Spaceflight Insider

News Archive / Tagged: STS-51L

  • NASA’s annual ‘Day of Remembrance’ postponed

    Derek RichardsonJanuary 24th, 2019

    Because of the ongoing partial U.S. government shutdown, NASA's annual Day of Remembrance has been delayed, according to Administrator Jim Bridenstine.

  • NASA honors those lost during 2018 Day of Remembrance ceremony

    Sean CostelloJanuary 25th, 2018

    KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Once a year, generally on the last Thursday of January, the Astronauts Memorial Foundation welcomes the public to join assembled astronauts, family members and space program workers to remember the U.S. astronauts who lost their lives while serving on active duty. On Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018 those lost were remembered and their sacrifice honored.

  • NASA remembers three space tragedies

    Collin SkocikJanuary 26th, 2017

    Today, Jan. 26, 2017, NASA held its annual Day of Remembrance to honor astronauts lost on three missions, as well as other agency members who lost their lives for space exploration.

  • STS-51L lessons and loss 30 years later

    David DarlingJanuary 25th, 2016

    On Jan. 28, 1986, the 25th Space Shuttle mission (STS-51L) ended in tragedy just 73 seconds after lifting off from Launch Complex 39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Challenger was lost, along with its seven-member crew. The accident marked one of the darkest times in NASA's history.

  • On 30th anniversary of Challenger disaster, crews ‘Forever Remembered’

    Jason RhianJanuary 13th, 2016

    KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. — One could almost walk past it, after all, the "Forever Remembered" memorial is located on the side of the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex's $100 million Atlantis exhibit. However, as the date of the 30th anniversary of the loss of the crew of Space Shuttle Challenger's final mission, STS-51L approaches, it is undoubtedly one of the most important elements of the expansive facility.

  • ‘Forever Remembered’ Memorial opens at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

    Jason RhianJune 27th, 2015

    KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla — They were two of the most traumatic experiences of a program that lasted 30 years. The names Challenger and Columbia will forever be tied to the 14 astronauts who lost their lives on STS-51L and STS-107 – and they will also be forever memorialized by a new exhibit at the Kennedy Space Center […]

  • Our SpaceFlight Heritage: 29th anniversary of Challenger disaster

    Jim SharkeyJanuary 28th, 2015

    On Jan. 28, 1986 space shuttle Challenger lifted off from Kennedy Space Center’s Pad 39B at 11:38 a.m. EST (1638 GMT). The failure of an O-ring on the shuttle’s right solid rocket booster (SRB) at liftoff led to chain of events that caused the spacecraft to breakup 73 seconds into its flight, resulting in the […]

  • Our SpaceFlight Heritage: Challenger’s first flight – 31 years later

    Jason RhianApril 4th, 2014

    CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla — It’s been more than 30 years since space shuttle Challenger blazed a trail across the skies of Florida. The orbiter conducted its maiden flight on April 4, 1983. This image, provided by SFI partner Retro Space Images – details the first time Challenger was launch from Launch Complex 39 at NASA’s […]

  • Remembering NASA astronaut Dale Gardner (1948–2014)

    SpaceFlight InsiderFebruary 23rd, 2014

    We bid farewell this week to former Naval pilot and NASA astronaut Dale Gardner, who died on Wednesday, February 19, 2014, from a brain aneurysm – he was 65. During his NASA career, Gardner flew two shuttle missions: STS-8 in 1983 aboard Challenger and STS-51A in 1984 aboard Discovery. During these two missions, he logged more than 14 days in space. 

  • On NASA’s Day of Remembrance, Florida’s skies weep

    Mike HowardJanuary 31st, 2014

    KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla — Although the general public might not be aware of it, all of NASA’s three crewed tragedies took place within seven days of one another. On Jan. 27, 1967 the crew of Apollo 1 lost their lives in a fire on the pad, on Jan. 28, 1986, space shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds […]

  • Review: The Science Channel’s Challenger Disaster

    Jason RhianNovember 20th, 2013

    After of day of staring up into mostly-cloudy skies, I was very tired. However, I had seen promotions for The Discovery Channel’s “The Challenger Disaster” and wanted to watch it. After filing and editing stories, I was hoping for…well, I don’t know what I was hoping for. I wanted something that spoke to me as […]

  • Opinion: Dream Chaser malfunction reveals failings of NewSpace supporters, New Media

    Jason RhianNovember 3rd, 2013

    Last week on Saturday, October 26,  the Engineering Test Article (ETA) of Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Dream Chaser spacecraft conducted its first free flight test. Most of the mission was a complete success. However, the final leg of the mission encountered problems, and in so doing openly displayed how the company, its supporters and NASA handled […]