President Reagan Watches News of the "Challenger" Explosion on Television

This photograph of President Ronald Reagan watching television coverage of the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion was taken by Pete Souza on January 28, 1986. President Reagan, along with members of this West Wing staff, watched the coverage from the Oval Office Study, which is located near the Oval Office in the West Wing. From left to right are: White House Press Secretary Larry Speakes, W. Dennis Thomas, Jim Kuhn, President Reagan, White House Communications Director Patrick J. Buchanan, and Donald T. Regan. The Challenger exploded just 73 seconds after it took off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, killing all seven crew members on board.