Timeline event · 28 January 1986 · The Space Shuttle Era
The Challenger Disaster
The Space Shuttle Challenger breaks apart 73 seconds after launch, killing all seven crew and grounding the shuttle fleet for nearly three years — a turning point for spaceflight safety.
Highlights
- ›A defining tragedy that reshaped spaceflight safety
Missions, people & worlds
Knowledge connections
- Part ofThe Space Shuttle Era
- Associated withSpace Shuttle program
- Associated withNASA
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.