![]() They feared the putty used to seal the ring could have had ice in or around it, and the hardiness of the ring being a function of temperature could have kept the ring from performing properly in the joint. The O-rings used to keep the flammable gas from seeping out of the tank had not been tested in such low temperatures.Įngineers warned of the possible failure of the O-ring given the uncharted territory into such cold temperatures. The booster on the side getting full sun was 15-20 degrees warmer. ![]() Records later show the temperature near the right SRB that failed was actually closer to 28 degrees due to its height off the ground and the fact that booster was in the shade. and temperatures had risen to a chilly 36 degrees. Ice on the launch pad would have sent astronauts slipping if they had to evacuate due to an emergency prior to launch.Ī number of checks were performed on the ice prior to liftoff. This was an important factor, not just for the external tank but on the pad itself. Ice development is considered a debris hazard since it can break off and damage thermal protection tiles on the shuttle. That morning after seeing ice on the tank, liftoff was delayed to just before lunch time to allow for the sun to melt it. There was ice on the external tank that housed liquid oxygen and hydrogen. Strong wind gusts blew water on parts of the pad and froze. Nancy and I are pained to the core by the tragedy of the shuttle Challenger. Today is a day for mourning and remembering. Water was drained from pipes on the launch pad, but another factor defeated their efforts. Ladies and gentlemen, I'd planned to speak to you tonight to report on the state of the Union, but the events of earlier today have led me to change those plans. After several delays, it finally launched Januat 11:38:00 a.m. NASA Headquarters - GReatest Images of NASA (NASA-HQ-GRIN) Christa was scheduled to fly aboard the space shuttle Challenger for mission STS-51L. Preparations were made the night before to prevent or minimize ice formation. On January 28, 1986, NASA and the American people were rocked as tragedy unfolded 73 seconds into the flight of Space Shuttle Challenger’s STS-51L mission. Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster STS-51L Pictures - 51-L Challenger Crew in White Room. Temperatures behind a strong cold front had dipped to a frigid 26 degrees, well below the average low of 50 degrees. The disaster was caused by an O-ring seal that failed to work properly during the unusually cold conditions. The Challenger shuttle crew, of seven astronauts-including the specialties of pilot, aerospace engineers, and scientists- died tragically in the explosion of their spacecraft during the launch of STS-51-L from the Kennedy Space Center about 11:40 a.m., EST, on January 28, 1986. The right solid rocket booster (SRB) failed during liftoff. (Copyright 2021 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.) This action resulted in a surreal scene for the Florida launch facility. When it was determined that air temperatures combined with wind speeds were going to cause freezing conditions, a decision was made to leave all water supply lines on slow "trickle" to prevent line burst. ![]() Icicles formed on the launch pad and service tower in the evening and early morning hours on January 28, 1986.
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