From the pages of the South China Morning Post this week in 1986
A stunned world watched in horror as the crew of the space shuttle Challenger died when their craft exploded into a gigantic fireball over Cape Canaveral just moments after liftoff.
All seven crew died in the fiery explosion, which occurred about 75 seconds after what appeared to be a flawless launch.
The crew included New Hampshire teacher Crista McAuliffe, 37. Her husband Steve and their children were in the crowd at Cape Canaveral to watch the launch, as were her parents.
The shocking spectacle of the explosion was seen by millions of people around the United States who were watching the launch live on television.
All 1,200 pupils at McAuliffe's high school were cheering the televised launch and lapsed into silent disbelief when the space shuttle exploded.
