On this day 35 years ago, seven astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger — Ellison S. Onizuka, Mike Smith, Christa McAuliffe, Dick Scobee, Greg Jarvis, Ron McNair and Judy Resnik — died when the spacecraft exploded and broke apart 73 seconds into its launch. *** The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour devoted its entire show on Jan. 28, 1986, to cover the tragedy and honor the victims. Here's part of that remembrance. | PBS NewsHour

The NASA space shuttle Challenger exploded 40 years ago, on January 28, 1986, just 73 seconds after liftoff. The disaster claimed the lives of all seven astronauts aboard, including Christa McAuliffe, a teacher from New Hampshire who would have been the first civilian in space. “The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives,” President Regan said in an address to the nation that night. “We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them,