Millions of Americans watched the space shuttle Challenger launch on live television on Jan. 28, 1986. Just over a minute after liftoff, an O-ring seal on one of the solid rocket boosters ruptured, causing an explosion.
The Challenger was destroyed, and all seven astronauts lost their lives. Because the launch was broadcast live, the disaster became an unforgettable national moment.
Aboard the space shuttle that day was Ohio native Judith Arlene Resnik. Her story blends remarkable scientific accomplishment with one of NASA’s most heartbreaking tragedies…