The Challenger Disaster occurred on January 28, 1986, when the Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart just 73 seconds after launch. The explosion resulted in the tragic loss of all seven crew members, including teacher Christa McAuliffe, who was set to be the first civilian in space. The disaster was attributed to the failure of an O-ring seal in one of the solid rocket boosters, which allowed hot gases to escape. This incident led to a suspension of the shuttle program and prompted extensive investigations, ultimately resulting in significant changes to NASA's safety protocols and engineering practices.