STS-51-L

STS-51-L was the mission of the Space Shuttle Challenger launched in January 1986. It was intended to deploy a satellite and conduct scientific experiments. Tragically, just 73 seconds after liftoff, the shuttle disintegrated due to a booster failure caused by faulty O-rings in cold weather, leading to the destruction of the vehicle and the loss of all seven crew members. The catastrophe highlighted the importance of safety in space exploration and resulted in a major review of procedures and engineering standards.