Were the Challenger crew alive when they hit water?

Challenger Astronauts May Have Hit Water Alive But Unconscious. WASHINGTON (AP) _ NASA's most experienced shuttle crewman said Friday it was possible, though uncertain, the Challenger astronauts were breathing and unconscious when their cabin hit the Atlantic Ocean on Jan. 28. Astronaut Robert L.

Were the Challenger astronauts still alive when they hit the ocean?

The damage to the crew compartment indicated that it had remained largely intact during the initial explosion but was extensively damaged when it impacted the ocean. The remains of the crew were badly damaged from impact and submersion, and were not intact bodies.

How long did the Challenger crew survive?

The seven crew members of the space shuttle Challenger probably remained conscious for at least 10 seconds after the disastrous Jan. 28 explosion and they switched on at least three emergency breathing packs, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration said Monday.

Did they ever recover the bodies from the Challenger?

In March 1986, the remains of the astronauts were found in the debris of the crew cabin. Though all of the important pieces of the shuttle were retrieved by the time NASA closed its Challenger investigation in 1986, most of the spacecraft remained in the Atlantic Ocean.

How were the bodies of the Challenger crew found?

The announcement marked the first official acknowledgement by NASA that human remains of the astronauts had been recovered from the wreckage. The agency announced nearly six weeks ago that the crew compartment had been located by divers investigating sonar contacts. Dig deeper into the moment.

Astronauts Likely Survived Challenger Explosion

Where are Challenger astronauts buried?

On May 20, 1986, the comingled cremated remains of the seven Challenger astronauts were buried at Arlington National Cemetery, in Section 46, Grave 1129.

Did the astronauts on Columbia suffer?

The design of Columbia's seats, too, decreased the crew's chances of survival as their restraints did not lock in place, subjecting the astronauts to extreme trauma from rotational forces. Their helmets were not head-conforming, resulting in injuries and lethal trauma, the report states.

Did they find Columbia astronauts bodies?

The remains of all seven astronauts were recovered, despite the obstacles of terrain and the scope of the search. Searchers combed through pine forests, hundreds of thousands of acres of underbrush, and boggy areas. Parts of the shuttle were found in Lake Nacogdoches and the Toledo Bend Reservoir.

Did Christa McAuliffe's husband remarry?

Her husband Steven J. McAuliffe remarried and in 1992 became a federal judge, serving with the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire in Concord.

How long did the Columbia crew survive?

The bodies of five of the seven crew of Columbia were found within three days of the shuttle's breakup; the last two were found 10 days after that.

Did the Challenger crew survive the explosion Reddit?

Contrary to popular belief, the astronauts were all still alive, and they can be heard on the recording.

What killed the space shuttle Columbia astronauts?

NASA suspended space shuttle flights for more than two years as it investigated the cause of the Columbia disaster. An investigation board determined that a large piece of foam fell from the shuttle's external tank and breached the spacecraft wing.

How fast did the Challenger hit the ocean?

Armentrout also emphasized that the shuttle orbiter was under stress from what he called "aerodynamic breakup" as it plunged toward the water at speeds estimated at 140 to 180 mph.

Could the Challenger disaster have been prevented?

Many months of investigation later, though, it became clear that one phone call could have prevented the accident. It could have been placed that morning to either Jesse Moore, NASA's Associate Administrator for Space Flight, or Gene Thomas, the Launch Director.

What were the last words of the Columbia crew?

The final words from Columbia's crew came at 8:59:32 a.m. when Husband, presumably responding to a tire alarm acknowledgement from mission control, said "Roger, uh, buh..." At that point, the shuttle was nearly 38 miles above Central Texas and traveling at 18 times the speed of sound.

Could the Columbia crew have survived?

The conquest of space is worth the risk of life. It is important to note at the outset that Columbia broke up during a phase of flight that, given the current design of the Orbiter, offered no possibility of crew survival.

What happened to the bodies of the Columbia shuttle crew?

Seven astronauts slipped into unconsciousness within seconds and their bodies were whipped around in seats whose restraints failed as the space shuttle Columbia spun out of control and disintegrated in 2003, according to a new report from NASA.

Did the Columbia crew know something was wrong?

The dilemma for mission managers is that they simply didn't know if the space shuttle was damaged. The doomed astronauts were not told of the risk. One of the most dramatic moments after the space shuttle Columbia crashed came when entry Flight Director Leroy Cain ordered the doors locked and computer data saved.

Where are the Columbia astronauts buried?

Bush signed into law the Columbia Memorial Act, authorizing the secretary of the Army, in consultation with NASA, to place a memorial to the Columbia crew in Arlington National Cemetery.

Did families of Challenger sue NASA?

NASA since has helped indemnify defense contractors in such lawsuits. The wife of Challenger pilot Michael Smith sued NASA in 1987. But a federal judge in Orlando threw out the case, ruling that Smith, a Navy officer, died in the line of duty. She later settled directly with Morton Thiokol, as did the other families.

Did Christa McAuliffe have life insurance?

Although all seven crew members aboard the space shuttle Challenger had signed routine waivers absolving the government of liability in the event of their deaths, schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe was covered by a $1-million life insurance policy presented to her as a gift by a firm that insures communications satellites ...

Why was Christa McAuliffe chosen?

McAuliffe was an extraordinary teacher with a dream of being a passenger on the space shuttle, so when NASA announced a contest to take a teacher into space, she jumped at the chance and applied. McAuliffe won the contest, beating out more than 11,000 other applicants. Vice President George H.W.