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There was a small flame on the ET (External Tank) Space Shuttle Challenger was so high into the sky at that time that mission control could not see it. They continued for throttle up which releases more power to help Challenger get through the atmosphere. Dick Scobee said: "Roger. Go for throttle up." That was the last that was heard. My guess is the ET, which contains very flammable liquids, caught on fire. It burned the shuttle and everyone in it. No one can be certain because the last words were confirming throttle up. Then nothing. Hope this helps!
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That is not quite what happened, though that makes sense from looking at the video.
To answer the original question, there is evidence that would indicate the astronauts died after falling from 9 miles up. The oxygen levels in their tanks indicate that they were alive for a long time after the explosion.
The explosion was due to on O-ring problem that engineers had been telling management about since 1977 (9 years prior to launch). The day before the launch, there were 4 engineers basically screaming at management to not launch, but they did anyway. The two main factors contributing to the failure were flawed design and cold temperature (they launched on a day that was 19 degrees F colder than the engineers had specified).
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How many astronauts were in the space shuttle Challenger disaster?
7, the standard crew.
Did 12 astronauts die when the challenger crashed?
7
How did the challenger explod?
The Challenger exploded because the primary and secondary O-rings were stiff from cold weather. They were not put in correctly and not checked. Hot gases leaked thorugh the O-rings and mixed with the fire from take off. The external tank then caught on fire and soon the Challenger exploded, killing the seven passengers including Christa McAuliffe.
Which spacecraft was Christa McAuliffe aboard?
Christa McAuliffe, along with six other brave astronauts died in the Challenger Space shuttle disaster on January 28, 1986. The Challenger exploded 73 seconds after launch,50,000 feet in the air.
What is the Percentage of astronauts that die a year?
14 shuttle crew members have died since 1986. Challenger and Columbia
How did Sharon Christa Mcauliffe's space shuttle blow up?
See: how did the astronauts die in the Challenger disaster.
How many astronauts were in the space shuttle Challenger disaster?
7, the standard crew.
Did 12 astronauts die when the challenger crashed?
7
What was the month day and year of the Challenger disaster?
The shuttle challenger, disintegrated after launch, killing all seven astronauts on board on Tuesday, January, 28, 1986.
How did the challenger explod?
The Challenger exploded because the primary and secondary O-rings were stiff from cold weather. They were not put in correctly and not checked. Hot gases leaked thorugh the O-rings and mixed with the fire from take off. The external tank then caught on fire and soon the Challenger exploded, killing the seven passengers including Christa McAuliffe.
What are some of the biggest mistakes that have been made by astronauts when in space?
Some of the biggest mistakes that have been made by astronauts when in space include the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident in 1986 and the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003.
Which spacecraft was Christa McAuliffe aboard?
Christa McAuliffe, along with six other brave astronauts died in the Challenger Space shuttle disaster on January 28, 1986. The Challenger exploded 73 seconds after launch,50,000 feet in the air.
What is the Percentage of astronauts that die a year?
14 shuttle crew members have died since 1986. Challenger and Columbia
What year did the Challenger disaster take place?
The Space shuttle Challenger disaster occurred on January 28, 1986.
When did Space Shuttle Challenger disaster happen?
Space Shuttle Challenger disaster happened on 1986-01-28.
Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986?
The space shuttle Challenger disaster occurred on January 28, at 11:39am
What year did the challenger disaster happened?
The Challenger Space Shuttle exploded 73 seconds after launch on January 28, 1986, killing all 7 brave astronauts on board, including Christa McAuliffe, who was chosen from 11,000 applicants to be the first teacher in space.
