Searching for a WWII-era plane wreck, a documentary crew discovered a more modern wreck instead. After reviewing the images, NASA confirmed that the underwater wreckage filmed off the Florida coast is from the disastrous final flight of the space shuttle Challenger, in which seven people died.
Divers working on the documentary noticed a large man-made object partially covered with sand on the seafloor. It featured a modern construction, including eight-inch square tiles commonly used in the shuttle’s thermal protection systems. This gave crew members clues that the wreckage might be related to NASA, and they contacted the space agency, which reviewed the images and confirmed the find. NASA said it is examining how to take additional measures in relation to the debris.
The tragic Challenger flight took off on January 28, 1986 and was shattered by an airborne explosion just 73 seconds into its journey. Six crew members and school teacher Christa McAuliffe died from the explosion or impact. McAuliffe was selected from more than 11,000 submissions for NASA’s Teacher in Space project. The launch was broadcast live on national television, and the memorable tragedy left such a deep impression that many people still remember exactly where they were at the time of the event.
In addition to McAuliffe, commander Francis R. “Dick” Scobee, pilot Michael J. Smith, experts Ronald E. McNair, Ellison S. Onizuka, Judith A. Resnik, and cargo expert Gregory B. Jarvis died during the mission. In 2018, ISS astronauts completed McAuliffe’s planned science classes for the trip.
An investigation into the explosion found that the O-ring seals on the solid rocket booster segment joints had hardened from unexpectedly cold temperatures the previous night. Despite the concerns of engineers at O-ring manufacturer Morton Thiokol, company management submitted a proposal for the launch. Tragedy eventually suspended the space shuttle program for 32 months and led to the establishment of the agency’s Office of Safety, Reliability and Quality Assurance.
NASA administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement, “Although nearly 37 years have passed since seven intrepid and brave explorers lost their lives aboard Challenger, this tragedy will forever remain in our nation’s collective memory. It still feels like yesterday to man. This discovery gives us the opportunity to pause once again, to resurrect the legacy of the seven pioneers we have lost, and to reflect on how this tragedy has changed us. At NASA, the core value of safety, especially as our missions explore the cosmos more than ever before, is the most “It’s our top priority and it should stay that way forever.”
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