The Challenger Disaster

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 failure was caused by a faulty O-ring seal in one of the solid rocket boosters, which allowed hot gases to escape and damage the external fuel tank. This breach led to the destruction of the shuttle's structure. The disaster highlighted flaws in risk assessment and the importance of addressing engineering concerns, prompting significant changes in space shuttle safety protocols and NASA’s organizational culture.