Group Project for Astronomy

1. Three Space Tragedies
Apollo I
Space Shuttle Challenger
Space Shuttle Columbia

2. Date of Tragedies
 Apollo I - January 27, 1967
 Space Shuttle Challenger – January 28,
1986
 Space Shuttle Columbia – February 1,
2003

3. Apollo I

4. Apollo I
 Crew consisted of the first American
Astronauts:
◦ Gus Grissom
◦ Ed White
◦ Roger Chaffee
 Killed by fire in module on the launch pad
 Died in only 30 seconds
 Capsule impounded after accident

5. Space Shuttle Challenger

6. Space Shuttle Challenger
 First teacher in space – Christa McAuliffe
 Delayed launch due to bad weather and
equipment problems
 Exploded 73 seconds after launch
 O-ring seal in solid-fuel rocket as problem
built in Utah (Hercules/ATK)

7. Space Shuttle Columbia

8. Space Shuttle Columbia
 Broke apart upon re-entry after a 16 day
mission
 Insulating foam from the booster rockets
tank during liftoff was the cause
 People in Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana
heard unusual sounds from sky

9. New Protocols
 Hatch for Apollo capsule reworked, flame-
retardant items and cabin pressure
lessened
 O-rings for solid-rocket boosters were
redesigned
 Foam debris strictly scrutinized

10. After 50 years of Space Travel
 All of the tragedies happened in the last
week of January or first week in February
 President Regan’s tribute the best
◦ “Today is a day for mourning and
remembering. We know we share this pain
with all of the people of our country. This is
truly a national loss. But Challenger Seven
were aware of the dangers and overcame
them and did their job brilliantly. We mourn
seven heroes.”