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The Challenger STS-51L Accident

On January 28, 1986, NASA and the American people were rocked as tragedy unfolded 73 seconds into the flight of Space Shuttle Challenger’s STS-51L mission. Presented below are documents and resources about the accident and its aftermath.

The STS-51L Crew

The STS-51L Mission

Documents and Resources

The STS-51L Crew

Portrait of Frank Scobee

Francis R. "Dick" Scobee

Commander

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Portrait of Michael J. Smith

Michael J. Smith

Pilot

Portrait of Ellison Onizuka

Ellison S. Onizuka

Mission Specialist

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Portrait of Astronaut Judy Resnik

Judith A. Resnik

Mission Specialist

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Official photo of Ronald E. McNair

Ronald E. McNair

Mission Specialist

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Portrait of Gregory B. Jarvis

Gregory B. Jarvis

Payload Specialist

Portrait of Sharon Christa McAuliffe

S. Christa McAuliffe

Payload Specialist "Teacher in Space Project"

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The Crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger STS-51L Mission

The Challenger shuttle crew, of seven astronauts—including the pilot, aerospace engineers, and scientists—died tragically in the explosion of their spacecraft during the…

All Crewed Missions

STS-51L

STS-51-L was the 25th mission of the NASA Space Shuttle program and the final flight of Space Shuttle Challenger.

Documents and Resources

STS-51L mission patch

STS-51L Press Kit

The STS-51L Pre-launch Press Kit.

Richard Smith points out a portion of a solid rocket booster segment to astronaut Sally Ride and to the chairman of the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident, William P. Rogers.

Rogers Commission Report

Report of the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident, June 1986 and Implementations of the Recommendations, June 1987.

The STS-51L crew walk out for launch on January 28, 1986

A Challenger Bibliography

Chapter 6 of this Space Shuttle Annotated Bibliography provides numerous resources for further reading about the accident and its aftermath.

The crew of STS-51L in the Flight Deck on December 17, 1985

The Fate of the Challenger Crew

Dr. Joseph P. Kerwin's investigation tried to determine the cause of the crew's deaths. Read his report and the NASA press release.

Liftoff of Challenger on 28 January 1986

Voice Recorder Transcript

Read the transcript from the mission's voice recorder which operated from T-2:05 until the accident.

Administrator Daniel Goldin Speaks into a microphone

Administrator's Statement on the 10th Anniversary

NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin's statement on the 10th anniversary of the Challenger accident.

The Space Shuttle Challenger Memorial is seen after a wreath laying ceremony that was part of NASA's Day of Remembrance, Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012, at Arlington National Cemetery. Credits: NASA/Bill Ingalls

President Reagan's Address to the Nation

Read President Ronald Reagan's February 3, 1986, address to the nation.

Portrait of Astronaut Judy Resnik

Senator John Glenn's Remarks, February 1986

Read Senator John Glenn's remarks at a Memorial Service for Astronaut Judith Resnik on February 3, 1986.

Space Shuttle Atlantis approaches the runway at Kennedy Space Center

Post-Challenger Evaluation of Space Shuttle Risk Assessment and Management

A 1988 report from the National Academies of Science's Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board.

A wreath at the mirror memorial for fallen NASA astronauts

President Reagan's Eulogy

President Ronald Reagan's remarks at a memorial service held in Houston, Texas, on January 31, 1986.

Fletcher testifying with Truly to the house science and technology committee

Selected Congressional Hearings and Reports

Access a collection of Congressional Hearings and Reports about the Challenger Space Shuttle Accident from the U.S. Government Publishing Office.

STS-51L

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