But that's exactly what the article did without actually mentioning Challenger. A very strange article. "It trails only these four shuttle orbiters (we're not going to mention the fifth)"
I agree. The way it's worded leaves out important information. They could have said "It trails only four of the five shuttles", because the fact that it outlasted one of them is an important data point.
It is unpleasant to contemplate the deaths from Challenger and Columbia. However, we should be excited about being able to do more in space with vehicles and operational procedures that are safer and cheaper than the shuttle program.