What Happened To The Bodies Of The Challenger Crew?

and liftoff liftoff of the 25th Bas shuttle mission and it is cleared the [Music] tower 1 minute 15 seconds velocity 2900 ft per second altitude 9 nautical miles downrange distance s miles it is the worst disaster in the history of the American space program and President Reagan has declared a week of mourning for the Seven astronauts five men and two women who lost their lives on their way into space this morning in 1986 the world was shaken by the devastating Challenger explosion a tragedy that claimed the lives of seven exceptional crew members it was a sorrowful one that even the then President Reagan declared a week of mourning to honor their sacrifice till today many wonder what happened to the bodies of these crew members were they recovered were they given a proper burial or were they lost in the explosion join us as we uncover these details before we delve right into what happened to the bodies of the Challenger crew let's first get to meet the crew members the brave Challenger crew members on July 19th 1985 a pivotal moment unfolded as Christa mlli a dedicated school teacher received a letter that would alter the course of her life and ignite a national dream out of a pool of over 11,000 educators mlli was selected to become the first teacher in Space the sheer magnitude of this opportunity overwhelmed her as she envisioned the possibility of sharing the a inspiring wonders of space with students across the nation upon her return what initially seemed like a historic Mission brimming with promise soon became overshadowed by the looming tragedy that lay ahead unknown to anyone at the time the news of McAuliffe's selection spread like wildfire reminiscent of a Celestial explosion throughout conquered High School in New Hampshire and Beyond McAuliffe's colleagues family friends and students were enveloped in a wave of euphoria and pride realizing that her journey to space wasn't just a personal ambition but a symbol of inspiration for an entire nation as a pivotal figure in the teacher in Space Project mif wasn't merely destined to be a passenger on the Challenger she planned to conduct live lessons from the OS captivating the imaginations of students Nationwide anticipation soared as it was envisioned that upon her return mlli would embark on a nationwide lecture series cementing her Legacy as a champion of Science and Technology education mlli alongside her esteemed crewm mates including Commander Francis r scobby embarked on an arduous training program at the Johnson Space Center in Houston Texas in preparation for their groundbreaking Mission contrary to any doubts about the crew's abilities their qualifications were exemplary Commander scobby a seasoned pilot had already proven his medal in high stakes missions aboard STS 41c Michael J Smith his co-pilot brought a wealth of experience with an impressive flight record spanning various aircraft types the team also comprised accomplished astronauts like Judith a Resnik whose pioneering cont contributions to NASA's operations had solidified her place as a Trailblazer among female astronauts Ronald E McNair the second African-American in space brought his expertise to the mission alongside Ellison s onzuka the first Asian-American astronaut completing the team was Gregory B Jarvis a payload specialist tasked with conducting experiments for Hughes aircraft marking his long- awaited space debut after previous setbacks each of them brought their own expertise and groundbreaking achievements to the mission despite their exceptional qualifications signs of potential trouble loomed on the horizon hinting at a tragic outcome that would ultimately shake the nation to its core so what was this tragic outcome and what led to it keep watching to know the space shuttle Challenger the space shuttle a spacecraft operated by NASA was a groundbreaking innovation in space exploration making its inaugural flight in April 1981 it served as a versatile platform for conducting inorbit research and deploying a wide range of payloads including commercial military and scientific missions consisting of the Orbiter external tank ET and two solid rocket boosters srbs the shuttle's design allowed for partial reusability with the Orbiter serving as the crew and payload carrier the orbit a winged vehicle launched vertically and landed as a glider housing the crew compartment where astronauts lived and worked during missions powered by three space shuttle main engines ssmes mounted at the AFT end the shuttle provided thrust during launch Once In Space maneuverability was facilitated by two smaller orbital maneuvering system OMS engines Challenger 099 the second Orbiter constructed underwent conversion from a structural test art to serve its operational role however with each trip the spacecraft faced Relentless wear and tear necessitating constant behind the scenes repairs to replace Parts worn by the harsh conditions of space travel unknown to many these unseen cracks would eventually lead to an irreparable tragedy while the Challenger had been a source of national pride for years it would tragically claim the lives of some of the nation's best astronauts yet the question question arises were there warning signs of the looming threat or did the crew's lack of experience play a role let's delve deeper to find out unheated warnings the Challenger spacecraft provided early indications of impending disaster as Engineers gave reports that went unheeded despite months of intensive training both the crew and the nation eagerly anticipated the scheduled launch date however their hopes were abruptly shattered 6 days prior to liftoff on January 22nd 1986 a somber atmosphere descended upon the training room as a senior NASA official delivered the disappointing news their mission would be delayed until the return of another shuttle 61c which had encountered setbacks and was not expected to land until the following day the weight of disappointment was palpable every space mission held immense significance representing a culmination of dreams and aspirations even for seasoned astronauts the Allure of the unknown and the beckoning call of the Stars served as a powerful driving force for all involved this seemingly minor setback felt like an eternity to a crew eager to etch their names into the annals of history as the day approached the Challenger crew found themselves restlessly waiting in their quarters joury for Dawn to break and Herald the beginning of their historic Mission however if one assumed they were on the brink of embarking on their journey into space they were in for a jarring Revelation concerns about we or no- rings as the launch date approached a sense of unease began to settle among the team a concerned engineer approached their Superior to voice serious reservations regarding the Integrity of the rocket seals in the cold temperatures despite being previously dismissed this persistent worry continued to cast a shadow over the mission serving as a chilling harbinger of the darkness that would eventually engulf the entire Endeavor in reality this instance was just one in a series of concerns raised about the spacecraft for over 2 years a disquieting murmur had reverberated throughout the shuttle program engineers and technicians had repeatedly expressed apprehensions about pushing the spacecraft Beyond its limits while the shuttles were hailed as marvels of engineering there lingered an underlying awareness that even the most resilient machines have their breaking points the weather forecast for January 28th predicted record low temperatures for a space shuttle launch with overnight temperatures expected to plummet to 18° f- 8° C before rising to 22° f - 6° c at 6 a.m. and 26° f - 3° cus by the scheduled launch time of 9:38 a.m. given previous instances of o-ring erosion during warmer launches Morton thol Engineers expressed concerns about the potential impact of these frigid temperatures on the ceiling capabilities of the solid rocket booster SRB O-rings Cecil Houston the manager of the Kennedy Space Center Office of the Marshall space flight center convened a conference call on the evening of January 27th to address the safety implications of the launch during this call Morton thol Engineers highlighted their apprehensions regarding the reduced elasticity of the rubber O-rings in colder temperatures fearing that they might fail to properly seal during launch the engineers stressed that they lacked sufficient data to ascertain whether the o RS would effectively seal at temperatures lower than the previous coldest launch at 53° F 12° C Robert Lund vice president of engineering and Joe kilminster Vice President of the space booster programs at Morton thool recommended postponing the launch until temperatures Rose above 53° f 12° c following a recess for private discussions among Morton thool management the teleconference resumed with a change in the company's stance Morton thol leadership asserted that the evidence presented regarding o-ring failure was inconclusive and cited a substantial margin of safety in the event of a failure or erosion consequently they decided to proceed with the launch ultimately submitting a recommendation for launch approval before concluding the teleconference Lawrence Malloy the NASA SRB project manager engaged enged in a discussion with Arnold Aldrich the NASA Mission management team leader regarding the launch decision and weather concerns surprisingly Malloy omitted any mention of the O-ring discussion during their conversation and both parties agreed to proceed with the launch despite lingering concerns anxieties were brushed aside as the clock continued to tick relentlessly as Dawn broke painting the Atlantic in shades of orange on January 28th 1986 a mere 2 hours and 38 minutes remained before disaster would ultimately strike the launch as the scheduled launch hour approached crowds of Spectators gathered around Cape Canaveral a diverse mix of press representatives from around the globe local residents and eager visitors who had traveled far and wide for this historic event this wasn't just any ordinary launch it was an opportunity to witness history in the making particularly with the inclusion of teacher Christa mlli among the Challenger crew which had generated significant interest in the mission with this being the 25th space shuttle launch and Challenger itself being a seasoned veteran embarking on its 10th Mission there was a prevailing sense of confidence due to its Flawless track record amidst the anticipation cheers erupted from the crowd below as the astronauts dawned their space suits and prepared for the journey ahead stepping out of their transport vehicle they waved to the enthusiastic onlookers their strides purposeful and determined an elevator stood ready to transport them to the cockpit of the Challenger where their final preparations awaited meanwhile back in Houston Mission Control buzzed with activity as hundreds of sensors on the spacecraft transmitted a constant stream of data meticulously monitored and double checked to ensure that every aspect of the Challenger was in optimal condition as the astronauts settled into their seats their safety harnesses secured and the hatch sealed with a faint hiss commander scobby and pilot Smith conducted final checks their anticipation mingled with a palpable sense of tension with a mixture of nervous energy and excitement they stood on the brink of realizing a long held dream while the eyes of the world watched on in awe and anticipation on board the the Challenger was a crucial scientific payload including the tracking and data relay satellite TDSB tasked with relaying Vital Information and the Spartan Halley spacecraft intended for deployment however tragically the execution of these experiments was thwarted unfavorable weather conditions also caused a delay in the space lift after a period of waiting with the skies clearing and the wind subsiding preparations resumed commander scobby and pilot Smith meticulously ran their final checks as a symphony of instruments and sensors hummed to life the steady voice of Mission Control resonated through the cockpit counting down the seconds 10 9 8 anticipation gave way to intense focus and concentration 76 we have the main engine start signaling the beginning of the ascent with a surge of power the Challenger came alive 76 we have main engine start 4 3 2 1 liftoff the Earth trembled as the solid rocket boosters ignited emitting a thunderous Roar that reverberated for Miles shaking the ground and rattling Windows astronaut Judy resnik's voice echoed over the intercom exclaiming all right as a wave of collective excitement rippled through the crowd below with a resounding Declaration of all systems go echoing through the intercom the Challenger embarked on its Journey with a fiery Roar as the boosters ignited Standing Tall at 184 ft it symbolized human Ingenuity reaching for the sky this triumphant launch marked the beginning of a successful year for the Challenger completing six additional missions in 1983 with eight explosive bolts firing the Challenger Broke Free from its Earthly constraints like a majestic bird released from its cage it began its Ascent into the unknown a trail of fire and smoke marking its Journey as it soared into the sky the heartbreaking crash 73 seconds into its final flight the Challenger roared with immense power as its boosters ignited the crew's calm voices filled Mission Control unaware of the impending disaster suddenly Flames erupted from a failing seal on the right booster causing a catastrophic explosion this tragic event starkly contrasted with the excitement of the Challenger first mission on April 4th 1983 three the crash of the Challenger marked the beginning of a difficult ordeal for those tasked with locating the crew members bodies initially everything seemed normal as the main engines roared to life at 10:04 confirming a successful liftoff however a disquieting silence loomed behind the scenes and a data blackout at 1025 raised concerns initially attributed to interference from launch structures shortly after liftoff groundbased observation telescopes detected abnormal black smoke emanating from the right solid rocket booster near a crucial o-ring seal despite this alarming sign neither the crew nor Mission Control initially recognized the severity of the situation unbeknownst to them the black smoke was indicative of hot gases leaking from a faulty o-ring seal compromised by cold temperatures on launch day as the Challenger continued it Ascent routine procedures were carried out without any indication of impending danger launch commentator Hugh Harris's announcement that the shuttle had cleared the tower at 947 further fueled false optimism momentarily overshadowing the troubling smoke however at 10:44 technicians observed a concerning anomaly a slightly elevated internal pressure reading on the right booster this subtle clue hinted at impending danger amid the celebratory atmosphere nevertheless unaware of the deteriorating conditions the crew continued with their tasks with pilot Smith initiating a roll maneuver at 1108 to position the Challenger for its Mission tragically they remained oblivious to the silent countdown to disaster unfolding Before Their Eyes the moment of horror arrived at 11:27 a.m. a mere 19 seconds after liftoff when the dream of a successful Mission turned into a nightmare the Challenger shook violently lurching to one side with alarming Force pilot Michael Smith displaying remarkable composure and aided by the navigational system fought to regain control of the spacecraft briefly stabilizing its trajectory a glimmer of hope emerged at 11:43 as the crew followed protocol and throttled down the main engines momentarily restoring a sense of control the Challenger appeared to be back on track hurling toward its intended destination however this respit was short-lived at 12:01 as the shuttle approached the sound barrier at 10,000 ft Commander scobby delivered a chilling report visibility from his window was compromised unknown to them this ominous warning signaled the impending catastrophic disintegration mere seconds away despite entering a zone of intense air pressure a routine part of the ascent all systems indicated normal operation at 1219 however beneath this deceptive facade of normaly plumes of black smoke continued to churn then at 12:53 a burst of light near the right wing sent shock waves through the spectators it was the initial spark of the impending Inferno moments later a colossal orange Fireball erupted from beneath the right wing Unleashed by the failing booster what's even more astonishing is that instrument readings inexplicably remained within normal parameters masking the true extent of the unfolding disaster while the Challenger hurdled toward Oblivion like a ticking Time Bomb its internal gauges painted a picture of stability lulling the crew into a false sense of security at 1328 just under a minute after liftoff the Challenger surged to a staggering speed of over 1,500 mph Commander scobby calmly initiated a throttle down a routine maneuver during the spacecraft's ascent time pressed on relentlessly at 1446 as the Challenger traversed through the region of Maximum aerodynamic pressure a critical o-ring seal in the booster suffered a catastrophic failure this moment marked the Tipping Point igniting a terrifying Chain Reaction Flames erupted from the ruptured seal engulfing the right side of the shuttle it's conceeded able that at this juncture 73 seconds into their ill-fated Journey the crew confronted the Grim reality of their situation for the first time their aspiration of venturing into space had swiftly transformed into a desperate struggle for survival a battle they tragically would not emerge Victorious What followed next is a testament to the crew's remarkable courage in the face of imminent Peril initiating emergency procedures they end endeavored to throttle up the failing engines in a desperate attempt to regain control however the Challenger had become a doomed vessel hurtling towards an inescapable Fate by the 74 second Mark a somber realization likely dawned upon the crew they were no longer embarked on a mission of exploration but were hurtling towards impending destruction as the Challenger weakened by the breach in the booster succumbed to the forces of the explosion the crew C disintegrated miraculously for a fleeting moment the cabin remained intact but the rapid loss of atmospheric pressure rendered the crew unconscious in the months that followed search teams painstakingly recovered the wreckage providing a heart-wrenching confirmation of the crew's tragic Fate The Challenger disaster laid bare the vulnerability of human life in the face of immense power and the Relentless pursuit of scientific advancement the sacrifice of the Challenger crew spurred the implementation of enhanced safety protocols ensuring that future space missions would be undertaken with a renewed emphasis on caution and a profound reverence for the inherent risks involved analysis of the wreckage the crew cabin constructed from reinforced aluminum separated intact from the remainder of the Orbiter it followed a ballistic trajectory reaching its highest point a approximately 65,000 ft 20 km above the Earth's surface about 25 seconds after the explosion at the moment of Separation The Cabin experienced a maximum acceleration estimated to be between 12 and 20 times the force of gravity G within 2 seconds the acceleration dropped below 4G and within 10 seconds the cabin entered a state of Freefall the forces exerted during this phase were likely insufficient to cause significant injury to the crew evidence suggests that at least some of the crew were alive and conscious following the breakup personal egress air packs PES were activated for pilot Smith and two other unidentified crew members though not for Commander scobby the activation of Smith's pep located on the back side of his seat indicated that either Resnik or onzuka likely activated it on his behalf investigation of the remain aing unused Air Supply in the paaps aligned with the expected consumption during the post breakup trajectory upon examining the wreckage investigators discovered that several electrical system switches on Smith's right hand panel had been moved from their standard launch positions these switches were equipped with lever locks that needed to be disengaged before they could be adjusted subsequent tests concluded that neither the force of the explosion nor the impact with the ocean could have displaced them this evidence suggests that Smith attempted to manipulate the switches likely in a feudal effort to restore electrical power to the cockpit after the crew cabin detached from the rest of the Orbiter finding the bodies the fate of the crew of The Challenger spacecraft was sealed by the unimaginable force and impact of its collision with the ocean the crew compartment bore the brunt of this violence suffering obliteration due to the immense pressure and speed involved search Crews were well aware from the outset that recovering intact bodies would be an insurmountable task in the aftermath of the disaster a comprehensive three-month-long search and Recovery operation unfolded immediately following the tragedy NASA's launch recovery director dispatched two SRB recovery ships MV Freedom star and MV Liberty star to the impact area to collect debris additionally support was requested from US military aircraft and ships due to Falling debris from the explosion recovery forces were kept away from the impact area until 12:37 p.m. as the operation progressed the size of the recovery efforts increased involving 12 aircraft and eight ships by 7 PM surface operations focused on retrieving debris from the Orbiter and external tank with the surface recovery operations concluding on February 7th on January 31st the US Navy initiated submarine recovery operations prioritizing the retrieval of the right SRB followed by the crew compartment and remaining payload components formal debris search efforts commenced on February 8th led by the rescue and Salvage ship USS preserver and involving a total of 16 ships these vessels utilize sidescan sonar to conduct the initial search covering an area of 486 Square nautical miles at water depths ranging from 70 to 1,200 ft sonar operations identified 881 potential debris locations of which 187 were confirmed to be from the Orbiter the recovered material though fragmented and crushed bore witness to the ferocity of the impact on March 7th Air Force divers identified potential crew compartment debris which was later confirmed by divers from the USS preserver examination of the crew compartment indicated that it had largely remained intact during the initial explosion but sustained extensive damage upon impact with the ocean tragically the remains of the crew were badly damaged from both impact and submersion precluding the recovery of intact bodies traditional methods of identification such as fingerprints or dental records were rendered ineffective due to the fragmented nature of the recovered material despite these challenges scientists persisted in their efforts ultimately identifying remains belonging to all seven crew members however the severity of the damage made it impossible to ascertain the exact cause of death for any of them the USS preserver also played a crucial role in multiple trips to transport debris and remains to Port continuing crew compartment recovery operations until April 4th however a tragic incident occurred during the recovery of the crew's remains when Jarvis's body drifted away and was not located until April 15th several weeks after the other remains had been positively identified upon arrival at Port Pathologists from the Armed Forces Institute of pathology worked diligently to identify the human remains complications arose when medical examiners in bravard County disputed the legality of transferring human remains to US military officials for autopsies and refused to issue death certificates eventually NASA officials took the unprecedented step of releasing the death certificates of the crew members the recovery efforts also yielded significant findings related to the spacecraft's components the inertial upper stage IUS intended for boosting the orbit of the TDSB satellite was among the first pieces of of debris recovered surprisingly there was no evidence of premature ignition of the IUS which had been one of the suspected causes of the disaster debris from the three space shuttle main engines ssmes was retrieved between February 14th and 28 and post recovery analysis indicated a scenario consistent with functional engines suddenly losing their lh2 fuel supply deep waterer recovery operations persisted until April 29th with smaller scale shallow recovery operations continuing until August 29th a significant Discovery occurred on December 17th 1996 when two pieces of the Orbiter were found at Coco Beach then on November 10th 2022 NASA announced the discovery of a 20-ft piece of the shuttle near the site of a destroyed World War II era aircraft off the coast of Florida this discovery was later featured on the history channel on November 22nd 2022 nearly all recovered non-organic debris from the Challenger is interred in Cape Canaveral space force station missile silos at LC 31 and lc32 NASA's response following the tragic incident NASA took decisive action to enhance the safety and reliability of the space shuttle program a significant aspect of this initiative was the redesign of the solid rocket boosters srbs which were later known as the redesigned solid rocket motor rsrm this redesign was conducted under the supervision of an independent oversight group one key Improvement involved modifying The Joint structure to include a capture feature on the Tang around the interior wall of the cleavus aimed at preventing joint rotation these enhancements significantly reduce the potential for joint rotation minimizing the risk of o-ring seal failure furthermore heaters were installed to maintain consistent higher temperatures of the O-rings further enhancing their performance and reliability beyond the srbs NASA implemented stringent safety standards across other components of the space shuttle program notably an escape option was introduced allowing astronauts to jettison the side hatch and extend a pole out of the Orbiter this enabled them to slide down the pole to safety mitigating the risk of collision with the Orbiter as they bailed out before activating their parachutes in response to recommendations from the commission investigating the incident NASA established a new office of safety reliability and quality assurance in 1986 these proactive measures underscored NASA's commitment to enhancing safety protocols and ensuring the Integrity of the space shuttle program reflecting a comprehensive approach to addressing the Lessons Learned From The Challenger disaster burial and Legacy on April 29th 1986 the astronauts remains were transported via a c141 starlifter aircraft from Kennedy Space Center to the military Mortuary at do Air Force Base in Delaware each of their caskets was draped with an American flag and accompanied by an honor guard followed by an astronaut escort upon arrival at do Air Force Base The Remains were transferred to the families of the crew members the final resting places varied for each astronaut scobby and Smith were laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery while onzuka was buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu Hawaii McNair found his resting place in rest Lawn Memorial Park in Lake City South Carolina before being moved to the dror Ronald E McNair Memorial Park within the town resnik's remains were cremated and her ashes were scattered over the water while mcauliff was buried at Calvary Cemetery in conquered New Hampshire Jarvis was also cremated and his ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean unidentified crew remains were interred at the Space Shuttle Challenger Memorial in Arlington on May 20th 1986 a single grave marker serves as a permanent Memorial honoring their sacrifice and ensuring they are remembered as a unified crew privacy for the families of the deceased astronauts was prioritized during this challenging time the Challenger disaster deeply impacted the nation and a memorial at Arlington National Cemetery Bears the names of all Seven astronauts ensuring their courage will always be remembered their shared resting place signifies Unity as a team with their Spirits forever connected and soaring Among the Stars though they may be gone the memory of the Challenger crew remains Vivid in the annals of space exploration let us honor these brave souls with words of condolence in the comment section thank you for watching this video we hope you enjoyed it to know more about other real life events tap on the link that pops on your screen see you there

Channel: Prime Discovery

Views: 775,043

Keywords: What Happened, To The Bodies, Challenger Crew, happened, bodiess, space accidents, Challenger spacecraft, challenger, ultimate expedition, ultimate, expedition, discovery, far greater danger, space exploration, future astronauts, space, spacecrafts

Id: aU1X34XSCKQ

Length: 33min 51sec (2031 seconds)

Published: Wed May 15 2024