5.7M views · 95K reactions | 40 years ago this morning, the unthinkable happened: the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after liftoff, killing all 7 astronauts on board, including Christa McAuliffe, who was supposed to be the first teacher in space. School children watched in horror as the tragedy happened. This is original coverage from the Eyewitness News vault. | ABC7NY | Facebook

130K views · 885 reactions | On Jan. 28, 1986 — hours after the space shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after its launch — President Ronald Reagan addressed the nation. “We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and ‘slipped the surly bonds of earth’ to ‘touch the face of God,'” Reagan said about the seven crew members who died. | PBS NewsHour | Facebook