The objectives of this mission included the deployment of a Tracking Data Relay satellite and photography of Halley's Comet. This mission also included payloads carried in the crew compartment as well as the flying of the Teacher in Space Project. However, 73 seconds into the flight an explosion claimed the crew and vehicle.!
Front row, left to right: Pilot Michael Smith, DOB: 4/30/45, Background: Cmdr., USN. Education: M.S. in aeronautical engineering.
Commander Francis Scobee, DOB: 5/19/39, Background: Major, USAF. Pilot of 41-C. Education: B.S. in aerospace engineering.
Mission Specialist Ronald McNair, DOB: 10/21/50, Background: Flew on 41-B. Education: Ph.D. in physics.
Back row, left to right: Mission Specialist Ellison Onizuka, DOB: 6/24/46, Background: Lt. Col., USAF. Served on 51-C. Education: M.S. in aerospace engineering.
Teacher in Space, Christa McAuliffe, DOB: 9/2/48, Background: Teacher. Education: M.A. in education.
Payload Specialist Gregory Jarvis, DOB: 8/24/44. Background: payload engineering. Education: M.S. in electrical engineering.
Mission Specialist Judith Resnik, DOB: 4/5/49. Background: Circuitry design. Flew on 41-D. Education: Ph.D. in electrical engineering.
Tragically, the crew was killed when the vehicle exploded one minute and 13 seconds after lift-off.!
28 January 1986 11:38 a.m. EST
The launch date was delayed five times, from its original 22 January launch due to delays in the prior mission, bad weather and equipment problems. The final launch was delayed two hours when a hardware interface module failed. An explosion 73 seconds after liftoff claimed the crew and vehicle.!
28 January 1986 Duration: 1:13
An explosion 73 seconds after liftoff claimed the crew and vehicle.!
