Looking back at the weather 39 years ago and how it impacted the Challenger launch, leading to one of the most tragic losses in space flight history.

The world was shocked and saddened 39 years ago after the Space Shuttle Challenger tragedy. The crewed shuttle mission for NASA ended moments after the launch with a terrible mid-air explosion on Jan. 28, 1986.

The mid-1980s may feel distant to today’s Northwestern students. But to me, a 22-year-old senior at the Medill School of Journalism — nearly 40 years ago, today — that time is forever etched in memory.