TheChallenger flag is anAmerican flag that was placed in the flight kit ofSpace ShuttleChallenger for missionSTS-51-L. The flag was sponsored byBoy Scout Troop 514 ofMonument, Colorado, whoseScoutmaster was William "Bill" Tolbert, a major in theUnited States Air Force assigned to theSpace Command.
Challenger, which launched with the flag aboard on January 28, 1986,broke apart 73 seconds into its flight. In the course of recovery operations at sea over the next several weeks, this flag was found intact and ultimately returned to the scout troop months later.
William "Bill" Tolbert had ordered a "Capitol flag" through Troop 514's congressional representative as a part of theUnited States Capitol Flag Program.[1] The flag was manufactured by the Valley Forge Flag Company and had been flown briefly over theUnited States Capitol building inWashington, D.C., on January 25, 1985. Tolbert intended that this Capitol flag eventually be flown aboard a space shuttle and returned to the scout troop, to serve as a source of inspiration. Through calling in multiple favors, the flag was eventually submitted to theNASA Johnson Space Center by the2d Space Wing, for flight on a space shuttle.[1] On January 28, 1986, it was carried in the "official flight kit" ofSpace ShuttleChallenger on its last flight. It was sealed in plastic and was next to some souvenir medallions being flown by one of the astronauts. After the destruction ofChallenger, when the wreckage was brought up from the bottom of theAtlantic Ocean, rescuers found the flag, still in its sealed plastic bag, intact and completely unscathed. The souvenir medallions had melted into a single lump.[2][3]
On December 18, 1986, theChallenger flag was returned to Boy Scout Troop 514 in a special ceremony attended by 100 dignitaries, guests, and members of the media, at theConsolidated Space Operations Center,Falcon Air Force Station,Colorado. AstronautGuion Bluford, who had flown on board theChallenger on two previous missions, and who is also anEagle Scout, returned the flag to the troop.[4][5]
Troop 514 is still in possession of theChallenger flag. They continue to display it for certain special public events andEagle Courts of Honor.
Early in 1987,Chief JusticeWarren E. Burger designated theChallenger flag as the official flag of the ceremonies commemorating theUnited States Constitution bicentennial and he invited the troop to participate in the bicentennial gala in Philadelphia.
On September 17, 1987, the flag was part of a parade through the streets ofPhiladelphia, and that evening it was presented on the stage of the Philadelphia Civic Center Hall as part of the opening ceremonies. The celebration was attended by an audience of 13,000 people,[4] and televised asWe the People 200: The Constitutional Gala. The next day, Boy Scout Troop 514 went to Washington, D.C., where theChallenger flag was flown once again over the United States Capitol.[1]
In 2002, theChallenger flag was loaned tothe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be displayed inSalt Lake City during the2002 Winter Olympic games.[6] It was also raised at the2002 Winter Olympics opening ceremony. After the ceremony, it was lowered and displayed at theJoseph Smith Memorial Building before being raised again at theclosing ceremony.[7]
In 2011, the flag was flown at an Eagle Scout Court of Honor.[8]
On November 3, 2012, the flag was brought onstage for aMitt Romney rally in Denver by Scoutmaster Bill Tolbert.[9][10][11]
On the 25th anniversary of theChallenger disaster, theChallenger flag was flown at the reveille formation of theUnited States Air Force Academy. The flag's flying was arranged by Troop 514's current Scoutmaster and Cadet Group One Air Officer Commanding, Lt. Col. Michael Hastriter.
In January 2016, the 30th anniversary of theChallenger disaster, theChallenger flag was displayed at a special memorial dinner organized by Challenger Learning Center of Colorado. Retired Shuttle Astronaut Susan Helms was the keynote speaker.
On September 26, 2019, at the dedication of the new Challenger Learning Center of Colorado, theChallenger flag was displayed in front of active and retired US Air Force and NASA dignitaries. Dr. June Scobee Rodgers, widow ofChallenger Shuttle commander Dick Scobee, presented the keynote address. Ms. Laura Husband, daughter of the lateColumbia Shuttle commander Rick Husband, sang the national anthem at the dedication.
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