THE CHALLENGER EXPLOSION Faiz Almansour Alemu Azanaw Rachel

THE CHALLENGER EXPLOSION Faiz Almansour Alemu Azanaw Rachel Downen Timothy Herbig Angie Schneider

Introduction • The Challenger Space Shuttle exploded on January 28, 1986 • Caused by an O-ring failure • All 7 crew members perished

Process Description O-ring • SRB segments diameter growth • Clearance between Oring and upstream channel wall • Putty • Temperature effects

Timeline Night of Jan. 27 th • Teleconference with Marshall, Kennedy, and Thiokol • Launch recommendation signed • Ice teams work through the night removing ice Jan. 28 th • 1: 00 AM • Tanks started to be filled with fuel • 10: 30 AM • Flight delayed for extra ice inspection

Timeline (continued) • 11: 38 AM (T = 0) • The Challenger launches • T + 0. 836 s • Eight puffs of smoke • T + 58. 788 • Flame appears on right SRM • T + 59. 262 • Continuous plume on right SRM • T + 65. 164 • Rocket starts to deviate from course due to plume

Timeline (continued) • T + 72. 564 • Hydrogen tank pressure decreases • T + 73. 143 • All engines respond to loss of fuel and liquid oxygen • T + 73. 327 • Intense white flash • T + 110. 250 • SRBs destruct http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=j 4 JOjc. DFt. BE

Root Causes • O-rings failed • Technical failure • Previous warnings • Untested conditions • Pressure to launch • Miscommunication

Ultimate Results • Death of all seven crew members • Space Shuttle program suspended for 32 months • Thiokol accepted liability and forfeited $10 million of their incentive fee • Country watching the launch live demoralized • Replacement Shuttle for the Challenger cost $1. 7 billion

Lessons Learned • Communication is key • Only operate in tested conditions • Safety over schedule

Summary • O-ring failure resulted in Challenger explosion on Jan. 28, 1986 • Pressure to launch led to operation in unsafe conditions • Replacement Shuttle for the Challenger cost $1. 7 billion • 7 people lost their lives • 3 main lessons were learned from this disaster

References • • • Mc. Donald, Allan J. , and James R. Hansen. Truth, Lies, and Orings: Inside the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster. Gainesville: University of Florida. 2009. “NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration. ” NASA. Web. 01 Mar. 2012. <http: //www. nasa. gov/centers/kennedy/about/information/shuttle _faq. html>. “Report of the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident. ” Presidential Commission Report on Space Shuttle Challenger Accident. Web. 28 Feb. 2012. <http: //science. ksc. nasa. gov/shuttle/missions/51 -l/docs/rogerscommission/table-of-contents. html>. 1986. Vaughan, Diane. The Challenger Launch Decision: Risky Technology, Culture, and Deviance at NASA. Chicago: University of Chicago. 1996. “What Went Wrong. ” Online Ethics Center for Engineering. 29 Aug. 2006. Web. 01 Mar. 2012. <http: //www. onlineethics. org/cms/12707. aspx>.

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