28 January 1986 As the Space Shuttle era is nearing its end we also have to look back at its past.
Nasa did not go to the Moon because it dwelled on its failures but it also acknowledge those who offer their lives in the quest for space.
In the history of space travel a few events stand out as dark days in the space race.
One such day was 28 January 1986.
  The School  Still early that morning exciting kids filled the school hall with their laughter.
Wearing party hats, blowing noisemakers and a camera crew to record the scenes told you the day would be no ordinary school day.
At the Concord High School nothing could damper the mood as the school made ready to watch a live broadcast of the Shuttle Launch in Florida.
For them it was more special than any school across America.
They had all reason as their teacher Christa McAuliffe would become the first private citizen to make the thrilling flight.
Chosen out of eleven thousand applicants her journey would propel her and her family, town and last the school into instant stardom.
  The Launch  A television was rigged up and the kids only lowered their voices when the final countdown began.
Launch control clearly counted down : T minus 10,9,8 when the three main engines fired into life.
Still attached to the tower the shuttle tried to break free but lurched on the pad a little longer.
T minus 6,5,4 the countdown continued.
Then the hall erupted.
Not even the Headmaster could control himself as proudness boiled over while everybody watched the lift- off.
Three seconds later the shuttle cleared the tower and was set on course towards space.
  The tragedy In the hall the noise continued as children tried to watch and also talk to friends.
They watched the Challenger as it climbed into space,.
leaving a thick trail of smoke behind it.
The next highlight would come at 2 minutes when the orbiter would separate from the boasters.
Then there was a flash and smoke bursting away from the flash.
While the shuttle could not be seen the cheering continued.
It continued for another few seconds before a teacher, realizing something was wrong told them to shut up.
Then the celebration stopped.
Not gradually but instantly.
It just stopped, it was over.
  As the tragedy sank in, weeping children removed their party hats and returned to class.
Within an hour they were sent home.
Across America the nation stood shocked.
In 25 years of space exploration nothing learned out of the triumphs prepared them for the nightmare the saw on that morning.
 The risk and danger of space exploration were underlined at the loss of seven crew members, including Christa, the teacher.