An anxious triumph

On Jan. 28, 1986, a teacher named Christa McAuliffe was to become the first teacher to explore space. Before entering the Challenger, McAuliffe said she wanted to bring history back to the classroom, to tell her students that NASA was their space program. Millions watched the 37-year-old teacher and six other astronauts die that day as the Challenger exploded 73 seconds into its flight. NASA didn't reach space again for another three years.

On Feb. 1, 2003, the nation watched another seven astronauts die when their shuttle Columbia exploded while re-entering the atmosphere.

On Tuesday, a seven-member crew, once again trying to overcome disaster and restore national pride, launched Discovery safely above the earth's atmosphere. But the launch did not come without a glitch, one that rekindled horrible memories from 2003. Part of a thermal tile apparently broke off and other debris whirled around the shuttle as it rumbled toward space. NASA officials refuse to celebrate until Discovery comes home safely.