Historical1986
Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster
The Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds after launch, killing all seven crew members, including Christa McAuliffe, who would have been the first teacher in space. The disaster was caused by a failed O-ring seal in a solid rocket booster, a known design flaw.
Why It Matters
The Challenger disaster led to major reforms in NASA's safety culture and decision-making processes, and raised important questions about government accountability, transparency, and the oversight of publicly funded programs.