Addressing theoretical and methodological issues, the present study assessed the content, accuracy, and consistency of school-aged children's memories of a potentially emotional, historic event: the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger on January 28, 1986. A total of 345 children in kindergarten through eighth grade were tested. To examine the effects of delay and rehearsal, half were seen at intervals of 2 weeks and 2 months after the event, and half at the later time only. At the earlier time, half of the children were asked to recall freely, and were not prompted to give specific personal and factual information. Others were prompted. Free recall reports were scored according to Brown and Kulik's (1977) guidelines. The prompted recall protocols were scored for accuracy and uncertainty. In addition, answers to all questions for children who were tested twice were coded for consistency. Results suggested that children's memories for the event were not vivid, lasting, or consistent. Some of the younger children gave obviously false reports, and contradicted their earlier accounts at the later testing. It is concluded that the findings do not rule out a physiological explanation for the children's "flashbulb" memories. Physiological factors may have played a minor role in observed age differences in recall. (RH)