STS-51-L, Space Shuttle Challenger Launch, 1986
The Space Shuttle Challenger launches from the Kennedy Space Center on 1/28/86, as part of mission STS-51-L. Moments later, the shuttle would explode, and kill all seven crew members. A puff of black smoke can be seen at the base of the solid rocket booster, where an O-ring seal failed on ignition. 73 seconds after lift-off, the shuttle exploded. The freezing temperatures experienced prior to launch are thought to have caused the O-ring failure.
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Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
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