Challenger Space Shuttle Disintegrated in 1986

 Events
Jan 282024
 
Christa_McAuliffe

Christa McAuliffe

Challenger Space Shuttle disintegrated in 1986. Just 73 seconds into its flight, the spacecraft broke into pieces over the Atlantic Ocean. The accident temporarily stopped the American space program, and it revamped space travel safety requirements. Killed were Christa McAuliffe (the first teacher in space), Francis Scobee, Gregory Jarvis, Ronald McNair, Michael Smith, Judith Resnick, and Ellison Onizuka. Children could learn more about the astronauts at: http://history.nasa.gov/Biographies/challenger.html . They could also read The Challenger Disaster by Tim McNeese.

Space Accomplishments

 Events
Feb 032024
 

Challenger STS-41-B lifted off into space in 1984. The crew included Robert Gibson, Vance Brand, Ronald McNair, Robert Stewart, and Bruce McCandless. Stewart and McCandless became the first people to move freely in space without tethers. They were able to move about by using backpack jets.

Eileen Collins

Discovery STS-63 lifted off into space in 1995. On this mission Eileen Collins was the first woman pilot of a space shuttle. Discovery docked with the Russian space station Mir. Children can learn more about her at: Eileen Collins.

Children can examine all the missions at: STS Missions.