By FireRescue1 Staff

EL LAGO, Texas — Members of the Seabrook Fire Department saved NASA memorabilia while battling a house fire at the home of a Challenger astronaut widow.

ABC 13 reported that the firefighters were called to the home in the early hours of the morning, but were forced to back off the blaze due to intensity.

When they learned the home belonged to the widow of Challenger Astronaut Ronald Erwin McNair, firefighters were able to save some NASA memorabilia from the structure.

The Challenger space shuttle exploded on Jan. 28, 1986, just 73 seconds after liftoff, killing all seven astronauts on board. Cold temperatures had damaged two rubber O-rings used to seal sections of the rocket booster, causing the disaster.