Remains of NASA’s Challenger shuttle located in the sea

Nov. 10 () –

NASA officials recently viewed images of a underwater dive on the east coast of Florida and confirmed that it represents an artifact from the space shuttle Challenger, destroyed in 1986 with 7 crew on board.

The artifact was discovered by a television documentary crew searching for the wreckage of a World War II-era aircraft. Divers noticed a large human-made object partially covered by sand on the seabed. The proximity to the Florida Space Coast, coupled with the object’s modern construction and the presence of 8-inch square tiles, prompted the documentary team to contact NASA.

The last Challenger mission, designated STS-51L, was commanded by Francis R. “Dick” Scobee and piloted by Michael J. Smith. The other crew members on board were Mission Specialists Ronald E. McNair; Ellison S. Onizuka and Judith A. Resnik; payload specialist Gregory B. Jarvis; and teacher S. Christa McAuliffe.

A major malfunction 73 seconds after liftoff, on January 28, 1986, resulted in the loss of Challenger and all seven astronauts on board.. An agency investigation later showed that the unexpected cold temperatures affected the integrity of the O-ring seals in the solid rocket booster segment gaskets.

The launch was scheduled as the agency’s 25th shuttle mission. As the spacecraft waited overnight on Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a cold front brought sub-zero temperatures, what caused ice to form on the shuttle. Despite concerns raised by some shuttle program employees, managers authorized the mission’s launch, and liftoff occurred at 11:38 am local time.

The loss of Challenger, and later Columbia with its seven astronauts, which broke up on re-entry in February 2003 over the western United States, greatly influenced NASA’s culture regarding safety, According to NASA in a statement.

The History Channel documentary showing the discovery of the Challenger artifact is scheduled for Tuesday, November 22. Although the episode will appear as part of a series on the Bermuda Triangle, the artifact was found in waters off the Florida Space Coast, northwest of the Bermuda Triangle.

NASA is currently considering what further actions it can take regarding the artifact that will properly honor the legacy of the fallen Challenger astronauts and the families who loved them. By law, all space shuttle artifacts are the property of the United States government.