What is Michael John Smith?
[[File:Astronaut Michael Smith.jpg |thumb|right|200px|{{Center|Astronaut Michael John Smith}}]] '''Michael John Smith''' (April 30, 1945 &ndash; January 28, 1986), was known as '''Mike Smith'''. He was an [[Americans|American]] [[astronaut]]. On 28 January 1986 he was the [[pilot]] of the [[Space Shuttle Challenger]]. He and his crew were killed when the ''Challenger'' [[Explosion|exploded]] 73 seconds into its [[flight]].<ref>''European Space Agency (Esa) Handbook'' (Washington DC; Belgium: International Business Publications, 2011), p. 148</ref> == References == {{reflist}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Michael John}} [[Category:American astronauts]] [[Category:1945 births]] [[Category:1986 deaths]] {{US-bio-stub}}