Challenger and Columbia disaster

The Challenger disaster occurred on January 28, 1986, when the NASA space shuttle broke apart just seconds after launch, leading to the deaths of all seven astronauts aboard. A faulty O-ring in cold weather caused a catastrophic failure. The Columbia disaster happened on February 1, 2003, when the shuttle disintegrated upon reentry, killing all seven crew members. Damage to its wing during launch allowed extreme heat to penetrate during reentry. Both tragedies highlighted critical flaws in safety protocols and decision-making processes within NASA, leading to major changes in the agency's approach to safety and risk management in space missions.