On January 28, 1986, space shuttle Challenger was destroyed by a technical malfunction approximately 72 seconds after lift-off. The explosion took the lives of all seven crew members: Francis R. Scobee, Michael J. Smith, Judith A. Resnik, Ellison S. Onizuka, Ronald E. McNair, Gregory B. Jarvis, and Sharon Christa McAuliffe. This was the worst National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) disaster since Apollo 1.

When space shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after liftoff on January 28, 1986, the tragedy claimed the lives of all seven of its crewmembers: (left to right) Sharon "Christa" McAuliffe, Gregory Jarvis, Judy Resnik, Dick Scobee, Ronald McNair, Michael Smith, and Ellison Onizuka.

Mission Commander Francis R. (Dick) Scobee was born on May 19, 1939. Scobee received a bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Arizona in 1965. He obtained a commission in the Air Force in 1965 and, after receiving his wings in 1966, completed a number of assignments. In August...