39 years ago today: NASA observes anniversary of Challenger shuttle explosion

What Happened to the Bodies of the Challenger Disaster Crew On January 28, 1986, the world watched in anticipation as the space shuttle Challenger prepared for liftoff. Seventy-three seconds later, the shuttle was gone—exploding in a fiery blaze that shattered the dreams of millions. Divers pulled pieces from the deep—but what surfaced wasn’t just wreckage. It was evidence that forced officials to answer questions no one expected. And now, we show what the ocean tried to hide. Beneath the surfac