But any firm conclusion of the Rogers Commission needed to be backed by examination of tons of debris recovered from the Atlantic Ocean in the seven months following the tragedy.Ī total of 22 ships, six submersibles and 33 aircraft participated in a search for debris centered on the edge of the Gulf Stream and covering a total of about 93,000 square miles of ocean to a depth of 1,200 feet. The photographic and telemetry information left little doubt as to the specific root of the Challenger explosion. Both SRB’s were destroyed by the Range Safety Officer at Launch Plus 110 seconds. Video analysis confirmed that the aft field joint was missing from the right SRB as it continued to fly. The right SRB and left SRB continued to fly after the total vehicle had broken up. The last telemetry signal was received from the Orbiter at Launch Plus 73.618 seconds. Telemetry data indicated that the Orbiter’s three main engines shut down automatically at Launch Plus 73.6 seconds. This was followed by total vehicle break-up at Launch Plus 73.213 seconds. ![]() Both of these structural failures caused fuel and vapor to stream along the exterior of the ET.Īt Launch Plus 73.191 seconds, a bright flash was seen between the ET and the Orbiter as leaking fuels and gases began to mix and ignite. This was followed by a structural failure of the liquid oxygen tank within the ET at Launch Plus 73.137 seconds. At Launch Plus 73 seconds, both liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen pressure within the ET dropped to near zero.Īt Launch Plus 73.124 seconds, the liquid hydrogen tank within the ET suffered a structural failure. At Launch Plus 72.2 seconds, the lower strut attaching the right SRB to the ET was torn loose, causing the right SRB to move erratically.īy Launch Plus 72.6 seconds, liquid hydrogen pressure could not be maintained. At Launch Plus 66.8 seconds, ET pressure dropped dramatically. ![]() At Launch Plus 64.66 seconds, the burn-through plume penetrated the ET, which began to lose pressure as a result.Īt Launch Plus 64.705 seconds, a bright glow formed between the right SRB and the ET. At roughly this same time, telemetry data indicated that the pressure of the right SRB had become lower than that of the left SRB.Īt Launch Plus 62 seconds, telemetry data indicated that the Orbiter’s automated guidance control system had begun responding to the dynamic forces caused by the burn-through plume. By Launch Plus 3.375 seconds, the smoke was no longer visible.Īt Launch Plus 58.788 seconds, a burn-through plume was seen emerging from the aft field joint of the right SRB. The puff of smoke was pinpointed to have emerged from between the 270 degree and 310 degree circumference points of the aft field joint, directly between the right SRB and the External Tank (ET). The puff of smoke achieved its highest level of visibility at Launch Plus 1.9 seconds. This indicated that the aft field joint was not completely sealed. ![]() 678 seconds, a large puff of grayish black smoke was seen emerging from the aft field joint of the right Solid Rocket Booster (SRB). All of Challenger’s pre-launch preparations were routine, with the exception of tremendous ice buildup on the launch pad that formed as temperatures dipped into the low 20’s overnight.Īt Launch Plus. This was 15 degrees colder than any previous Space Shuttle launch. Telemetry data was also reviewed, as was debris evidence recovered from the Atlantic Ocean.Īfter a thorough analysis of the camera images and telemetry data was completed, the following scenario of events leading up to the Challenger explosion emerged:Īt launch time, the temperature at the Kennedy Space Center was 36 degrees Fahrenheit. The Rogers Commission quickly assumed the task of reviewing video, film and still images from about 200 cameras that photographed the launch and explosion of Challenger. The group became popularly known as the Rogers Commission after its Chairman, William P. ![]() Soon after the Challenger explosion, President Ronald Reagan formed the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident. Challenger exploded 73 seconds after launch, and a crew of seven astronauts perished. Space Shuttle Challenger began Mission STS-51L with a launch from Kennedy Space Center Launch Pad 39B at 11:38:00 a.m.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |