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Collection:
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NASA Great Images in Nasa Collection
Collection
NASA Great Images in Nasa Collection
Collection
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Title:
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Challenger Rocket Booster
Title
Challenger Rocket Booster
Title
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Full Description:
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At about 76 seconds, fragments of the Orbiter can be seen tumbling against a background of fire, smoke and vaporized propellants from the External Tank. The left Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) flys rampant, still thrusting. The reddish-brown cloud envelops the disintergrating Orbiter. The color is indicative of the nitrogen tetroxide oxidizer propellant in the Orbiter Reaction Control System. On January 28, 1986 frigid overnight temperatures caused normally pliable rubber O-ring seals and putty that are designed to seal and establish joint integrity between the Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) joint segments, to become hard and non- flexible. At the instant of SRB ignition, tremendous stresses and pressures occur within the SRB casing and especially at the joint attachment points. The failure of the O-rings and putty to "seat" properly at motor ignition, caused hot exhaust gases to blow by the seals and putty. During Challenger's ascent, this hot gas "blow by" ultimately cut a swath completely through the steel booster casing; and like a welder's torch, began cutting into the External Tank (ET). It is believed that the ET was compromised in several locations starting in the aft at the initial point where SRB joint failure occured. The ET hydrogen tank is believed to have been breached first, with continuous rapid incremental failure of both the ET and SRB. The chain reaction of events occurring in milliseconds culminated in a massive explosion. The orbiter Challenger was instantly ejected by the blast and went askew into the supersonic air flow. These aerodynamic forces caused structural shattering and complete destruction of the orbiter. Though it was concluded that the G-forces experienced during orbiter ejection and break-up were survivable, impact with the ocean surface was not. Tragically, all seven crewmembers perished.
Full_Description
At about 76 seconds, fragments of the Orbiter can be seen tumbling against a background of fire, smoke and vaporized propellants from the External Tank. The left Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) flys rampant, still thrusting. The reddish-brown cloud envelops the disintergrating Orbiter. The color is indicative of the nitrogen tetroxide oxidizer propellant in the Orbiter Reaction Control System. On January 28, 1986 frigid overnight temperatures caused normally pliable rubber O-ring seals and putty that are designed to seal and establish joint integrity between the Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) joint segments, to become hard and non- flexible. At the instant of SRB ignition, tremendous stresses and pressures occur within the SRB casing and especially at the joint attachment points. The failure of the O-rings and putty to "seat" properly at motor ignition, caused hot exhaust gases to blow by the seals and putty. During Challenger's ascent, this hot gas "blow by" ultimately cut a swath completely through the steel booster casing; and like a welder's torch, began cutting into the External Tank (ET). It is believed that the ET was compromised in several locations starting in the aft at the initial point where SRB joint failure occured. The ET hydrogen tank is believed to have been breached first, with continuous rapid incremental failure of both the ET and SRB. The chain reaction of events occurring in milliseconds culminated in a massive explosion. The orbiter Challenger was instantly ejected by the blast and went askew into the supersonic air flow. These aerodynamic forces caused structural shattering and complete destruction of the orbiter. Though it was concluded that the G-forces experienced during orbiter ejection and break-up were survivable, impact with the ocean surface was not. Tragically, all seven crewmembers perished.
Full Description
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Date:
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01/28/1986
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NASA Center:
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Johnson Space Center
NASA_Center
Johnson Space Center
NASA Center
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Subject Category:
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Space Shuttle
Subject_Category
Space Shuttle
Subject Category
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Subject Category:
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Challenger
Subject_Category
Challenger
Subject Category
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Keywords:
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Challenger
Keywords
Challenger
Keywords
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Keywords:
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STS-51L
Keywords
STS-51L
Keywords
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Keywords:
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Explosion
Keywords
Explosion
Keywords
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Audience:
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General Public
Audience
General Public
Audience
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facet_what:
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Challenger
facet_what
Challenger
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Space Shuttle Orbiter
facet_what
Space Shuttle Orbiter
facet_what
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facet_where:
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Johnson Space Center (JSC)
facet_where
Johnson Space Center (JSC)
facet_where
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facet_when:
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January 28, 1986
facet_when
January 28, 1986
facet_when
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facet_when:
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01-28-1986
facet_when
01-28-1986
facet_when
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facet_when_year:
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1986
facet_when_year
1986
facet_when_year
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Image #:
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S86-38990
Image_#
S86-38990
Image #
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original_url:
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original_url
original_url
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UID:
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SPD-GRIN-GPN-2000-00 1422
UID
SPD-GRIN-GPN-2000-00 1422
UID
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Center:
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JSC
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Center Number:
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S86-38990
Center_Number
S86-38990
Center Number
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GRIN DataBase Number:
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GPN-2000-001422
GRIN_DataBase_Number
GPN-2000-001422
GRIN DataBase Number
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Creator-Photographer:
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NASA
Creator-Photographer
NASA
Creator-Photographer
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Original Source:
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DIGITAL
Original_Source
DIGITAL
Original Source
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