28/01/2024
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January 28th - on this day in 1986, Space Shuttle Challenger launched from Space Launch Complex 39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on a planned six-day mission, STS-51-L. It was the orbiter's tenth mission and the 25th orbital flight of the Space Shuttle Program. The main objective was to deploy the second Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS-B).
At T+73 seconds, Challenger experienced a catastrophic structural failure resulting in the loss of the vehicle and its seven-member crew.
The Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident later determined that the accident was caused by the failure of the primary and secondary (backup) O-ring seals on the right Solid Rocket Booster. This resulted in parts of the exhaust from the SRB pouring out through the booster's side, ultimately leading to the large External Tank exploding.
The seven crew members who lost their lives during the Challenger disaster include:
• Commander Dick Scobee (May 19th, 1939 – January 28th, 1986)
• Pilot Michael Smith (April 30th, 1945 – January 28th, 1986)
• Mission Specialist Ellison Onizuka (June 24th, 1946 – January 28th, 1986)
• Mission Specialist Judith Resnik (April 5th, 1949 – January 28th, 1986)
• Mission Specialist Ronald McNair (October 21st, 1950 – January 28th, 1986)
• Payload Specialist Gregory Jarvis (August 24th, 1944 – January 28th, 1986)
• Mission Specialist Christa McAuliffe (September 2nd, 1948 – January 28th, 1986)
