On 28 January 1986, the space shuttle Challenger was destroyed during launch due to hot gases from a solid rocket booster escaping in a breach and causing the external fuel tank, containing liquid oxygen and hydrogen, to explode catastrophically. All seven crew, Francis ‘Dick’ Scobee, Michael J Smith, Ellison Onizuka, Judith Resnick, Ronald McNair, Sharon Christa McAuliffe and Gregory Jarvis (all USA), were killed during the disaster.