<Table> Space Shuttle Challenger disaster <Tr> <Td colspan="2"> Photo montage of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Date </Th> <Td> 28 January 1986 ; 31 years ago ( 1986 - 01 - 28 ) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Time </Th> <Td> 11 : 39 : 13 EST ( 16 : 39 : 13 UTC ) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Location </Th> <Td> Atlantic Ocean , off the coast of Florida </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Outcome </Th> <Td> Grounding of the Space Shuttle fleet for nearly three years during which various safety measures , solid rocket booster redesign , and a new policy on management decision - making for future launches were implemented . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th colspan="2"> Casualties </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td colspan="2"> <Ul> <Li> Francis R. Scobee , Commander </Li> <Li> Michael J. Smith , Pilot </Li> <Li> Ronald McNair , Mission Specialist </Li> <Li> Ellison Onizuka , Mission Specialist </Li> <Li> Judith Resnik , Mission Specialist </Li> <Li> Gregory Jarvis , Payload Specialist </Li> <Li> Christa McAuliffe , Payload Specialist , Teacher </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Inquiries </Th> <Td> Rogers Commission </Td> </Tr> </Table>
who was aboard the challenger when it exploded
Francis R. Scobee Michael J. Smith Ronald McNair Ellison Onizuka Judith Resnik Gregory Jarvis Christa McAuliffe