – Page 1 · The Star Press (Muncie, Delaware, Indiana, United States of America) · Newspapers.comBroken door handle delays Challenger launch on 27 January 1986 Tue, Jan 28, 1986 – Page 1 · News-Press (Fort Myers, Lee, Florida, United States of America) · Newspapers.comSpace Shuttle Challenger explodes; newspaper front page includes photo of crew members Tue, Jan 28, 1986 – Page 1 · Daily Record (Morristown, Morris, New Jersey, United States of America) · Newspapers.com"Stunned nation mourns loss" of seven astronauts in the Challenger disaster Wed, Jan 29, 1986 – Page 1 · The Pantagraph (Bloomington, McLean, Illinois, United States of America) · Newspapers.comIllustrated path of Space Shuttle Challenger's flight and trajectory after explosion Wed, Jan 29, 1986 – Page 4 · Philadelphia Daily News (Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America) · Newspapers.comDebris from the Challenger collected from ocean, but no bodies are found Wed, Jan 29, 1986 – Page 6 · The Courier-News (Bridgewater, Somerset, New Jersey, United States of America) · Newspapers.comPhotograph of Christa McAuliffe’s sister and parents watching the explosion of the Challenger Wed, Jan 29, 1986 – Page 1 · Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Ingham, Michigan, United States of America) · Newspapers.comColumnist writes that Challenger "tragedy renews respect for danger of space travel" Wed, Jan 29, 1986 – Page 6 · Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, Hinds, Mississippi, United States of America) · Newspapers.comThe astronauts aboard the space shuttle Challenger had no way to escape after launch Wed, Jan 29, 1986 – 6 · Casper Star-Tribune (Casper, Natrona, Wyoming, United States of America) · Newspapers.comOne solid rocket booster from Challenger was detonated 30 seconds after explosion Thu, Jan 30, 1986 – Page 9 · Florida Today (Cocoa, Brevard, Florida, United States of America) · Newspapers.comThe explosion of the space shuttle Challenger may affect some U.S. space programs Thu, Jan 30, 1986 – 6 · Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Montgomery, Ohio, United States of America) · Newspapers.comRonald Reagan’s tribute to the Challenger disaster included a poem written by a WWII pilot Thu, Jan 30, 1986 – 10 · Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Pinellas, Florida, United States of America) · Newspapers.comPresident Ronald Reagan speaks at memorial service for Challenger Seven Fri, Jan 31, 1986 – 1 · The Tribune (Coshocton, Coshocton, Ohio, United States of America) · Newspapers.comChallenger space shuttle’s external tank is investigated after disaster Fri, Jan 31, 1986 – 4 · Press and Sun-Bulletin (Binghamton, Broome, New York, United States of America) · Newspapers.comChallenger's right solid rocket booster and o-rings are identified as probable cause of explosion Sat, Feb 8, 1986 – Page 1 · Florida Today (Cocoa, Brevard, Florida, United States of America) · Newspapers.comPresidential commission into Challenger disaster requests NASA o-ring documents Sun, Feb 9, 1986 – 510 · The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Orange, Florida, United States of America) · Newspapers.comNewspaper readers write in to share their reactions to the Challenger space shuttle disaster Sun, Feb 9, 1986 – Page 19 · Statesman Journal (Salem, Marion, Oregon, United States of America) · Newspapers.comEngineers reportedly argued for delay of Challenger launch due to cold weather Tue, Feb 25, 1986 – 2 · The Honolulu Advertiser (Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America) · Newspapers.comChronology of events following the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger on January 28, 1986 Tue, Jun 10, 1986 – Page 5 · Florida Today (Cocoa, Brevard, Florida, United States of America) · Newspapers.com