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IMAGO International History, Space travel, USA, Challenger disaster 1986

Jun 10, 2025

The following photos have been selected for you by the IMAGO picture desk on this topic. For more pictures please use the search function.

  • SPACE SHUTTLE CHALLENGER, 1986. Launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger from Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Shortly before the accident that claimed both crew and shuttle. Photograph, 28 January 1986. Copyright: xGRANGERx xGRANGERx 0648642
  • CHALLENGER DISASTER, 1986. The Space Shuttle Challenger accident at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Photograph, 28 January 1986. Copyright: xGRANGERx xGRANGERx 0186127
  • CHALLENGER DISASTER, 1986. The Space Shuttle Challenger accident at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Photograph, 28 January 1986. Copyright: xGRANGERx xGRANGERx 0184808
  • CHALLENGER DISASTER, 1986. Exhaust and smoke from the space shuttle Challenger accident on January 28, 1986. Photograph. Copyright: xGRANGERx xGRANGERx 0184059
  • Explosion of Challenger space shuttle, 1986 (photo) 3588535 Explosion of Challenger space shuttle, 1986 (photo); (add.info.: Explosion of Challenger space shuttle STS 51L after take-off from Kennedy Space Center on January 28 1986 resulting in the death of all 7 astronauts); Photo NASA. Copyright: xPhotox xNASAx xBridgemanxImagesx 3588535
  • S86-38989 (28 Jan. 1986) --- Main engine exhaust, solid rocket booster plume and an expanding ball of gas from the external tank is visible seconds after the space shuttle Challenger accident on Jan. 28, 1986. (NOTE The 51-L crew members lost their lives in the space shuttle Challenger accident moments after launch on Jan. 28, 1986 from the Kennedy Space Center.) Copyright: xpiemagsx piemagsspace-57318 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!
  • S86-25254 (January 1986) --- Payload specialists in training for STS-51L take a break in shuttle emergency egress training at the Johnson Space Center s (JSC) Shuttle Mock-up and Integration Laboratory. Left to right are Gregory Jarvis of Hughes, Sharon Christa McAuliffe and Barbara Morgan of the Teacher-in-Space Project. McAuliffe was selected as NASA s first citizen observer in the Space Shuttle Program and Morgan was named her backup. The photo was taken by Keith Meyers of the New York Times. EDITOR S NOTE The STS-51L crew members lost their lives in the space shuttle Challenger accident moments after launch on Jan. 28, 1986 from the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Copyright: xpiemagsx piemagsspace-57275 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!
  • S86-25251 (January 1986) --- Sharon Christa McAuliffe, payload specialist for STS-51L, takes a breather following a busy day s training in the Johnson Space Center s Shuttle Mock-up and Integration Laboratory. McAuliffe, a New Hampshire school teacher, was chosen from among ten finalists in the Teacher-in-Space Project to serve as citizen observer aboard the Challenger. This photo was taken by Keith Meyers of the New York Times. Copyright: xpiemagsx piemagsspace-57274 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!
  • S86-25196 (January 1986) --- Sharon Christa McAuliffe, STS-51L citizen observer payload specialist, gets a preview of microgravity during a special flight aboard NASA s KC-135 zero gravity aircraft. McAuliffe will represent the Teacher-in-Space Project aboard the space shuttle Challenger when it launches later this month. This photograph was taken by Keith Meyers of the New York Times. EDITOR S NOTE The STS-51L crew members lost their lives in the space shuttle Challenger accident moments after launch on Jan. 28, 1986 from the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Copyright: xpiemagsx piemagsspace-57271 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!
  • S86-25192 (January 1986) --- Two payload specialists in training for the STS-51L mission, and a payload specialist from STS-61C share a zero-gravity flight aboard a KC-135 aircraft over the Gulf of Mexico. Left to right are United States Representative Bill Nelson (Democrat, Florida), Sharon Christa McAuliffe, and Barbara R. Morgan. The congressman is a payload specialist for the STS-61C mission. McAuliffe is the prime payload specialist for the Teacher-in-Space Project aboard the STS-51L mission; and Morgan is her backup. The photo was taken by Keith meyers of the New York Times. EDITOR S NOTE The STS-51L crew members lost their lives in the space shuttle Challenger accident moments after launch on Jan. 28, 1986 from the Kennedy Space Cent Copyright: xpiemagsx piemagsspace-57270 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!
  • 51L-S-155 (28 Jan. 1986) --- The space shuttle Challenger lifted off from Pad 39B Jan. 28, 1986 at 11:38 a.m. (EST) with a crew of seven astronauts and the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS). An accident 73 seconds after liftoff claimed both crew and vehicle. Copyright: xpiemagsx piemagsspace-2613 !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT!
  • Explosion of space shuttle Challenger (January 28, 1986) On January 28, 1986, space shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after its take-off from Kennedy Space Center in Cap Canaveral, Florida. On the picture, fragments of the shuttle. Copyright: xPhoto12 Coll-DITE-NASAx DIT03034_006
  • Explosion of space shuttle Challenger (January 28, 1986) On January 28, 1986, space shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after its take-off from Kennedy Space Center in Cap Canaveral, Florida. Copyright: xPhoto12 Coll-DITE-NASAx DIT03034_002
  • The NASA family lost seven of its own on the morning of Jan. 28, 1986, when a booster engine failed, causing the Shuttle Challenger to break apart just 73 seconds after launch. In this photo from Jan. 9, 1986, the Challenger crew takes a break during countdown training at NASA s Kennedy Space Center. Left to right are Teacher-in-Space payload specialist Sharon Christa McAuliffe; payload specialist Gregory Jarvis; and astronauts Judith A. Resnik, mission specialist; Francis R. (Dick) Scobee, mission commander; Ronald E. McNair, mission specialist; Mike J. Smith, pilot; and Ellison S. Onizuka, mission specialist. Unknown Copyright: xNASAx 1003_589THA
  • Official NASA portrait, taken on January 8, 1981, of astronaut Michael J. Smith, Pilot for STS-51-L. On January 28, 1986, at 11:39 a.m. EST, the Space Shuttle Challenger and her seven-member crew were lost when a ruptured O-ring in the right Solid Rocket Booster caused an explosion 73 seconds after launch. WAX2016012504 NASA......
  • Christa McAuliffe and her backup, Barbara Morgan, Teacher in Space Project (TISP) payload specialist participants, are pictured training for the STS-51-L mission in the Shuttle Mission Simulator (SMS) on November 16, 1985. On January 28, 1986, at 11:39 a.m. EST, the Space Shuttle Challenger and her seven-member crew were lost when a ruptured O-ring in the right Solid Rocket Booster caused an explosion 73 seconds after launch. Morgan would later successfully fly aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-118) in August 2007. WAX2016012513 NASA......
  • Official NASA portrait, taken in 1985, of Gregory B. Jarvis, Payload Specialist for STS-51-L. On January 28, 1986, at 11:39 a.m. EST, the Space Shuttle Challenger and her seven-member crew were lost when a ruptured O-ring in the right Solid Rocket Booster caused an explosion 73 seconds after launch. WAX2016012510 NASA......
  • Official NASA portrait, taken on September 26, 1985, of Sharon Christa McAuliffe, Payload Specialist for STS-51-L and member of the Teacher in Space Project (TISP). On January 28, 1986, at 11:39 a.m. EST, the Space Shuttle Challenger and her seven-member crew were lost when a ruptured O-ring in the right Solid Rocket Booster caused an explosion 73 seconds after launch. WAX2016012509 NASA......
  • Official NASA portrait, taken on January 31, 1978, of astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka, Mission Specialist for STS-51-L. On January 28, 1986, at 11:39 a.m. EST, the Space Shuttle Challenger and her seven-member crew were lost when a ruptured O-ring in the right Solid Rocket Booster caused an explosion 73 seconds after launch. WAX2016012508 NASA......
  • Official NASA portrait, taken on July 2, 1985, of astronaut Ronald E. McNair, Mission Specialist for STS-51-L. On January 28, 1986, at 11:39 a.m. EST, the Space Shuttle Challenger and her seven-member crew were lost when a ruptured O-ring in the right Solid Rocket Booster caused an explosion 73 seconds after launch. WAX2016012507 NASA......
  • Official NASA portrait, taken on September 21, 1985, of astronaut Judith A. Resnik, Mission Specialist for STS-51-L. On January 28, 1986, at 11:39 a.m. EST, the Space Shuttle Challenger and her seven-member crew were lost when a ruptured O-ring in the right Solid Rocket Booster caused an explosion 73 seconds after launch. WAX2016012506 NASA......
  • Official NASA portrait, taken on August 6, 1984, of astronaut Francis R. Scobee, Commander for STS-51-L. On January 28, 1986, at 11:39 a.m. EST, the Space Shuttle Challenger and her seven-member crew were lost when a ruptured O-ring in the right Solid Rocket Booster caused an explosion 73 seconds after launch. WAX2016012505 NASA......