Somber Anniversary

Today marks 36 years since the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger.  All seven crew members were killed in the blast that broke the vehicle apart after its launch from Cape Canaveral.  The astronaut crew included New Hampshire educator Christa McAuliffe who was to have been the first teacher in space. 

 The shuttle exploded 73 seconds after takeoff on Jan. 28, 1986.

Crew members Dick Scobee, Mike Smith, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Judith Resnik and Gregory Jarvis also died.  McAuliffe was the first civilian teacher ever chosen for a space mission.

Then-President Ronald Reagan addressed the nation following the tragedy.