The NASA space shuttle Challenger exploded 40 years ago, on January 28, 1986, just 73 seconds after liftoff. The disaster claimed the lives of all seven astronauts aboard, including Christa McAuliffe, a teacher from New Hampshire who would have been the first civilian in space. “The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives,” President Regan said in an address to the nation that night. “We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them,

On the 40th anniversary of the Challenger explosion, 60 Minutes revisits a 1996 interview with engineers who said they tried to stop the launch. The space shuttle broke apart shortly after liftoff, killing all seven crew members, including teacher Christa McAuliffe. | 60 Minutes

One of NASA’s most iconic spacecraft, Space Shuttle Discovery, made history over and over again. From launching the Hubble Space Telescope to returning humanity to flight after tragedy, Discovery was a true workhorse of space exploration. With 39 missions flown between 1984 and 2011, Discovery helped build the International Space Station, advanced science in orbit, and inspired millions around the world to look up and dream bigger. Today, Discovery rests on Earth, but its legacy will forever liv

Space Shuttle Endeavour lifting off on the STS-134 mission from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 16, 2011. Video credit: NASA/ Wikipedia common #spaceshuttle #sts134 | Space views