On Jan. 28th, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after liftoff as thousands watched around the world

Challenger Explosion Anniversary: Space shuttle disaster kills 7 in 1986

It’s been 40 years since the Challenger space shuttle exploded

Challenger Space Shuttle exploded after launch 40 years ago

I was only a baby when the Challenger disaster happened, but I grew up hearing about the brave astronauts who were lost on that terrible day. It was the worst event NASA experienced since Apollo 13 to date and would foreshadow the loss of the Columbia crew in 2003. This being the 40-year anniversary, I thought I'd make a tribute to the Challenger crew an honor their memory. | Kyle Cherryholmes