The seven astronauts were only in the air for 73 seconds
The heartbreaking last image of the Challenger crew captures the seven astronauts smiling as they approached the rocket, which would erupt into flames less than two minutes after launch, resulting in their deaths.
The tragic event took place 30 years ago in 1986 at the Kennedy Space Center.
The NASA mission aimed to deploy two satellites, with one designated to observe Halley’s Comet as it neared the Sun.
The Challenger erupted in a massive fireball just 73 seconds after its launch during a live broadcast.
While NASA engineers and millions globally observed its disintegration at 46,000 feet over the Atlantic Ocean, it became evident that the seven passengers on board had perished, leaving no hope for survival.
The crew included astronauts Francis Scobee, Michael Smith, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Judith Resnik, Gregory Jarvis, and schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe, all of whom lost their lives in the explosion.
The failure of two rubber O-rings to properly seal at the connection of two Solid Rocket Boosters led to the expulsion of hot exhaust gas, resulting in flames.
The crew were only in the air for 73 seconds. (NASA)
This subsequently caused the primary liquid tank of the craft, containing a blend of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, to ignite.
It must have been a terrifying end.
Many people remember the moment the crew departed on the rocket, only to descend shortly after. However, they may not recognize that there was one particular image capturing their genuine excitement as they embarked on their journey to space.
On that significant day, a photo was taken of the seven as they exited the building and waved to the crowd.
Their faces lit up with wide smiles and a fresh thrill for embarking on something extraordinary, making it all the more tragic that they would never reach their goal.
This would be their last picture ever taken together before the incident.
Following the deaths of the astronauts on board, family members in the crowd started to grieve, leading to significant criticism directed at NASA.
This was particularly due to people believing it was all down to man-made faults.
The crew’s last known picture. (BOB PEARSON/AFP via Getty Images)
An employee at NASA contractor Morton Thiokol sounded the alarm well before the Challenger crew entered the ill-fated spacecraft.
Roger Boisjoly, a mechanic involved in the spacecraft’s development, was alarmed by the issues he observed. Six months prior to the Challenger launch, he alerted the company’s vice president of engineering about the significant O-ring erosion problem, ensuring they understood its seriousness.
Stating that the O-ring problem, if left unresolved, could lead to a disaster of immense proportions resulting in the loss of human lives.
The day prior to the planned launch, NASA officials and Morton Thiokol management discussed the O-ring problem.
For the second time, Boisjoly spoke out about what could happen if the O-ring wasn’t resolved.
But everyone overrode his concerns and planned for it to go ahead anyway.
The following day, all aboard would perish, and a lawsuit would determine that Morton Thiokol bore significant responsibility for the defective O-ring.
Featured Image Credit: BOB PEARSON/AFP via Getty Images/Oxford Science Archive/Print Collector/Getty Images