FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — If you were alive 30 years ago chances are you know exactly where you were when the space shuttle Challenger blew up killing all seven people on board.
On Jan. 28, NASA and the entire country paused to one of the worst disasters in space history.
A booster engine failed just 73 seconds after launch and the world watched the disaster unfold.
>>RELATED: FOX25 Remembers the Challenger explosion
It was unimaginable horror felt world wide, especially here in New England because a local teacher was on board.
Christa McAuliffe grew up in Concord, N.H. and went to college at Framingham State University where her mission to inspire people around the world is still carried out.
“I feel. A responsibility to carry on her mission,” Irene Porro, director of the Christa McAuliffe Center at Framingham State, said.
Christa's sister Lisa Bristol was at Kennedy Space Center for the launch that day.
“We were as excited as she was, and as excited as everyone was. This whole idea of her going up in space. So of course it didn't end the way we wanted it to, but she’s still carried in millions of people’s hearts. That's touching to me,” Bristol said.
A special program is being held at Framingham State Thursday night honoring the legacy of Christa and the rest of the Challenger crew.