HOUSTON (CNN) — NASA’s Space Shuttle Challenger lifted off 40 years ago with an unusual crew. In addition to six astronauts, the mission took flight with a teacher on board. Christa McAuliffe, the ...

The crew for the space shuttle Challenger flight 51-L leaves their quarters for the launch pad, Jan. 27, 1986, at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Front to back are Commander Francis Scobee, ...

The Challenger space shuttle exploded shortly after liftoff, killing seven people. The disaster took place decades ago and was not caused by a virus. Nonetheless, it holds lessons for how we can make ...