A Look Back: Space Shuttle Challenger explodes after liftoff

This is the official NASA photo of the crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger mission 51L. All seven members of the crew were killed when the shuttle exploded during launch on Jan. 28, 1986. From front left, are: astronauts Michael J. Smith, Francis R. (Dick) Scobee, and Ronald E. McNair. Rear left are: Ellison Onizuka, Christa McAuliffe, Gregory Jarvis, and Judith Resnik.

Jan. 27, 1986: The crew for the Space Shuttle Challenger flight 51-L leaves their quarters for the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The launch that day, however, would be postponed. Front to back are Commander Francis Scobee, Mission Spl. Judith Resnik, Mission Spl. Ronald McNair, Payload Spl. Gregory Jarvis, Mission Spl. Ellison Onizuka, teacher Christa McAuliffe, and pilot Michael Smith.

Jan. 28, 1986: Icicles are visible in this photo taken by a NASA ice inspection team the morning of the Space Shuttle Challenger's final launch from Kennedy Space Center, Fla. The icicles are on hand rails and support structure of the Fixed Service Structure, which is used to service the shuttle just before launch. The shuttle, its external fuel tank, and left side solid rocket booster motor, are visible in the background.

Jan. 28, 1986: Four crew members of the Space Shuttle Challenger walk from their quarters at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., en route to the launch pad. Challenger exploded moments into the launch, killing all seven of the crew, including, from front: pilot Mike Smith, school teacher Christa McAuliffe, mission specialist Ellison Onizuka and payload specialist Gregory Jarvis.

Jan. 28, 1986: The Space Shuttle Challenger lifts off Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, at 11:38 a.m. The entire crew of seven was lost in the explosion 73 seconds into the launch.

Jan. 28, 1986: The Space Shuttle orbiter Challenger lifts off from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, in a cloud of smoke with a crew of seven aboard. The shuttle exploded after this photo, taken from atop the Vehicular Assembly Building, was made.

Jan. 28, 1986: Spectators in the VIP area at the Kennedy Space Center, Fla., watch as the Space Shuttle Challenger lifts from Pad 39-B. The shuttle, carrying a crew of seven, including the first teacher in space, exploded about 73 seconds after launch. All were killed.

Jan. 28, 1986: The Space Shuttle Challenger explodes shortly after lifting off from Kennedy Space Center, Fla. All seven crew members died in the explosion, which was blamed on faulty o-rings in the shuttle's booster rockets.

Jan. 28, 1986: Two unidentified spectators at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., react after they witnessed the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger.

Jan. 28, 1986: The Space Shuttle orbiter Challenger is destroyed by an explosion shortly after it lifted off from Kennedy Space Center. Monday, Jan. 28, 2019 marks the 33rd anniversary of the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger, which killed all seven crew members.

Jan. 28, 1986: In this series of photos, the space shuttle Challenger explodes shortly after lifting off from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. A family from Michigan watches the explosion from Shepard Park in Cocoa Beach.

Jan. 28, 1986; Young Scott McAuliffe's third-grade teacher comforts one of her charges as another youngster and a young woman, right, react after seeing the Space Shuttle Challenger explode in midair, killing all aboard. The teacher and student are from the Kimbell Elementary School in Concord, N.H., where young McAuliffe, son of space school teacher Christa McAuliffe, is a student.

Jan. 28, 1986: U.S. President Ronald Reagan is shown in the Oval Office in the White House after a televised address to the nation about the Shuttle Challenger explosion.

Jan. 28, 1986: The American flag in the press site at the Kennedy Space Center, Fla., flies at half-mast following the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger. NASA said the crew of seven aboard the craft died in the explosion. Launch pad B is shown under the flag.

Jan. 29, 1986: Concord, New Hampshire, storeowner Barry Dixon tapes a sign to the outside of his business, in tribute to the crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger, including Concord schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe, who were killed in the explosion of the shuttle.

Jan. 29, 1986: The front page of The Florida Times-Union chronicles the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger after launch from the Kennedy Space Center on Jan. 28.

Jan. 29, 1986: Father Daniel Messier, right, dries the tears of Concord, New Hampshire, sixth grader Tanya Lee at a memorial service for teacher Christa McAuliffe at St. John's Catholic Church in Concord. McAuliffe died in the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger.

Jan. 30, 1986: Kennedy Space Center workers enroute to Pad 39B were met by the sight of seven small American flags along side the road. Seven crew members were killed in the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger which was launched from Pad 39B.

Jan. 30, 1986: An unidentified woman weeps quietly during a memorial service at Brookside Church in Manchester, New Hampshire in honor of the crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger, who were killed in an explosion aboard the spacecraft. Concord, N.H., teacher Christa McAuliffe was among the seven on board.

Jan. 30, 1986: Flowers, telegrams, photographs, and a model of the Challenger lie in a display case at the Concord, New Hampshire High School in remembrance of Christa McAuliffe, a teacher at the school who was one of seven astronauts killed in the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion.

Jan. 30, 1986: An unidentified boy looks at a shrine set up in memory of Christa McAuliffe at St. John's Church in Concord, New Hampshire, following a memorial service in her honor. McAuliffe was killed in the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger.

Jan. 30, 1986: Diana Zeppiene, carrying a model of the Space Shuttle, and Eric Olson, carrying a folded American flag, walk down the aisle of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Melbourne, Florida, during a children's mass celebrated in honor of the Challenger crew. The children presented the model and flag as symbolic offerings.

Jan. 30, 1986: Arlene Dressler, right, holds her 4-year-old daughter Beth Ellen during a memorial service for teacher Christa McAuliffe at St. John's Church in Concord, New Hampshire.