# STS-51L

Occurred 38 years ago

STS-51-L would have been the 25th mission of the NASA Space Shuttle program. Tragically, the Challenger and her crew were lost in an explosion 73 seconds after liftoff.  After a lengthy investigation, the cause was determined to be an o-ring failure in the right solid rocket booster aggravated by extreme cold weather in Florida before the launch.

Space Shuttle

Mission

Launch

Flight

“We will never forget them… as they… ‘slipped the surly bonds of earth’ to ‘touch the face of God.’ “

—**President Ronald Reagan****January 28, 1986**

## Crew

Francis R. Scobee, Commander

Michael J. Smith, Pilot

Judith A. Resnik, Mission Specialist

Ellison S. Onizuka, Mission Specialist

Ronald E. McNair, Mission Specialist

S. Christa McAuliffe, Teacher in Space

Gregory B. Jarvis, Payload Specialist

### History Resources

## The Challenger STS-51L Accident

Find reports, transcripts, press releases, and other documentation about the Space Shuttle Challenger tragedy.
                        Learn More about The Challenger STS-51L Accident

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# 35 Years Ago: Remembering Challenger and Her Crew

The year 1986 was shaping up to be the most ambitious one yet for NASA’s Space Shuttle Program. The agency’s…
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## Day of Remembrance 2023

Every year, NASA pauses to remember the sacrifices made in efforts to further mankind's quest to reach for the stars.
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Featured Story

# STS-51L Mission Profile

The first shuttle liftoff scheduled from Pad B, STS-51L was beset by delays. Launch was originally set for 3:43 p.m. EST,…
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## STS-51L

20 Images

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-  									Page Last Updated:								  								Aug 03, 2023								 
-  									Page Editor:								  									Heather Deiss								 
-  								Responsible NASA Official:							  								Abigail Bowman