SPACELINK NOTE: The 25th mission in the Space Shuttle program -- flown by the Challenger -- ended tragically with the loss of its seven crew members and destruction of the vehicle when it exploded shortly after launch.

The launch -- the first from Pad B at KSC's Launch Complex 39 -- occurred at ll:38 a.m. EST, on Jan. 28, 1986. The flight had been scheduled six times earlier, but was delayed because of technical problems and bad weather.

One minute, 13 seconds after liftoff, the vehicle exploded and was destroyed.

All seven members of the crew were killed. They were Francis R. Scobee, commander; Michael J. Smith, pilot; three mission specialists: Judith A. Resnik, Ellison Onizuka and Ronald E. McNair; payload specialist, Gregory Jarvis of Hughes Aircraft, and payload specialist, S. Christa McAuliffe, a New Hampshire teacher -- the first Space Shuttle passenger/observer participating in the NASA Teacher in Space Program. She had planned to teach planned lessons during live television transmissions.

The primary cargo was the second Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS). Also on board was another Spartan free-flying module which was to observe Halley's Comet.

The preface from the report by The Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Accident (created by Executive Order 12546 of February 3, 1986) follows: