On January 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger was destroyed during ascent when a booster rocket failed and the external tank burst into a fireball. The seven members of the STS 51-L mission crew died. For the first anniversary of this tragedy, NASA produced commemorative plaques for the astronauts' families and for the Museum. Each plaque includes a small United States flag that was recovered from the vehicle debris found on the ocean floor. The plaque also bears a mission patch and the names and images of the crewmembers. This plaque is displayed in the Moving Beyond Earth exhibition gallery beside a similar plaque in memory of the STS-107 Columbia crew who perished during a reentry accident in 2003.
Display Status
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Country of Origin
United States of America
Type
MEMORABILIA-Events
Dimensions
2-D - In Frame (H x W x D): 45.7 x 27.9 x 2.5cm (18 x 11 x 1 in.)
Materials
Base: Walnut
Plaque: Aluminum
Flag: Fabric
Patch: Paper
Additional: Plexiglas, felt, adhesive
Inventory Number
A19870113000
Credit Line
Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.
