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THE CHALLENGER ACCIDENT

On January 28, 1986, the 25th Space Shuttle mission, STS 51-L, ended in tragedy shortly after launch. The Challenger orbiter was destroyed, and the seven crew members died.
A presidential commission investigating the accident concluded that a failure had occurred in the joint between the two lower segments of the right solid rocket booster. The rubber seal, or O-ring, had hardened overnight in the freezing weather and failed when the boosters ignited at launch. The escaping flame breached the external tank, and the vehicle broke apart as the propellants ignited.

The commission also concluded that there were flaws in the Shuttle program. Many changes in the solid rocket booster and orbiter design, as well as in management, were made to improve safety.

crew patch
99 k jpeg
NASA#: 86-HC-1

Members of the crew of the final Challenger mission.

(front left to right) Michael Smith, Francis "Dick" Scobee, Ronald McNair;

(behind) Elison Onizuka, Christa McAuliffe, Gregory Jarvis, and Judith Resnik.

McAuliffe was selected to fly as the first teacher in space.

STS-51L crew
149 k jpeg
NASA#: 86-HC-2

CHALLENGER PLAQUE

This flag and crew patch were flown as part of the Official Flight Kit aboard the orbiter "Challenger," STS 51-L, January 28, 1986.

Gift of NASA

American flag was flown aboard Challenger
100 k jpeg
SI#: 97-16263-4


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