The Challenger Disaster was known as STS-51L. It had multiple purposes, but was to be famous for its Teacher In Space Project (TISP). Teacher Sharon Christa McAuliffe would broadcast live lessons from space to children across the nation. Unfortunately, the shuttle never made it to space. During the launch, the O-ring seal failed on one of the SRBs, leaking first hot gasses and then flames out of the O-ring. These flames caused the support which held the SRB against the external fuel tank to fail. The SRB swung back and forth, crashing into the external fuel tank and leaking the pure liquid hydrogen. Then it caused the Oxygen tank to fail, and it was all over for the shuttle Challenger, as well as her payload and the 7 crew members.
This site created by Jeff Jacobson.
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