Final answer:
The space shuttle Challenger exploded due to an O-ring failure in one of its solid rocket boosters, which was exacerbated by cold temperatures. This led to hot gas escaping and breaching the fuel tank, resulting in the vehicle's destruction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The space shuttle Challenger disaster occurred on January 28, 1986, when the shuttle broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, leading to the deaths of its seven crew members. The cause of the explosion was traced back to the failure of an O-ring seal in its right solid rocket booster. The O-ring failure was due to a combination of factors, including unusually cold temperatures on the morning of the launch.
The solid rocket boosters of the space shuttle were designed to provide the majority of thrust necessary for the shuttle to reach orbit. The O-ring seals were intended to prevent hot gas from escaping and damaging other components of the shuttle. However, on that fateful day, the failure of the O-rings allowed hot gas to escape and breach the external fuel tank, causing the explosion that led to the loss of Challenger and its crew.
The Challenger explosion was a pivotal moment in space exploration history, leading to a halt of the Space Shuttle program for 32 months and the formation of the Rogers Commission to investigate the accident. The tragedy brought about changes in NASA's procedures and operations, emphasizing safety and reliability improvements in space shuttle design and engineering