Space Shuttle Challenger disaster

E6388

The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster was the 1986 launch failure in which NASA’s Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart shortly after liftoff, killing all seven crew members and prompting major reforms in the U.S. space program.

All labels observed (9)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (51)

Predicate Object
instanceOf disaster
historical event
launch failure
spaceflight accident
altitudeAtBreakup approximately 14 kilometers
cause breach in right solid rocket booster joint
cold weather-induced O-ring resiliency loss
failure of solid rocket booster O-ring seals
management and communication failures at NASA and contractor
structural breakup of external tank
commissionChair William P. Rogers
commissionMember Neil A. Armstrong
surface form: Neil Armstrong

Richard Feynman
contractor Morton Thiokol
country United States of America
surface form: United States
crewMember Christa McAuliffe
Ellison Onizuka
Francis R. Scobee
Gregory Jarvis
Judith Resnik
Michael J. Smith
Ronald McNair
date 1986-01-28
educationalImpact Teacher in Space Project cancellation
fatalities 7
investigationBody Rogers Commission investigation of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster
surface form: Rogers Commission
launchPad LC-39B
launchSite Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B
ledTo major reforms in NASA safety culture
redesign of Space Shuttle solid rocket boosters
suspension of Space Shuttle flights
location Atlantic Ocean
off the coast of Cape Canaveral, Florida
mediaCoverage televised live launch
memorial Space Shuttle Challenger Memorial
surface form: Challenger Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery

Vietnam Veterans Memorial
surface form: Space Mirror Memorial
missionName STS-51L
surface form: STS-51-L
nextShuttleFlightAfterDisaster STS-26
notableAspect first in-flight fatal accident involving an American spacecraft
operator NASA
publicImpact widespread shock and national mourning in the United States
relatedProgram NASA Space Shuttle program
surface form: Space Shuttle program
result death of all seven crew members
in-flight breakup of Space Shuttle Challenger
shuttleProgramFlightPauseDuration approximately 32 months
spaceShuttle Space Shuttle Challenger disaster self-linksurface differs
surface form: Space Shuttle Challenger
time 11:39 EST
timeAfterLiftoffAtBreakup 73 seconds
vehicleType Space Shuttle orbiter
year 1986

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Referenced by (60)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

The Challenger (TV movie) mainSubject Space Shuttle Challenger disaster
The Challenger (TV movie) depicts Space Shuttle Challenger disaster
this entity surface form: Challenger explosion
The Challenger (TV movie) hasHistoricalEvent Space Shuttle Challenger disaster
McNair causeOfDeath Space Shuttle Challenger disaster
subject surface form: Ronald McNair
Rest Lawn Memorial Park, Lake City, South Carolina, United States causeOfDeath Space Shuttle Challenger disaster
subject surface form: Ronald McNair
Space Shuttle notableAccident Space Shuttle Challenger disaster
this entity surface form: Challenger disaster
Caroline McAuliffe motherNotableFor Space Shuttle Challenger disaster
Caroline McAuliffe motherDiedIn Space Shuttle Challenger disaster
this entity surface form: 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster
James Hawes notableWork Space Shuttle Challenger disaster
this entity surface form: The Challenger Disaster