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Presented by:

Allan J. McDonaldAerospace Consultant & Author

ATK Thiokol (Retired)Former Director Space Shuttle SRM Project

Presented by:

Allan J. McDonaldAerospace Consultant & Author

ATK Thiokol (Retired)Former Director Space Shuttle SRM Project

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TRUTH, LIES AND O-RINGS: INSIDE THE SPACE SHUTTLE

CHALLENGER DISASTER

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TWO LOST SPACE SHUTTLES

STS-51L Challenger

Launch: January 28, 1986

Time: 16:38 GMT

STS-107 Columbia

Launch: January 16, 2003

Time: 15:39 GMT

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PRE-LAUNCH ICE ON PAD

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FIRST EVIDENCE OF JOINT LEAK

Leak at T + 0.678 Seconds

LIFTOFF

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JOINT LEAK REOPENS IN FLIGHT

Joint Leak Restarts T + 59 Seconds

Joint Plume VisibleT + 60 Seconds

MAXIMUM DYNAMIC PRESSURE AND WIND SHEAR

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T PLUS 78 SECONDS: DEBRIS

Orbiter WingOrbiter Wing

SSME PodSSME Pod

Crew CabinCrew Cabin

Recovered RH SRB Aft Field Joint

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DUPLICATION OF CHALLENGER JOINT FAILURE

• LIFTOFF @ T+0.678 sec. JES-1B TEST @ T+0.600 sec.

• (T+0.600 sec.)

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PREMONITION OF COLUMBIA 2003

• STS-26R return to flight with Discovery: a debris wake-up call (September 1988)

• STS-27R Atlantis: a scary ascent and return (December 1988)

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COLUMBIA ACCIDENT & VERIFICATION

February 1, 2003Approx. 9:00 a.m. ESTColumbia Debris During Re-entry

Bi-Pod Ramp Foam Impact Test on RCC

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Lest We Forget!Lest We Forget!

STS-51L AND STS-107 CREW

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BOOK PUBLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY PRESS OF FLORIDA – MARCH 2009

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BOOK THEME While the underlying content surrounds “rocket science,” it’s a story that chronicles the events, activities, and decisions surrounding a major historical event in U.S.

history. The book contains information about:• Politics• Whistle-blowing and retribution• Space science history• Tragedy• Colossal failures• Values, professional ethics, and integrity• Bureaucratic cover-up• Perseverance and dedication• Recovery and rewards• Lessons learned but forgotten