THE CREW OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE CHALLENGER DISASTER -- 01/28/86 The crew of the space shuttle Challenger is seen in this 1986 photograph. Astronauts of the Challenger  mission are from left to right: Ellison Onizuka, Mike Smith, Christa McAuliffe, Dick Scobee, Greg Jarvis, Ron McNair and Judy Resnick. (1986 NASA file photo)

UFORC.COM HONORS THE FALLEN COMRADES OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE CHALLENGER ON THE 20th ANNIVERSARY OF THE DISASTER...The failure of an an O-ring on the shuttle's booster engines, caused the leakage of highly flammable compressed gasses. Once these gases exploded into flames,  this hot stream of burning gasses tore a hole into the orange propellant tank of the main engines. The tanks erupted in a giant explosion that resulted in the deaths of the seven astronauts only 73 seconds into the launch.  The astronauts will be memorialized today, the 20th anniversary of the challenger disaster. - Montgomery, UFO Resource Center and uforc.com correspondent, January 28, 2006