Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Remembering...


Captain Dick Scobee
Mike Smith
Ron McNair
Ellison Onizuka
Greg Jarvis
Judy Reznik
and Mrs. Christa McAuliffe

Twenty three years ago this morning, January 28, 1986, Space Shuttle CHALLENGER exploded at the beginning of its tenth flight in less than three years. Seven extraordinary people died after all the remaining liquid Hydrogen and Oxygen in the External Tank combined instantly rather than in the efficient columns which had propelled the vehicle 10 miles up in only 91 seconds. This accident was caused by flight managers who ignored Emailed concerning the effect freezing weather might have had on certain O-ring seals. The hard lesson purchased, again with real lives, is that Nature's laws don't bend to political pressure.

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