Challenger launch9/12/2023 ![]() ![]() Credit: NASAĪlthough these O-rings had functioned without incident for 24 shuttle launches, there was an inherent flaw in their design that contributed heavily to the loss of Challenger. The 'field joint' closest to the nozzle is the location of the O-ring that failed during launch. ![]() In this way, they maintain their seal and prevent hot exhaust gases from escaping through these joints.Ī schematic of the solid rocket booster used by Challenger. When they are working correctly, they expand and contract quickly as the booster sections flex and shift under the stresses of launch. These O-rings function to seal the field joints between the sections of the booster. So, what happened with the Challenger disaster that took the lives of seven people and grounded the shuttle program for over two and a half years?ĭuring the investigation, NASA discovered a technical problem with one specific part of the shuttle - a rubber O-ring near the base of one of the two solid rocket boosters. A common refrain in the space community when something goes wrong is "space is hard."Ĭhallenger sits on a foggy launch pad for its very first flight into space in April of 1983. Given the stresses put on these vehicles as they climb towards space or return to Earth, even a minor failure can turn very bad. Thousands of parts go into the construction of a space vehicle. Many things can go wrong during a space launch. Killed in the accident were Commander Francis Richard Scobee, Pilot Michael Smith, mission specialists Ellison Onizuka, Judith Resnik and Ronald McNair, and payload specialists Gregory Jarvis and Christa McAuliffe. Just 73 seconds after liftoff, their mission tragically ended when the shuttle broke apart and crashed back down to Earth. The discoveries made on her many successful missions continue to better mankind in space flight and in life on Earth.On the chilly Tuesday morning of January 28, 1986, seven American astronauts climbed on board the Space Shuttle Challenger for an 11:37 a.m. The loss of Challenger does not overshadow her legacy in NASA's storied history. Just 73 seconds into mission STS 51-L, a booster failure caused an explosion that resulted in the loss of seven astronauts, as well as the vehicle. A host of scientific experiments and satellite deployments were performed during Challenger's missions.Ĭhallenger's service to America's space program ended in tragedy on Jan. Spacelabs 2 and 3 flew aboard the ship on missions STS 51-F and STS 51-B, as did the first German-dedicated Spacelab on STS 61-A. The first orbiter to launch and land at night on mission STS-8, Challenger also made the first Space Shuttle landing at Kennedy Space Center, concluding mission STS 41-B. Image to right: Space Shuttle Challenger leaps from the launch pad to begin mission STS-41-C. The orbiter launched the first American woman, Sally Ride, into space on mission STS-7 and was the first to carry two U.S. That mission saw the first spacewalk of the Space Shuttle program, as well as the deployment of the first satellite in the Tracking and Data Relay System constellation. Like its historic predecessors, Challenger and her crews made significant scientific contributions in the spirit of exploration.Ĭhallenger launched on her maiden voyage, STS-6, on April 4, 1983. The Apollo 17 lunar module also carried the name of Challenger. ![]() Space Shuttle orbiter Challenger was named after the British Naval research vessel HMS Challenger that sailed the Atlantic and Pacific oceans during the 1870s. The second orbiter to join NASA's Space Shuttle fleet, OV-099 arrived at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida in July 1982, bearing the name "Challenger." Although the job was easier than it would have been to convert NASA's first orbiter, Enterprise, it was a major process that involved the disassembly and replacement of many parts and components. The vehicle's conversion began late that year. In early 1979, NASA awarded Space Shuttle orbiter manufacturer Rockwell a contract to convert STA-099 to a space-rated orbiter, OV-099. Image to left: Challenger is seen against a breathtaking backdrop of blue water and white clouds in this photo, taken from a camera aboard the Shuttle Pallet Satellite during mission STS-7. The best solution was to submit the vehicle to a year of intensive vibration and thermal testing. Computer software at the time wasn't yet advanced enough to accurately predict how STA-099's new, optimized design would respond to intense heat and stress. In the late 1970s, NASA strived for a lighter weight orbiter, but a test vehicle was needed to ensure the lighter airframe could handle the stress of space flight. But despite its Earth-bound beginnings, STA-099 was destined for space. First called STA-099, Challenger was built to serve as a test vehicle for the Space Shuttle program. ![]()
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