Jan. 28, 1986 was a dark day for NASA and space exploration as the world witnessed the Space Shuttle Challenger and its crew of seven explode in the air seconds after launch.
It was supposed to be a joyous January morning after the Challenger successfully lifted off from Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral. But the day turned into mourning as seconds after launch, orange fireball and smoke enveloped the sky instantly killing the seven crew members inside the shuttle. Thirty years later, families, friends, and NASA gather together to commemorate the accident.
An article that appeared in ABC News revealed that the Challenger disaster remains to this very day as one of the worst accidents in the space shuttle program. After an investigation, NASA attributed the explosion to a seal failure on the rocket booster. The transcript of the Challenger disaster attributed the accident to a major malfunction.
One of those killed in the explosion was high school teacher Christa McAuliffe, who was chosen from 11,000 other applicants for an opportunity to become the first civilian to go to space. The six other crew members were Cmdr. Michael J. Smith of the US Navy, Mission Commander Francis Scobee, Lt. Col Ellison Onizuka of the US Air Force, Judith Resnik, Ronald McNair, and Gregory Jarvis.
The website of Fox News revealed that a 'Day of Remembering' will be held Thursday at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Attending the event will be Katie Scobee Fulgham, daughter of Cmdr. Francis Scobee and Scott, son of Crista McAuliffe. June Scobee Rodgers, wife of Cmdr. Scobee established the Challenger Center for Space Science Education together with the other families of the Challenger crew. As of today, there are more than 40 centers throughout the United States with more being built.
In an interview with CBS News, Rodgers revealed that she is no longer angry with NASA and the missteps of the management. Rodgers said that she already is at peace and has moved on from the sorry loss of her husband and his crewmates.
"I am able now to treat the event as history rather than avoiding the public scrutiny that overcame us during our private grieving. I'm envious when I look back at Dick Scobee's pictures, and he's so young, and I'm a great grandmother now!" Rodgers said during the interview.
