Space Shuttle Challenger

2 Pages 576 Words

The accident of Space Shuttle Challenger, interrupted for a time one of the most productive engineering, scientific and exploratory programs in history. The violent explosion that was witnessed by the captive audience consisting of millions of proud Americans will forever be engraved in the hearts of those who watched the launch of the space shuttle on national television.
On January 27, 1985, one year before the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger, NASA announced the names of the astronauts assigned to the mission.
• Commander Francis R. Scobee
• Pilot Michael J. Smith
• Mission Specialist One Ellison S. Onizuka
• Mission Specialist Two Judith A. Resnik
• Mission Specialist Three Ronald E. McNair

This particular space mission was viewed throughout the various schools in the United States due to the fact that NASA had selected a teacher to be assigned to the crew. This fact in itself sparked a lot of interest in school age children, thus encouraging teachers to use the televised launch as a powerful presentation in the classroom.
The launch of the space shuttle was postponed three times and scrubbed once from the planned date of January 22, 1986. The launch postponements were due to the unacceptable weather and primarily because of the work requirements that resulted from the previous delays in the launch sequence.

BUSH 2

On January 28, 1986 the crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger was given the “go” for launch. At 06:18 a.m. the crew was awaken to the sadden new of excessive ice formations on the launch pad and that the launch time would be pushed back to allow for the ice to melt from the launch pad. The crew arrived at the shuttle at 08:03 a.m. and were in their seats in the Challenger at 08:36 a.m. At 08:44 a.m. the ice inspection team completed its second inspection. After hearing the team’s report, the program manager decided to allow additional time for the i...