What Was The Cause Of The Challenger Disaster
Causes of Accident
Challenger's STS-51L mission was scheduled for Launch at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. “After several technical and weather-related delays, Challenger launched at 11:38 a.m. EST on Jan. 28, 1986” (Chow, 2011). The ship exploded 73 seconds after liftoff (Howell, 2012). The (mechanical) cause of the accident points to pressure seals (O-rings) but more importantly points to the serious problems that NASA had with its communication channels and safety information systems (Mahler & Casamayou, 2009, p. 40)
Structural and Mechanical Factors
As aforementioned in the paragraph above pressure rings are blamed for the Challenger incident. In reality it was a chain reaction or domino effect that started with the …show more content…
A small flame starts flickering, the flame continued to grow and got caught in the aerodynamic flow field of the accelerating shuttle, hydrogen began leaking and continued to fuel that flame. ("Challenger Disaster," n.d.)
Contributing Factors
Contributing factors for this accident can be narrowed down to weather and aerodynamic forces. The Challenger had never been launched in such low temperatures as this time. Sources point to the temperature dropping below 18° F the night before and 36° F on the morning of the launch. ("Challenger Disaster," n.d.) This colder climate created certain conditions that sources say affected the O-rings’ capability to seal correctly.
Furthermore the aerodynamic forces in accordance with the direction of the Challenger made it possible for the vehicle to be covered in a highly explosive mist combination of oxygen and hydrogen. The high speed of Mach 2 and the aerodynamic pressures while not being under control caused deterioration of mechanical structures on the orbiter and caused certain components to break out. The stresses the loads created were too extreme for the shuttle and it broke into several large
Challenger's STS-51L mission was scheduled for Launch at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. “After several technical and weather-related delays, Challenger launched at 11:38 a.m. EST on Jan. 28, 1986” (Chow, 2011). The ship exploded 73 seconds after liftoff (Howell, 2012). The (mechanical) cause of the accident points to pressure seals (O-rings) but more importantly points to the serious problems that NASA had with its communication channels and safety information systems (Mahler & Casamayou, 2009, p. 40)
Structural and Mechanical Factors
As aforementioned in the paragraph above pressure rings are blamed for the Challenger incident. In reality it was a chain reaction or domino effect that started with the …show more content…
A small flame starts flickering, the flame continued to grow and got caught in the aerodynamic flow field of the accelerating shuttle, hydrogen began leaking and continued to fuel that flame. ("Challenger Disaster," n.d.)
Contributing Factors
Contributing factors for this accident can be narrowed down to weather and aerodynamic forces. The Challenger had never been launched in such low temperatures as this time. Sources point to the temperature dropping below 18° F the night before and 36° F on the morning of the launch. ("Challenger Disaster," n.d.) This colder climate created certain conditions that sources say affected the O-rings’ capability to seal correctly.
Furthermore the aerodynamic forces in accordance with the direction of the Challenger made it possible for the vehicle to be covered in a highly explosive mist combination of oxygen and hydrogen. The high speed of Mach 2 and the aerodynamic pressures while not being under control caused deterioration of mechanical structures on the orbiter and caused certain components to break out. The stresses the loads created were too extreme for the shuttle and it broke into several large