Historical Resources
The Challenger STS-51L Accident
On January 28, 1986, NASA and the American people were rocked as tragedy unfolded 73 seconds into the flight of Space Shuttle Challenger’s STS-51L mission. Presented below are documents and resources about the accident and its aftermath.
The STS-51L Crew
The Crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger STS-51L Mission
The Challenger shuttle crew, of seven astronauts—including the pilot, aerospace engineers, and scientists—died tragically in the explosion of their spacecraft during the…
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STS-51L
STS-51-L was the 25th mission of the NASA Space Shuttle program and the final flight of Space Shuttle Challenger.
Learn More About STS-51L
Documents and Resources
STS-51L Press Kit
The STS-51L Pre-launch Press Kit.
Rogers Commission Report
Report of the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident, June 1986 and Implementations of the Recommendations, June 1987.
A Challenger Bibliography
Chapter 6 of this Space Shuttle Annotated Bibliography provides numerous resources for further reading about the accident and its aftermath.
The Fate of the Challenger Crew
Dr. Joseph P. Kerwin's investigation tried to determine the cause of the crew's deaths. Read his report and the NASA press release.
Voice Recorder Transcript
Read the transcript from the mission's voice recorder which operated from T-2:05 until the accident.
Administrator's Statement on the 10th Anniversary
NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin's statement on the 10th anniversary of the Challenger accident.
President Reagan's Address to the Nation
Read President Ronald Reagan's February 3, 1986, address to the nation.
Senator John Glenn's Remarks, February 1986
Read Senator John Glenn's remarks at a Memorial Service for Astronaut Judith Resnik on February 3, 1986.
Post-Challenger Evaluation of Space Shuttle Risk Assessment and Management
A 1988 report from the National Academies of Science's Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board.
President Reagan's Eulogy
President Ronald Reagan's remarks at a memorial service held in Houston, Texas, on January 31, 1986.
Selected Congressional Hearings and Reports
Access a collection of Congressional Hearings and Reports about the Challenger Space Shuttle Accident from the U.S. Government Publishing Office.
