How many space shuttles have crashed?
Quick Answer
Only two space shuttles, the Challenger and the Columbia, have crashed. There have, however, been other deaths related to the space shuttle program.
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Full Answer
The Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster: In January 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds after liftoff, killing all seven crew members aboard. The incident was significant because it was the first time a civilian was flying on the shuttle. Teacher Christa McAuliffe was supposed to be the first teacher in space, creating video lessons for students around the world. The disaster was blamed on the failure of the O-rings due to the cold temperatures.
The Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster: In February 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia broke apart during its reentry into Earth's atmosphere. All seven crew members died. In this case, the disaster was a result of damage sustained by the shuttle's thermal protection system after a hole was punched in the shuttle's wing when it was hit by a piece of debris during liftoff. This caused the wing to absorb too much heat and eventually break apart.
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Q:
How many space shuttles have blown up?
A: Two space shuttles have blown up. The Space Shuttle Challenger blew up in 1986 less than a minute and a half after launch. In 2003, the Space Shuttle Colum... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What was the name of the first space shuttle to orbit the Earth?
A: The first U.S. space shuttle to orbit the Earth was Columbia. It launched on April 12, 1981, from Kennedy Space Center. Crewed by astronauts John W. Young ... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What happened to the human remains of the Space Shuttle Columbia astronauts?
A: The seven member crew of the space shuttle Columbia were killed when the shuttle broke up during re-entry in February 2003. Remains for all seven were foun... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
Why did the Challenger explode?
A: Challenger exploded when an O-ring associated with the right solid rocket booster failed due to cold temperatures during launch. The failure caused the shu... Full Answer >Filed Under:
