1986 - SPACE CHALLENGER EXPLODES

The Space Challenger explodes 74 seconds after takeoff killing all seven astronauts aboard including a school teacher.  This is the original article from the New York Times, free registration required.  The realization that something had gone terribly wrong dawns slowly on the crowd watching the event.

Although President Ronald Reagan was to have given a State of the Union address that evening, it was cancelled. Instead, he addressed the nation to mourn the loss of the seven astronauts.

President Reagan's speech was a tribute to heroes, which ended, "The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for the journey and waved goodbye and "slipped the surly bonds of earth" to "touch the face of God."

Both audio and text of President Reagan's speech are available here.