Space Challenger

Engineers officials and the crew members families provide their perspective on the 1986 space shuttle challenger disaster and its aftermath.

Space challenger. The space shuttle challenger disaster was a fatal incident in the united states space program that occurred on january 28 1986 when the space shuttle challenger ov 099 broke apart 73 seconds into its flight killing all seven crew members aboard. Its maiden flight sts 6 began on april 4 1983. The crew consisted of five nasa astronauts and two payload specialists.

Many myths have emerged in the years since the acci. Ov 099 was the second orbiter of nasa s space shuttle program to be put into service after columbia. Abrams bad robot productions presents this series co directed by oscar winning documentary filmmaker daniel junge and steven leckart.

In 1986 the space shuttle challenger exploded 73 seconds after takeoff from florida s coast an accident that laid bare not only institutional flaws in the application of high technology but also flaws in the public s understanding of science. It successfully completed nine milestone missions during its nearly three years of service. Prior to the challenger disaster he flew as a mission specialist on sts 41 b aboard challenger from february 3 to february 11.

The accident which occurred a little more than a minute after liftoff killed the orbiter s seven person crew including the first teacher to be launched into space. The purpose of the january 28 1986 challenger flight sts 51 l was to launch the first teacher in space project while also observing halley s comet for six days. First called sta 099 challenger was built to serve as a test vehicle for the space shuttle program.

But despite its earth bound beginnings sta 099 was destined for space. Space shuttle challenger orbiter vehicle designation. Challenger was built by rockwell international s space transportation systems division in downey california.

Ronald erwin mcnair october 21 1950 january 28 1986 was an american nasa astronaut and physicist he died during the launch of the space shuttle challenger on mission sts 51 l in which he was serving as one of three mission specialists in a crew of seven. Watch season 1 now on netflix j j. Watch all you want.