THE CHALLENGER EXPLOSION

BACKGROUND INFO

• Took place on January 28, 1986.
• Located at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Caneveral.
• Challenger exploded 73 seconds after launch.
• Many things were ignored before launch.

THE CHALLENGER'S LEGACY

• Originally to be test vehicle.
• Sent on several repair missions.
• Carried the first female astronaut.

THE EVENT

• Challenger began leaking and falling apart during launch.
• Crew didn't notice until too late.
• Exploded 73 seconds after start of launch.
• Debris everywhere, parts fell to sea.

THE CAUSE(S)

• Challenger built without escape system.
• Nasa ignores O-Rings.
• Nasa ignores cold weather.
• Nasa managers ignore engineers.
• The Effect: Challenger launches and explodes.

Who Were They?

Francis R. Scobee, Michael J. Smith, Judith A. Regnik, Ellison S. Onizuka, Ronald E. McNair, Gregory B. Jarvis, and Sharon C. McAuliffe. (A Teacher.)

SHARON C. MCAULIFFE

• School Teacher
• Students Watched Launch
• Supposed to be first teacher in space.
• Someone gave her apple before launch.
• Said she'd eat it after mission.

THE SEARCH

• 50% of Challenger found.
• All members of crew dead.
• Bodies identified given to families.
• The rest buried at memorial for Challenger.

Quotes

"Take off your engineering hat for just a second and put on your management hat!" Said by senior Vice President of Nasa.

"Uh... Oh!" Last words to come from Challenger.

SHORT TERM EFFECTS

• Crew died when crew compartment hit ocean.
• Rogers Commission put blame on Nasa.
• America went into shock and lost some trust in Nasa.
• Astronauts were pulled off duty.

LONG TERM EFFECTS

• Nasa gets out of commercial business.
• Relaxed launch policy.
• Civilian launches to be put off for 22 years.
• This was until Discovery, 2007.

THE MOST INTERESTING THINGS I LEARNED?

• Nasa acted careless.
• So many things ignored.