STS-51-L
Mission / eventFailed during ascent
The Challenger accident and the loss of the STS-51-L crew
STS-51-L ended 73 seconds after launch when a seal failure in the right allowed hot gas to breach the external tank area, leading to Challenger's breakup and the loss of all seven crew members. The planned TDRS-B deployment, Spartan-Halley observations, and Teacher in Space lessons were never performed; the accident led to an extensive investigation and major Shuttle redesign and management reforms.
Mission photo archive
Reviewed photographs documenting STS-51-L. Every image links to its official NASA catalog record.
STS-51-L official archive image
Official NASA archive imagery explicitly cataloged for STS-51-L.
Challenger accident after launch event hero
S86-38989 (28 Jan. 1986) --- Main engine exhaust, solid rocket booster plume and an expanding ball of gas from the external tank is visible seconds after the space shuttle Challenger accident on Jan. 28, 1986. (NOTE: The 51-L crew members lost their lives in the space shuttle Challenger accident moments after launch on Jan. 28, 1986 from the Kennedy Space Center.) Photo credit: NASA
Liftoff of Shuttle Challenger for STS 51-L mission
51L-S-157 (28 Jan. 1986) --- The space shuttle Challenger lifted off from Pad 39B Jan. 28, 1986 at 11:38 a.m. (EST) with a crew of seven astronauts and the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS). An accident 73 seconds after liftoff claimed both crew and vehicle. Photo credit: NASA
Launch record
Explore this mission’s launch, including its vehicle, launch site, payload, and outcome.
OV-099 IUS deploy
launch attemptOrbital attemptcompletedNo reviewed launch image8 connectionsMission dossier
Flight profile, locations, hardware, and outcome in the same reference format used throughout the archive.
Flight profile
- Launch
- January 28, 1986[1]
Places and recovery
- Launch site
- Kennedy Space Center, Launch Complex 39B[1]
Mission record
- Achieved duration
- 73 seconds[1]
- Planned duration
- 6 days, 34 minutes[1]
- Vehicle
- STS-51-L flight stack[1]
- Orbiter
- Space Shuttle Challenger (OV-099)[1]
- Crew and station travelers
- 7[1]
- Outcome
- Challenger and its seven-person crew were lost 73 seconds after launch[1]
Mission locations
2 sourcesDocumented surface, test, landing, and recovery locations. Map links use the cited place name or exact coordinates; AstronautAtlas does not geocode or estimate missing positions.
Departure or test site
Launch site
Kennedy Space Center, Launch Complex 39B
Incidents and investigations
1986-01-28
Challenger and Crew Lost During Launch
STS-51-L ended 73 seconds after launch when a seal failure in the right allowed hot gas to breach the external tank area, leading to Challenger's breakup and the loss of all seven crew members. The planned TDRS-B deployment, Spartan-Halley observations, and Teacher in Space lessons were never performed; the accident led to an extensive investigation and major Shuttle redesign and management reforms.
- Date
- January 28, 1986
1986-01-28
Challenger STS-51-L Accident
Space Shuttle Challenger was lost 73 seconds after launch on STS-51-L. All seven crew members died. The Rogers Commission identified failure of the right solid rocket motor aft field-joint pressure seal and examined the technical and organizational decisions that preceded launch.
- Date
- January 28, 1986
- Location
- Launch Complex 39B, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
- Related mission
- STS-51-L
- Outcome
- Loss of Challenger and seven crew members
Assignment Manifest
The flight crew and the backup team assigned to train for this mission.
Prime crew
7 assignmentsMission Purpose
2 sources- Deploy the TDRS-B tracking and data relay satellite using an Inertial Upper Stage.
- Deploy, separate from, with, and retrieve the Spartan-Halley free-flying astronomy platform.
- Operate the CHAMP comet-observation payload and the fluid-dynamics experiment assigned to Gregory Jarvis.
- Record and broadcast Teacher in Space classroom lessons from orbit.
Planned Flight Plan
2 sources- Flight day 1
TDRS-B deployment
Prepare and deploy the relay satellite, then perform separation maneuvers from the satellite and upper .
- Flight day 2
Science and orbit setup
Begin CHAMP operations, record Teacher in Space material, and adjust orbit for Spartan operations.
- Flight day 3
Spartan release
Use the remote manipulator system to deploy Spartan-Halley and separate from the payload.
- Flight days 4-5
Education, experiments, and retrieval
Conduct live education broadcasts, fluid-dynamics work, and with Spartan for capture and stowage.
- Flight days 6-7
Return preparation
Complete crew news conference activity, prepare Challenger for entry, and land at Kennedy Space Center.
Mission Timeline
2 sources- January 28, 1986
Launch
Challenger lifted off from Kennedy Space Center after a cold night.
- 73 seconds after launch
Vehicle breakup
A right- field-joint seal failure led to structural breakup; all seven crew members were lost.
- Following months
Investigation
The Rogers Commission examined technical causes, decision-making, and organizational failures.
- September 29, 1988
Return to flight
The Shuttle program resumed with redesigned boosters and operational reforms on STS-26.