US | NASA The Challenger Disaster: The Day in Pictures Looking back on the 30th anniversary of the space shuttle's explosion By Michael Harthorne Posted Jan 28, 2016 1:16 PM CST Copied The space shuttle Challenger is destroyed by an explosion shortly after it lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Jan. 28, 1986. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File) Thirty years ago, the space shuttle Challenger exploded after liftoff, killing all seven people onboard—including high-school teacher Christa McAuliffe. The 25th flight for NASA's space shuttle program was to have studied Halley's Comet and deployed two satellites, Discovery News reports; McAuliffe was to have taught science lessons from space. Here are scenes from that day. Read These Next It's a survival story fit for a sea shanty. Off-roading crash claims life of influencer couple Dee from the show What's Happening!! is dead at 60. Democrats get good news in their 2026 Senate quest. Report an error