O-ring crisis

The O-ring crisis refers to the Challenger space shuttle disaster in 1986, caused by issues with a component called an O-ring seal. These seals failed to withstand cold temperatures, allowing hot gases to escape during launch. This breach led to the destruction of the shuttle shortly after liftoff, resulting in the deaths of all seven crew members. The crisis highlighted how seemingly small flaws in engineering components can have catastrophic consequences and underscored the importance of rigorous quality checks and risk management in complex operations.