January 28, 1986

On January 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger tragically disintegrated 73 seconds after liftoff, resulting in the deaths of all seven crew members. The disaster was caused by the failure of an O-ring seal in one of the solid rocket boosters, which allowed hot gases to escape and damage the external fuel tank. This event was a significant loss for NASA and led to extensive changes in space shuttle safety protocols. The Challenger disaster is remembered as a somber reminder of the inherent risks of space exploration.