Re-entering Earths atmosphere isnt the only horrifying part of space travel. On 28 January 1986, Space Shuttle Challenger exploded in air over Cape Canaveral, Florida. Disintegration began after an O-ring seal in a solid rocket booster failed at launch. When it broke, hot gas spewed forth and damaged the external fuel tank causing an explosion. Millions of Americans watched from the ground and on television as the Challenger erupted into a fireball and then plummeted into the ocean. The seven people aboard died. Following the crash, President Reagan established a committee to investigate the disaster and determine preventative procedures for the future. They ascertained that the day of the launch was exceedingly cold and the frigid temperatures compromised the O-ring. Additionally, they discovered that the company that created the rocket boosters ignored warnings about possible failures. Nasa managers, displaying behaviour that would continue for the next seventeen years, also overlooked these concerns. Shuttle missions were shunted for more than two years while new safety features were designed and implemented. It wouldnt help with Columbias re-entry.
