NASA and families of fallen astronauts mark 40th anniversary of space shuttle Challenger accident

"All seven on board were killed when Challenger broke apart following liftoff on Jan. 28, 1986. At the Kennedy Space Center memorial ceremony, Challenger pilot Michael Smith's daughter, Alison Smith Balch, said through tears that her life forever changed that frigid morning, as did many other lives. "In that sense," she told the hundreds of mourners, "we are all part of this story.""

"The bitter cold weakened the O-ring seals in Challenger's right solid rocket booster, causing the shuttle to rupture 73 seconds after liftoff. A dysfunctional culture at NASA contributed to that disaster and, 17 years later, shuttle Columbia's. Kennedy Space Center's deputy director, Kelvin Manning, said those humble and painful lessons require constant vigilance "now more than ever" with rockets soaring almost every day and the next astronaut moonshot just weeks away."

"Two of her fellow teacher-in-space contenders - both retired now - attended the memorial. "We were so close together," said Bob Veilleux, a retired astronomy high school teacher from New Hampshire, McAuliffe's home state. Bob Foerster, a sixth-grade math and science teacher from Indiana who was among the top 10 finalists, said he's grateful that space education blossomed after the accident and that it didn't just leave Challenger's final crew as "martyrs.""

Families and supporters gathered at Kennedy Space Center to mark the 40th anniversary of the Challenger accident, which killed all seven astronauts when the shuttle broke apart 73 seconds after liftoff on Jan. 28, 1986. The breakup followed O-ring seal failure in the right solid rocket booster caused by bitter cold. Speakers recalled personal loss and remembrance, including Michael Smith's daughter and widow. Officials attributed the accident and later Columbia loss in part to a dysfunctional NASA culture and urged constant vigilance as rocket launches increase and a crewed moon mission nears. Teacher-in-space finalists attended and noted the growth of space education and ongoing memory of the crew.

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