Close-up of Launch
In this picture, a cloud of grey-brown smoke can be seen on the right side of the Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) directly across from the letter "U" in United States. This was the first sign indicating an SRB joint breach may have occurred.
STS-51L Launch
Challenger begins to lift off.
Challenger Accident
At 78 seconds after liftoff, this image shows Challenger's left wing, main engines (still burning residual propellant) and the forward fuselage (crew cabin).
Solid Rocket Booster
One of the now-detached solid rocket boosters can be seen at the top of this view.
Challenger Memorial Overview
Thousands of of JSC employees and family and friends of the 51-L crew members filled the memorial. Bleachers had to be erected overnight to accommodate the hundreds of news media covering the event.
Solid Rocket Booster Underwater
A school of fish swims by a portion of a solid rocket booster, awaiting retrieval.
Recovered Engines
Large portions of the three main engines of the Space Shuttle Orbiter Challenger were recovered from the floor of the Atlantic Ocean to the east of the Kennedy Space Center. They were moved to a large storage building to the east of the Logistics Facility at Complex 39. Most of the pieces were recovered by the Coast Guard and the Navy.
Challenger Remains Internment
Workers lower STS-51L Challenger wreckage remains and boxes of debris into abandoned Minuteman Missile Silos at Complex 31 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
STS-51L Crew
An official portrait shows the STS-51L crewmembers. Back row (L to R): Mission Specialist, Ellison S. Onizuka, Teacher in Space Participant Sharon Christa McAuliffe, Payload Specialist, Greg Jarvis and Mission Specialist, Judy Resnik. Front row (L to R): Pilot Mike Smith, Commander, Dick Scobee and Mission Specialist, Ron McNair.
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