When did the Challenger disaster happen?

When the first teacher was set to head to space aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger, it sure seemed like a great idea to gather children together at schools across the country to watch the launch live.

Of course, we all know how that turned out. Those who were alive and at least vaguely aware of the world around them definitely remember this tragic event — for everyone else, you've heard about it from someone you know. It's the kind of thing that's hard to forget.

But can you remember what year that was?