The space shuttle Challeger tragically exploded just seconds after liftoff in 1986...I was a very young kid, but I have vague memories of watching the explosion on live TV. Until recently, the majority of the debris from the shuttle had never been recovered, but this week a large section of the Challenger was discovered at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean!
Divers for a TV documentary first spotted the piece in March while looking for wreckage of a World War II plane. NASA verified through video a few months ago that the piece was part of the shuttle that broke apart shortly after liftoff on Jan. 28, 1986. The piece is more than 15 feet by 15 feet ; it's likely bigger because part of it is covered with sand. Because there are square thermal tiles on the piece, it’s believed to be from the shuttle’s belly.
There are more photos in the link below, and be sure to watch the video!
Thumbnail photo: Getty Images