STS-51-L

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Mission insignia

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Mission statistics

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Mission:STS-51-L

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Shuttle:Challenger

Related Topics:
Shuttle - Challenger

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Launch pad: 39-B

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Launch:January 28, 198611:38 a.m. EST (16:38 GMT)

Related Topics:
January 28 - 1986

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Landing:Scheduled for February 3, 198612:12 p.m. EST (17:12 GMT); actual occurrence:January 28, 1986 11:40 a.m. (16:40 GMT)

Related Topics:
February 3 - 1986 - January 28

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Duration: 73 seconds6 d 34 min planned

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Orbit altitude: 150 nautical miles (280 km) planned, 7.6 nautical miles (14 km) achieved

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Orbit inclination: 28.5 degrees planned

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Orbits:96 planned

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Distance traveled: 18 miles (29 km)

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Events during flight: Broke apart on launch; all aboard killed

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Crew photo

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The ill-fated crew

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Front row, left to right:

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Pilot Michael J. Smith, Commander Francis "Dick" Scobee, Mission Specialist Ronald McNair

Related Topics:
Michael J. Smith - Francis "Dick" Scobee - Ronald McNair

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Back row:

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Mission Specialist Ellison Onizuka, Payload Specialist Christa Corrigan McAuliffe, Mission Specialists Gregory Jarvis and Judith Resnik

Related Topics:
Ellison Onizuka - Christa Corrigan McAuliffe - Gregory Jarvis - Judith Resnik

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STS-51-L was the 25th launch of a Space Shuttle and the tenth launch of the Challenger. The launch resulted tragically in the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster when the vehicle exploded 73 seconds after launch on January 28, 1986, a result of the failure of an O-ring seal in the right solid rocket booster (SRB). This caused a leak with a flame that caused another leak in the hydrogen tank. Among the crew was Christa McAuliffe, scheduled to be the first teacher in space. Students worldwide watched the shuttle launch and subsequent explosion on live television.

Related Topics:
Space Shuttle - ''Challenger'' - January 28 - 1986 - O-ring - Solid rocket booster - Christa McAuliffe - Teacher in space - Television

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