Challenger Explosion

The Challenger Explosion occurred on January 28, 1986, when the NASA space shuttle Challenger broke apart just 73 seconds after launch, tragically killing all seven crew members on board. The disaster was caused by the failure of an O-ring seal in one of the solid rocket boosters, which allowed hot gases to escape and damage the external tank. The incident raised major concerns about safety and NASA's decision-making processes, leading to significant changes in space program policies and engineering practices. The Challenger tragedy serves as a sobering reminder of the risks involved in space exploration.