The explosion that destroyed the spaceship Challenger nearly 37 years ago shocked the entire world.
Seven astronauts were killed in the accident, which occurred just 73 seconds following liftoff. All those who witnessed the tragedy are left with the memories of the shuttle fragments falling into the ocean.
NASA was tasked with finding pieces of the spacecraft in the wake of the crash. NASA recovered a lot of debris in the years following the incident.
A 20-foot-long piece, called Challenger, was discovered by a crew of film makers working on a History Channel program. It was quite a surprise and a beautiful find.
The original goal of the team was actually to find remnants and ships from the Bermuda Triangle. It is located southeast of the Space Coast.
This is the first major wreckage discovery from the disaster in over 25 years. Mike Barnette (underwater explorer, marine biologist) was the head of the team. The crew realized they had something special very quickly.
He stated that the significance of the large section of Challenger’s structure was obvious.
We recognized the need to bring this discovery to NASA’s immediate attention. The site, which is outside of the Bermuda Triangle off the Florida coast, marks the loss of seven brave astronauts – fellow explorers – and the Challenger disaster was a tragic setback for America’s space program. However, from this horrible event, many lessons were learned which have led to incredible advances in space exploration.
NASA Gets in on the Action
NASA was immediately notified and the footage shared by the divers. It was immediately viewed by NASA leaders who agreed that it looked very much like Challenger. NASA administrator Bill Nelson issued a statement in which he confirmed the discovery.
“Although it’s been nearly 37 years now since seven brave and courageous explorers died aboard Challenger, this tragedy will always be etched in the collective consciousness of our nation. “January 28, 1986 still feels like yesterday to millions across the globe, me included,” he stated.
“This discovery allows us to take a moment to pause, to honor the legacy of the seven pioneers that we lost and to reflect on the impact this tragedy has had on us. At NASA, the core value of safety is – and must forever remain – our top priority, especially as our missions explore more of the cosmos than ever before.”
The US government owns space shuttle artifacts, such as this one. Rest of the spacecraft is preserved and ensiloed in Launch Complex 31 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
One piece of the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is on displayHere are the memorials of lost and near crew members. NASA will collaborate with the families and friends of the astronauts to determine how best to handle the artifact.
The History Channel and Challenger
The team’s video will be featured in “The Bermuda Triangle: In to Cursed Waters”. It will air as part of a story about wreck sites off Florida’s coast on November 22.
Eli Lehrer, executive vice-president and head programming at History Channel, said that “the historic and emotional finding of this Challenger object by our incredible team strengthens the History Channel’s Mission to preserve important sites or stories from our National Heritage.”
“The incredible discovery of Challenger wreckage wasn’t part of our initial mission exploring Bermuda Triangle, but the historical significance of the find cannot be overstated.”
This article was first published in Universe Today. Learn more Original article.
