The final Challenger and Columbia Crews, The now fallen seven, Those brave Men and Women, Gone from earth, now in Heaven. <bgsound src="angelsamongus.mid"> Let us never forget. Challenger Tragedy On January 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger launched with seven crewmen, including one civilian teacher. With the world watching, the Challenger exploded a little over a minute into its flight. Images below of The Challenger and it's Final Crew. In the top row, Mission Specialist Ellison S. Onizuka, Teacher in Space Participant Sharon Christa McAuliffe, Payload Specialist Greg Jarvis and Mission Specialist Judy Resnik. In the front row, Pilot Mike Smith, Commander Dick Scobee, and Mission Specialist Ron McNair. Columbia Tragedy The shuttle tore to pieces February 1, 2003, 39 miles above Texas, in the last 16 minutes of a 16-day mission, as the spaceship re-entered the atmosphere. It was almost exactly 17 years after the Challenger exploded. Images below of The Columbia and it's Final Crew. Seated in front are Astronauts Rick D. Husband, Mission Commander; Kalpana Chawla, Mission Specialist; and William C. McCool, pilot. Standing are Astronauts David M. Brown, Laurel B. Clark, and Michael P. Anderson, all Mission Specialists; and Ilan Ramon, Payload Specialist representing the Israeli Space Agency.
