US | NASA The Challenger Disaster: The Day in Pictures Looking back on the 30th anniversary of the space shuttle's explosion By Michael Harthorne Posted Jan 28, 2016 1:16 PM CST Copied The space shuttle Challenger is destroyed by an explosion shortly after it lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Jan. 28, 1986. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File) Thirty years ago, the space shuttle Challenger exploded after liftoff, killing all seven people onboard—including high-school teacher Christa McAuliffe. The 25th flight for NASA's space shuttle program was to have studied Halley's Comet and deployed two satellites, Discovery News reports; McAuliffe was to have taught science lessons from space. Here are scenes from that day. Read These Next New Fox star, 23, misses first day after car troubles. White House rolls with Trump's 'daddy' nickname. Supreme Court ruling is a big blow to Planned Parenthood. Man accused of killing his daughters might be dead. Report an error