Deadly Engineering Season 1 Episode 2 NASA'S Challenger Disaster

On the second episode of Deadly Engineering, we dive into the tragedy of NASA's Challenger disaster. The space shuttle Challenger was set to embark on what would have been the tenth space mission for the spacecraft. However, just moments after the shuttle took off, it exploded, killing all seven crew members onboard.

The episode starts by exploring how the shuttle was built. It was a complex engineering feat that NASA put together in the 1980s, using a combination of the latest technologies and cutting-edge engineering. We learn that the Challenger was a reusable spacecraft that was designed to carry out space experiments, and its missions were vital to the success of NASA's space program.

The episode delves into the specifics of the Challenger disaster, detailing the events that led to the explosion. Many people were watching the launch live on television, including schoolchildren who were watching the launch as part of a class project. The mission was supposed to last seven days, and the crew members had a lot of scientific experimentation planned, which would have been crucial for NASA's future missions. But that was not to be.

The episode then goes on to discuss what went wrong with the Challenger. We learn that a leak in the fuel tank caused the explosion. The fuel tank was particularly susceptible to leaks, due to the harsh conditions of space and a design flaw. A small part of foam insulation that had come loose from the external fuel tank had hit the Challenger's wing, creating a hole in the shuttle's structure. This hole allowed for hot gases to enter the craft, causing the explosion.

The episode takes us through the investigation that was launched after the explosion. We learn that as part of the investigation, NASA suspended future shuttle missions for two years and launched an independent commission to look into the disaster. This independent commission found many failures in the shuttle program, both technically and organizationally. These findings led NASA to make significant changes in its space program, including the redesign of the space shuttle.

Deadly Engineering goes into the emotional toll that the Challenger disaster had on America and the world. The seven crew members on the shuttle were heroes and were mourned by the entire nation. The show touches on the personal stories of the crew members, including Christa McAuliffe who was a high school teacher selected from over 11,000 applicants to be the first private citizen to go into space. She was a symbol of hope and inspiration to millions of people around the world.

Overall, this episode serves an educational purpose highlighting the critical lessons that have been learned from NASA's Challenger disaster. It serves as an example of why meticulous engineering and testing are crucial, especially when it comes to space missions. Deadly Engineering expertly tells the story of what would have been NASA's great accomplishment, a space mission full of experimental excitement to what would become a story of sadness and loss.