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THE CHALLENGER
ACCIDENT
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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. |
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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.
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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.
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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
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