This Day in History - 28th January 1986 - The Challenger Disaster. (502 hits)
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Submitted by Beano (View user info) at 2007-01-28 07:05:31 EST
On this day in history January 28th 1986
20 years ago today (Jan 28th 1986 WAS IT REALLY THAT LONG AGO...!) the Challenger space shuttle exploded 73 seconds into its 10th flight killing all seven astronauts on board.
The five men and two woman crew were on the 25th space flight by an American shuttle and to this point only 7 people had died while engaged in the space exploration project.
The 'explosion' was described as "a national loss" by the then President Ronald Reagan. The feeling of loss made more intense due to the event being watched live by millions of people worldwide and the families of the crew live from the Cape Canaveral.
In the years to follow many views and opinions were expressed regarding the cause and politics behind the causes for the disaster.
For example, NASA chose the faulty design to satisfy powerful politicians who demanded that the mission went ahead, to NASA ordering a a weaker sealant for environmental reason... all the while knowing that the mission was in possible danger if they pursued these avenues.
MSNBC have a story resolving some of these issues, stating that the crew and all those who worked on the project should be properly recognised.
They make the following points:
(full article seen here http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11031097/)
1. Few people actually saw the Challenger tragedy unfold live on television.
2. The shuttle did not explode in the common definition of that word.
3. The flight, and the astronauts' lives, did not end at that point, 73 seconds after launch.
4. The design of the booster, while possessing flaws subject to improvement, was neither especially dangerous if operated properly, nor the result of political interference.
5. Replacement of the original asbestos-bearing putty in the booster seals was unrelated to the failure.
6. There were pressures on the flight schedule, but none of any recognizable political origin.
7. Claims that the disaster was the unavoidable price to be paid for pioneering a new frontier were self-serving rationalizations on the part of those responsible for incompetent engineering management — the disaster should have been avoidable.
This explosion caused a 30 or so month delay in the space exploration program, however as we all know this project came back and is still running to this day.
From a personal perspective, I remember a summer in the UK sometime in the 1986 when myself and some friends were out on our bicycles , we'd heard that a shuttle was going to be flying on the back of a 747 and sure enough, up in the sky there it was.
Certain things stick in your mind, and this image is still vivid in mine, i'd set eyes on a man made object that had been and would return to space. We'd all read about the Armstrong and Aldrin success of the 60's when EVERYONE was in front of a TV when man first walked on the moon.
But my generation had our own space era, re-useable craft and a longer term dream of space travel/tourism for all.
It's still a dangerous adventure, as noted by another exploded shuttle over Texas on February 1st 2003. Columbia exploding on re-entry. However the men and women who engage in the pursuit of space travel do so in the knowledge that they are putting their lives at risk.
I can only wonder if I'd have the balls to put my comfortable life at risk to see the Earth and it's surrounding space from a fairly unique perspective?
The people in the photo below did and to them I offer a thought of memorial to brave and daring people who lost their lives in he pursuit of a dream.
In the back row from left to right: Ellison S. Onizuka, Sharon Christa McAuliffe, Greg Jarvis, and Judy Resnik. In the front row from left to right: Michael J. Smith, Dick Scobee, and Ron McNair.
User Reviews
Submitted by Judgement (user info) at 2008-11-22 16:28:15 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
No Comment
Submitted by redskieslookfake (user info) at 2008-07-26 12:42:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
No Comment
Submitted by Mr_T (user info) at 2008-07-23 20:23:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
I don't hate you...
but I pity the foo'!
Submitted by maf54 (user info) at 2008-05-14 05:17:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Just to counter what that idiot Director did to you.
Submitted by Director (user info) at 2008-05-13 17:33:51 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
No Comment
Submitted by ballsonurchin (user info) at 2007-02-12 04:34:02 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
Faggot!
Submitted by kuroneko_sama (user info) at 2007-02-01 01:15:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
they sat us down as a group in kindergarten to see the launch live on tv when it happened... i remember it, christine mculloch was a local teacher here, the local planetarium is named after her
Submitted by swimmingbirdblue (user info) at 2007-01-30 11:43:59 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I've been trying to come up with a witty comment for like 5 minutes now. Fuck it. I'm not a smart man.
But I know when to remember shit.
Thanks for reminding me, cos I forgot to remember this shit.
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2007-01-29 14:00:46 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
those dudes were alive on the way down
Submitted by Beano312003 (user info) at 2007-01-29 06:51:30 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Snare (user info) at 2007-01-29 01:52:27 (#)
Ranking: 2
What do the letters NASA stand for?
Need Another Seven Astronauts.
What colour were the Challenger captain's eyes?
Blew.
And of course, the flight recording (still unreleased but available on bootleg internet sites) gives us the immortal last words...
"Who the fuck let the woman drive?"
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hahahahhahaha
the old ones are still funny !!RLMAO!!
Submitted by TheUniter (user info) at 2007-01-29 02:22:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Snare (user info) at 2007-01-29 01:52:27 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
What do the letters NASA stand for?
Need Another Seven Astronauts.
What colour were the Challenger captain's eyes?
Blew.
And of course, the flight recording (still unreleased but available on bootleg internet sites) gives us the immortal last words...
"Who the fuck let the woman drive?"
Submitted by MrE (user info) at 2007-01-29 01:31:47 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Today is my birthday!!
Submitted by forensicgirl3 (user info) at 2007-01-29 01:31:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I was a Sophomore in High School. I remember this well.
Submitted by messmind (user info) at 2007-01-28 15:05:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
No Comment
Submitted by Maltese (user info) at 2007-01-28 14:40:12 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
This day in history - January 28th 2007
Maltese reads a post by Beano and gives it a +2.
Submitted by lungfish (user info) at 2007-01-28 12:45:35 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I was a senior in high school. I'm old.
Submitted by particle_man58 (user info) at 2007-01-28 11:12:14 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
"....ground control to Major Tom your curcuits dead, theres something wrong.."
Submitted by Beano312003 (user info) at 2007-01-28 10:29:46 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Coyote (user info) at 2007-01-28 10:14:44 (#)
Ranking: 2
Yup, saw "only 7 people had died" and my brain automatically associated that with the Challenger 7. I'm gonna blame the Sudafed, and lack of coffee.
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No worries mate!
....and stagger you were 1 year old?? the kin young pup.
Submitted by Stagger_Lee (user info) at 2007-01-28 10:20:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I was 1 year and 2 months(ish) old.
Submitted by Coyote (user info) at 2007-01-28 10:14:44 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Yup, saw "only 7 people had died" and my brain automatically associated that with the Challenger 7. I'm gonna blame the Sudafed, and lack of coffee.
Submitted by Coyote (user info) at 2007-01-28 10:09:20 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Beano312003 (user info) at 2007-01-28 09:50:26 (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Coyote (user info) at 2007-01-28 09:39:09 (#)
Ranking: 0
Can't go higher than a +0 on this because the Challenger Seven weren't the first to die in space exploration. They weren't even the first Americans-- the Apollo 1 fire killed Grissom, White and Chafee in 1967.
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That's cool Coyote but I state that 7 people had died previous to this accident... after this accident an additional 7 people were killed (the crew) brining the total to 14.
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My bad, I misread that sentence.
Submitted by FATMANTPK (user info) at 2007-01-28 10:03:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
I was in 6th grade and we watched the replay of it, I believe.
Submitted by Beano312003 (user info) at 2007-01-28 09:50:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2007-01-28 08:37:48 (#)
Ranking: 2
you're a good dude
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cheers Rad.
Submitted by Beano312003 (user info) at 2007-01-28 09:50:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Coyote (user info) at 2007-01-28 09:39:09 (#)
Ranking: 0
Can't go higher than a +0 on this because the Challenger Seven weren't the first to die in space exploration. They weren't even the first Americans-- the Apollo 1 fire killed Grissom, White and Chafee in 1967.
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That's cool Coyote but I state that 7 people had died previous to this accident... after this accident an additional 7 people were killed (the crew) brining the total to 14.
Submitted by Coyote (user info) at 2007-01-28 09:39:09 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Can't go higher than a +0 on this because the Challenger Seven weren't the first to die in space exploration. They weren't even the first Americans-- the Apollo 1 fire killed Grissom, White and Chafee in 1967.
Also, I can't quite tell from the post who exactly the MSNBC story is supposed to be vindicating, but NASA management had all the evidence they needed to have predicted the failure of the SRB O rings under exactly the conditions of the Challenger launch. There was strong management pressure to go through with the launch despite the known risk. It's a case study in how organizational structures can function not to promote success, but to encourage disaster.
I was in 8th grade; we didn't get to watch live on TV because my school had only arranged to have TVs for the science classrooms and I was at lunch.
Submitted by DirtyHarry (user info) at 2007-01-28 09:12:54 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
7. Claims that the disaster was the unavoidable price to be paid for pioneering a new frontier were self-serving rationalizations on the part of those responsible for incompetent engineering management — the disaster should have been avoidable.
Yeah I always thought that was a stupid line too.
Submitted by Danger_Ranger (user info) at 2007-01-28 08:57:59 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
there was this one time.. okay it's true. We were sitting in a bar and then KABOMB!! THE SPACE SHUTTLE ASSPLODE!!
My friend sat his schooner on the bar and started crying. We put our pool cues down and thought holy fuck he KNEW those guys...
turns out he gross-failed uni, and it made him pretty fucking sad. It was a huge relief at the time and now he is one of the most motherfucking powerful cunts in the state, but watching the relatives on the tv still made us... *still* makes us/me sad, it's a fucking bummer.
my uncle was a bob vet. roxor. and my grandad a rat. just as good.
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2007-01-28 08:37:48 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
you're a good dude
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2007-01-28 08:34:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I watched it on TV/ I was in the first grade, and we watched it on television that day.
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2007-01-28 08:33:19 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
thats 21 years and I feel old now