The Challenger Space Shuttle Explosion

The countdown had begun. The crew members aboard the space shuttle Challenger joked with one another as they waited for takeoff. Then, at 11:38 A.M., the spacecraft thundered off the ground. The launch seemed to be going well.

Suddenly, everything changed. A bright ball of fire flashed in the sky, and thick clouds of white smoke appeared. NASA officials knew the space shuttle was in trouble. Everyone's worst fears came true as Challenger broke apart, killing everyone on board-including teacher Christa McAuliffe. The loss stunned people across the world and led to important changes in the space shuttle program.