Explosion of the space shuttle Challenger

For more information in connection with the mission and of the crew of the space shuttle Challenger, to see the article STS-51-L.

The explosion of the American space shuttle Challenger was a space accident which took place the January 28th 1986 with 11:39 EMT (16: 38 GMT), and saw the disintegration of the space shuttle of NASA Challenger 73 seconds after its takeoff, following the rupture of the lower joint of Strap-on booster sound right. The rupture of the joint caused an escape of flame, the engine being adjacent with the external reservoir of the shuttle. In a few seconds, the flame damaged the central tank filled with Hydrogène, the structure yielded under heat, and the lower dome of the tank separated from the unit. The seven astronauts present at edge of Challenger , including two women, perished in the explosion. The flight compartment and many fragments of the shuttle were found thereafter at the ocean floor, at the time of research operation in the months which followed.

Many schoolboys attended the launching of the rocket on line, because of presence in the team of astronaut of Christa McAuliffe, teacher appointed with the project Teacher in Space Project . The press coverage of the event was intense: a study reported that 85 probed percent of were with the current of the accident one hour after the disaster. The catastrophe subsequently caused many debates as for technological safety and decision makings, and inspired two adaptations, one with the Télévision in 1990 and the other with the Cinéma, in a film entitled Challenger which will leave in 2008.

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'' January 28th, 1986: explosion of the space shuttle Challenger '' on Futura Sciences
of the accident

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