Introduction

Last time we learned about the last flight of the first era of the space shuttle programme s t s 61 c. Columbia returned to flight with more heads up displays, fewer ejection seats and a bunch of other upgrades. The flight that followed was s t s 51 l, which would prove to be the final flight of space shuttle challenger. 73 seconds after lifting off on january 20 eighth, 19 six, the vehicle was destroyed and its crew was lost.