Space shuttle challenger

CHALLENGER EXPLOSION 1986.

Challenger STS-61

On Jan. 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after liftoff, killing seven astronauts, including teacher Christa McAuliffe.

Read TIME's original cover story about the NASA tragedy

Today marks the 31st anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster (Mission STS-51-L), when the shuttle's seven astronauts were tragically killed by an explosion on January 28, 1986. [...]

Download free image of Discovery lifts off from Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida beginning its final flight, the STS-133 mission, to the International Space Station, Feb 24. Original from NASA. Digitally enhanced by rawpixel. by NASA (Source) about astronaut, space, space shuttle, public domain, and international space station 441042

Table of ContentsHow are spaceships sterilized?What is plasma sterilization?Why is it important to keep spacecraft germ-free?ConclusionSuggested Reading Spaceships are made germ-free through several methods: heat, chemicals, radiation and plasma, the last of which is the most preferred. The equipment is assembled in a clean room. All of this is done for planetary protection. Whether it is to send people to the moon or restock a space station, launch satellites in Earth’s orbit or simply ex

Challenger cabin, starboard side. Thirty years ago this morning (1986 January 28), the NASA Space Shuttle Challenger (Mission STS-51-L) broke apart 73 seconds after the 11:38 a.m. EST launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Seven astronauts perished following the spacecraft's break-up and fall into the ocean. Only Columbia and Challenger made use of all those white LRSI tiles on the crew cabin section. Discovery through Endeavour made use of the new AFRSI blankets instead.

We salute and tip our hats to real life heroes, never fogotten~ The explosion of the "challenger" space shuttle had everyone devastated, to say the least

It’s just too easy to forget to thank God for the most precious of his blessings.