Geography 2090A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster, Christa Mcauliffe, Solid-Fuel Rocket
Document Summary
Challenger, solid rocket booster detonated (unknown, may have been external tank: orbiter has been destroyed. First american flight disaster: missions had been successful for the past 25 missions. The crew capsule possible survival because it was compact and separate but none of the astronauts survived, may have died on impact or in the fall from the fumes (parts of the cockpit fell back intact) Civilian on-board there was a school teacher on-board the mission, first time a non-astronaut was on board, but she was not a lifelong pilot or member of nasa and had taken a crash course. 1984 president reagan wants nasa to have more publicity and wants a civilian on board humanize the space agency because she is an ordinary person who contributed to space history. 1985 nasa teacher is space program have 6 knowledgeable and 1 civilian, wanted to inspire children.