The space shuttle system was an innovative solution for sending humans into space. The whole program, from inception to this day, has a varied history, one that can serve up several lessons in what happens when government bureaucracy and brilliant engineering come together to create something that had never been tried before.
Challenger, at the time of the accident, was NASA’s second oldest shuttle and her fate was sealed by the failure of a stiffened O-ring and a decision making process that left much to be desired. Challenger exploded 73 seconds into flight over the Atlantic ocean, nine miles above the surface. The shuttle itself shot out of the wreckage and its momentum carried it upwards for another three miles before it plunged back to Earth, killing all six crew members.
The event was also the first such occurrence in history broadcast live on TV for the whole world to see. You can view an original video of the explosion as it happened here.
