Country of Origin: United States of America
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
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 Space Hall beside a similar plaque in memory of the STS-107 Columbia crew who perished during a reentry accident in 2003.
Transferred from NASA
