Today in 1986, the Challenger exploded on ascent into space.

@TeviTroy and I each have written essays for @reaganinstitute reflecting on Reagan's address to the nation that evening, as part of their essay series on key presidential speeches. https://www.reaganfoundation.org/reagan-institute/scholarly-initiatives/essay-series-on-presidential-principles-and-beliefs/address-to-the-nation-on-the-explosion-of-the-space-shuttle-challenger-january-28-1986/

When researching for this essay, I was struck by how routine space shuttle launches had become by 1986. Most Americans were not watching the launch.

But schoolchildren were, all across the country. The President had to comfort the most innocent among us.

Launches were also so routine by 1986 that the Soviets didn't even send their usual spy trawler to sit off the Florida coast when Challenger launched.

However, in the face of disaster, Reagan needed to make clear that night to the Soviets that we would not turn away from space.