This Day, That Year

Item from Jan 30, 1986, in China Daily: Heads of state and government, scientists and ordinary people around the world were saddened by the explosion on Tuesday of the US space shuttle Challenger which killed all seven of its crew, including teacher-astronaut Christa McAuliffe. President Li Xiannian sent a message yesterday to US President Ronald Reagan, expressing his "deepest sympathy" over the disaster.

Besides the Challenger tragedy, at least another 15 US astronauts have been killed in spaceflight-related incidents. In 1967, three crew members of Apollo 1, the first manned mission of the US, were killed during a launch rehearsal test.

In 2003, the Columbia space shuttle disintegrated as it re-entered the Earth's atmosphere, killing all seven crew members including an Israeli.