The space shuttle Challenger exploded in a ball of fire shortly after it left the launching pad, and all seven astronauts on board were lost. The date was January 28, 1986
Killed in the explosion were the mission commander, Francis R. (Dick) Scobee; the pilot Comdr. Michael J. Smith of the Navy; Dr. Judith A. Resnik; Dr. Ronald E. McNair; Lieut. Col. Ellison S. Onizuka of the Air Force; Gregory B. Jarvis, and Christa McAuliffe.
Christa McAuliffe, a high-school teacher from Concord, N.H., was to have been the first ordinary citizen in space.
“Good morning, Christa, hope we go today,” said ground control as the New Hampshire school teacher settled into the spaceplane.
“Good morning,” she replied, “I hope so, too.”
Those are her last known words...
(A public domain video)
