Challenger disaster (NASA)

The Challenger disaster occurred on January 28, 1986, when NASA's space shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds after liftoff, resulting in the deaths of all seven crew members. The catastrophe was caused by a failure of an O-ring seal in one of the solid rocket boosters, which allowed hot gases to escape and damage the external fuel tank. This structural failure led to the destruction of the shuttle. The disaster was a tragic result of engineering flaws, poor decision-making under pressure, and communication gaps. It prompted major reforms in NASA's safety protocols and flight procedures.