 Nyorai kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Muna 1986, Mutungamiri Ronald Reagan akasarudza Fletcher kutarisira NASA kechipiri, kubetsera sangano racho kupora kubva mutsaona yeChallenger. Kubhururuka kwezvikepe zvomuchadenga kwakamira kwemakore maviri apo Fletcher akava nechokwadi chokuti NASA yakaisazve mari yakawanda mukuchengeteka kwepurogiramu yacho uye kuvimbika, yakaita kuchinja kwesangano kuti ivandudze kushanda kwayo, uye yakagadzirisazve hurongwa hwayo hwokutarisira. Akatarisira kugadziridzwa kwakakwana kwezvinhu zveShuttle kuti zviwedzere kuchengeteka kwayo, kusanganisira kugadziridzwazve kwezvinhu zvakasimba zvinotsigira roketi, uye akawedzera nzira yokubuda nayo nokuda kwevafambisi vengarava. Space Shuttle yakadzokera mundege musi waSeptember 29, 1988. Fletcher akabvumirawo chirongwa cheHubble Space Telescope. Akashanda seMutungamiri kusvikira musi waApril 8, 1989, muhurongwa hwomutsivi waReagan, Mutungamiri George H. W. Bush. 