Clinton
Space Shuttle Challenger failed during launch. Space Shuttle Columbia failed during reentry.
They are thermal heat protection tiles. They help the Space Shuttle withstand 3,000+ F during reentry.
Space Shuttle Challenger exploded just a few seconds into a flight in 1986. Space Shuttle Columbia exploded during its reentry in 2003.
1.5
The maximum acceleration that was experienced during normal shuttle liftoff was about 3g. During reentry, astronauts experienced approximately 1.5g.
About 47,000 K
The leading edges of the Space Shuttle's wings get to almost 3000 deg F during a normal reentry into earth's atmosphere.
Only one space shuttle exploded during takeoff. That shuttle was the Challenger, which exploded on January 28, 1986. The only other space shuttle to be destroyed was the Columbia, which disintegrated on reentry on February 1, 2003.
nothing. it blew up in reentry.
Columbia
2003
The space shuttle has a reentry speed of about 17,000 miles per hour.