United States
On January 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated 73 seconds after liftoff, killing all seven crew members. The disaster was broadcast live and shocked the nation, leading to a 32-month suspension of the shuttle program. The subsequent investigations revealed O-ring failures in cold weather, prompting redesigns in shuttle components and safety protocols. The accident deeply affected NASA’s culture and public confidence in human spaceflight. The memorials and safety reforms that followed shaped NASA’s approach to risk and engineering oversight.
