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This Day in Aviation History
January 28, 1986
NASA’s space shuttle “Challenger” was destroyed in an explosion just 73 seconds into the mission. The entire crew was lost in the accident. It was the first loss of a space shuttle in NASA’s history.
One thing made this mission unique. It was scheduled to be the first flight of a new program called TISP, the Teacher In Space Program.
The crew of mission 51L included mission commander Francis R. Scobee; pilot Michael J. Smith; mission specialists Ronald E. McNair, Ellison S. Onizuka, and Judith A. Resnik; payload specialists Gregory B. Jarvis; and Sharon Christa McAuliffe, the first teacher to fly in space.
Selected from among more than 11,000 applicants from the education profession for entrance into the astronaut ranks, McAuliffe was very excited about the opportunity to participate in the space program. “I watched the Space Age being born and I would like to participate.”
In the wake of the tragedy the Astronauts Memorial Foundation was established. Its mission is to foster an understanding of space exploration and to improve education through technology.
Recent Articles about General Chuck Yeager
Appeal-Democrat, November 29, 2010
At a dedication ceremony Monday for renaming 5 miles of what was Smartville Road for him, the famed fighter and test aviator said the changes as the result of a $3.6 million project are dramatic. “I drove it this morning and it’s really a fabulous road now,” said Yeager, a Grass Valley resident famous for being the first to break the speed of sound, in 1947. Read more.
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RT @DrSusanLove: Dr. Susan Love Blog » HRT Questioned Again—Really?: http://t.co/lai1nGyE via @AddThis 2 days ago- Jan 24,1986:Voyager 2 space probe flew past (50,679 miles) Uranus,solar system's 7th planet Couldn't have w/out breaking sound barrier 1st 3 days ago