the name of the US space shuttle (= spacecraft that can be used again) which exploded in the air on 28 January 1986 and killed all seven astronauts in it. This disaster was seen on television by millions of people and resulted in flights with astronauts being stopped for two years. There were other Challenger spacecraft.
CHALLENGER
Meaning of CHALLENGER in English
Oxford guide to British and American culture English vocabulary. Руководство по британской и американской культуре, Оксфордский английский словарь. 2005