Pictures: Space shuttle Challenger explosion and aftermath

Debris that had been recovered from the space shuttle Challenger disaster is buried in a missile silo at Kennedy Space Center. (Red Huber/Orlando Sentinel)

Orlando Sentinel

Sept. 18, 2013 10 AM PT

Space shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after liftoff on Jan. 28, 1986 killing all seven astronauts on board.

LOOKING BACK: Dana Summers space shuttle Challenger editorial cartoon

Story behind this cartoon

The day the shuttle and the shock wore off, my first thought was that I had 2 1/2 hours to come up with an idea for a cartoon that should convey the feelings of our readers. Feelings wrapped around one of the worst tragedies the country had ever witnessed. Nothing I tried seemed good enough. I ended up with two possibilities: the shuttle with a tear - pretty standard. I hate standard. And the dove idea. My editor suggested combining them. It still didn’t seem to say enough.

-Dana Summers

(DANA SUMMERS/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

From January 29, 1986 (DANA SUMMERS/ORLANDO SENTINEL)

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