January 28, 1986 - Space Shuttle Challenger
![Space Shuttle Challenger (STS-51L) Crew (l-r): Payload Specialists Christa McAuliffe and Gregory B. Jarvis, Mission Specialist Judith A. Resnik, Commander Francis R. Scobee, Mission Specialist Ronald E. McNair, Pilot Michael J. Smith, Mission Spe... Space Shuttle Challenger (STS-51L) Crew (l-r): Payload Specialists Christa McAuliffe and Gregory B. Jarvis, Mission Specialist Judith A. Resnik, Commander Francis R. Scobee, Mission Specialist Ronald E. McNair, Pilot Michael J. Smith, Mission Spe...](/content/history/museums/nmusn/explore/photography/humanitarian/20th-century/1980-1989/1986-space-shuttle-challenger/_jcr_content/body/media_asset/image.img.jpg/1677782053239.jpg)
On January 28, 1986, Space Shuttle Challenger (STS-51), broke apart into its flight and exploded, killing all seven crewmembers. In the aftermath, the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard ships began salvage operations from February to August 1986. Over 480 square nautical miles of the ocean bottom was searched using sonar equipment. Navy divers, remotely operated vehicles (ROV's), and manned submersibles also performed visual investigations.
![KSC-83PC-0028. Space Shuttle Challenger. In this image, Space Shuttle Challenger waits on Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center before its first mission, STS-6, launched on April 4, 1983. Originally built as a test vehicle, in 1979 NASA issu... KSC-83PC-0028. Space Shuttle Challenger. In this image, Space Shuttle Challenger waits on Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center before its first mission, STS-6, launched on April 4, 1983. Originally built as a test vehicle, in 1979 NASA issu...](/content/history/museums/nmusn/explore/photography/humanitarian/20th-century/1980-1989/1986-space-shuttle-challenger/_jcr_content/body/media_asset_248703872/image.img.jpg/1677782108795.jpg)
Involved in the salvage operations for Challenger items (contacts) were USS Preserver (ARS-8), Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two, Explosive Ordinance Disposal Group Two, USS Sunbird (ARS-15), Submersible - Submarine NR-1, USS Opportune (ARS-41), USS Kittiwake (ASR-13), and USS Grapple (T-ARS-53). Numerous surface warships based on the east coast were immediately dispatched following the explosion to search the Atlantic Ocean for any contact of Challenger or her crew. One of the NASA astronauts killed in the explosion was Commander Michael J. Smith, USN.
![STS-51-L Debris Aboard the USCG Cutter Dallas, January 30, 1986. With the help of the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy, search and recovery teams began retrieving pieces of the Shuttle from the Atlantic Ocean soon after the accident. Vessels br... STS-51-L Debris Aboard the USCG Cutter Dallas, January 30, 1986. With the help of the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy, search and recovery teams began retrieving pieces of the Shuttle from the Atlantic Ocean soon after the accident. Vessels br...](/content/history/museums/nmusn/explore/photography/humanitarian/20th-century/1980-1989/1986-space-shuttle-challenger/_jcr_content/body/media_asset_300782253/image.img.jpg/1677782169948.jpg)
![STS-51-L Recovered Debris (Left Solid Rocket Booster) Search and recovery teams lifted this fragment of the Shuttle's Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) from the ocean onto a waiting ship and then returned it to Kennedy Space Center for the investigation... STS-51-L Recovered Debris (Left Solid Rocket Booster) Search and recovery teams lifted this fragment of the Shuttle's Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) from the ocean onto a waiting ship and then returned it to Kennedy Space Center for the investigation...](/content/history/museums/nmusn/explore/photography/humanitarian/20th-century/1980-1989/1986-space-shuttle-challenger/_jcr_content/body/media_asset_2036298821/image.img.jpg/1677782080920.jpg)
![NASA Certificate of Appreciation for Manned Flight Awareness. For U.S. Navy personnel who partook in the search for Challenger, NASA awarded these certificates which read, “In appreciation of your dedication to the critical tasks you performed in... NASA Certificate of Appreciation for Manned Flight Awareness. For U.S. Navy personnel who partook in the search for Challenger, NASA awarded these certificates which read, “In appreciation of your dedication to the critical tasks you performed in...](/content/history/museums/nmusn/explore/photography/humanitarian/20th-century/1980-1989/1986-space-shuttle-challenger/_jcr_content/body/media_asset_1553329602/image.img.jpg/1677782134690.jpg)
NASA Certificate of Appreciation for Manned Flight Awarness for Space Shuttle Challenger. For U.S. Navy personnel who partook in the search for Challenger, NASA awarded these certificates. This certificate reads, "In appreciation of your dedication to the critical tasks you performed in support of the Presidential Commission investigating the Space Shuttle Challenger accident. Your valuable contributions assisted in identifying the actions required to return the National Space Transportation System to flight status." Signed by Mr. James Fletcher, NASA Administrator, and Mr. Richard Truly, Associate Adminstrator for Space Flight. The names of the Challenger crewmembers are on the insignia to the left. Courtesy of Mr. Kevin Rider, crewmember of USS Dewey (DDG-45), which took part in the initial search operation.