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Space Shuttle Challenger (view source)
Revision as of 17:56, December 18, 2009
, 17:56, December 18, 2009outrageous behavior on NASA's part
[[Image:Space Shuttle Challenger Crew.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The Space Shuttle Challenger crewmembers are: in the back row from left to right: Mission Specialist, Ellison S. Onizuka, Teacher in Space Participant Sharon Christa McAuliffe, Payload Specialist, Greg Jarvis and Mission Specialist, Judy Resnik. In the front row from left to right: Pilot Mike Smith, Commander, Dick Scobee and Mission Specialist, Ron McNair.]]
[[Image:Space Shuttle Challenger Crew.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The Space Shuttle Challenger crewmembers are: in the back row from left to right: Mission Specialist, Ellison S. Onizuka, Teacher in Space Participant Sharon Christa McAuliffe, Payload Specialist, Greg Jarvis and Mission Specialist, Judy Resnik. In the front row from left to right: Pilot Mike Smith, Commander, Dick Scobee and Mission Specialist, Ron McNair.]]
The '''Space Shuttle Challenger''' disintegrated due to extreme aerodynamic forces, O-ring failure and weather 73 seconds after lift-off on January 28, 1986, killing all seven members on board. Those killed included the first private citizen to fly on a [[space shuttle]], who was a high school teacher. <ref>http://www.fas.org/spp/51L.html</ref>
The '''Space Shuttle Challenger''' disintegrated due to O-ring failure 73 seconds after lift-off on January 28, 1986, killing all seven members on board. Those killed included the first private citizen to fly on a [[space shuttle]], who was a high school teacher. <ref>http://www.fas.org/spp/51L.html</ref>
President [[Ronald Reagan]] mourned the tragedy in an address to the [[United States of America|nation]]:
President [[Ronald Reagan]] mourned the tragedy in an address to the [[United States of America|nation]]:
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==Cause==
O-rings which provided crucial seals failed in the unusually cold weather of the launch. It was freezing cold that day (29 degrees F), whereas it had been at least 53 degrees on all previous launches.
==NASA coverup==
==NASA coverup==
NASA had said the O-rings had a safety factor of 3, which [[Richard Feynman]] later exposed as untrue.
* "SRB engineers had previously warned about problems in the o-rings, but had been dismissed by NASA management."
* "SRB engineers had previously warned about problems in the o-rings, but had been dismissed by NASA management."