January 28 - This day in History

January 28: General Interest
1986: Challenger explodes

At 11:38 a.m. EST, on January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger lifts off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and Christa McAuliffe is on her way to becoming the first ordinary U.S. civilian to travel into space. McAuliffe, a 37-year-old high school social studies teacher from New Hampshire, won a competition that earned her a place among... read more


American Revolution
1777 : British plan to isolate New England
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/british-plan-to-isolate-new-england


Automotive
2009 : "Shuttin' Detroit Down" debuts
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/shuttin-detroit-down-debuts


Civil War
1828 : Confederate General Thomas Hindman is born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/thomas-hindman-born


Cold War
1964 : Soviets shoot down U.S. jet
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/soviets-shoot-down-us-jet


Crime
1958 : Killer couple strikes the heartland
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/killer-couple-strikes-the-heartland


Disaster
1986 : Challenger explodes after liftoff
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/challenger-explodes-after-liftoff


General Interest
1917 : U.S. ends search for Pancho Villa
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/us-ends-search-for-pancho-villa

1997 : Afrikaner police admit to killing Stephen Biko
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/afrikaner-police-admit-to-killing-stephen-biko


Hollywood
2006 : Clint Eastwood honored by Directors Guild of America
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/clint-eastwood-honored-by-directors-guild-of-america


Literary
1873 : Colette is born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/colette-is-born


Music
1985 : American recording artists gather to record "We Are the World"
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/american-recording-artists-gather-to-record-quotwe-are-the-worldquot


Old West
1855 : First train crosses the Panamanian isthmus
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-train-crosses-the-panamanian-isthmus


Presidential
1916 : Wilson nominates Brandeis to the Supreme Court
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/wilson-nominates-brandeis-to-the-supreme-court


Sports
1959 : Vince Lombardi hired as Packers coach
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/vince-lombardi-hired-as-packers-coach


Vietnam War
1973 : Cease-fire goes into effect
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/cease-fire-goes-into-effect

1975 : Ford asks for additional aid
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ford-asks-for-additional-aid


World War I
1915 : Germans sink American merchant ship
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germans-sink-american-merchant-ship


World War II
1945 : Burma Road is reopened
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/burma-road-is-reopened