Jimu news reporter Li Lili
"After the Challenger exploded, the capsule the crew was riding in did not explode. The capsule was ejected, and the astronauts were still alive at the time..."
On January 28, 1986, the U.S. Space Shuttle Challenger was launched, and the external fuel tank exploded at the 73rd second of liftoff, turning into a fireball and falling rapidly. To prevent the plane from falling into a densely populated area, an Air Force official on the ground quickly pressed the self-destruct button, and the Challenger exploded completely.
This is the darkest scene in the history of American space, and American author Kevin Cook adds another touch to this dark scene in his new book: after the Explosion of the Challenger, the capsule was ejected, and the 7 astronauts on board were still alive.
Seven astronauts, image credit: Fox News
"At least they were conscious at first and fully aware of what was wrong." Burning Blue: The Untold Story of Krista McAuliffe and the NASA Challenger writes.
Fox News Relayed the book's account that after the booster exploded, the space capsule in which the astronauts were riding was catapulted out of the explosion and was intact. Because the capsule is protected by heat-resistant silicon bricks, it has not been burned.
Later investigations concluded that the capsule was survivable and that the likelihood of injury was low. And the astronauts are equipped with emergency oxygen equipment, located behind the seats, which must be opened by the person sitting behind them.
This was also proved by a later examination of the wreckage of the aircraft, with 3 astronauts whose oxygen supply equipment had been turned on, indicating that they were alive before the self-destruction program exploded.
Moreover, they also intend to control the space capsule.
Former NASA scientist Krischols envisions in the book: "What will they do? Fly home, of course! ”
They also found that astronaut Michael Smith was apparently trying to restore power to the plane, flipping a switch on the control panel.
However, the reason is hopeless.
The capsule continued to ascend for 20 seconds, then slowed down, eventually descending again to about 12 miles above the Atlantic Ocean. Before crashing into the sea, the capsule reached its ultimate speed of more than 200 miles per hour, and the final descent took just over two minutes.
Previously, there have been various versions of the rumors about this disaster. Some people think that the astronauts had a chance to survive, but NASA did not take any precautions, did not have the equipment to prevent the capsule from falling, did not let the astronauts escape the spacecraft, did not even have an emergency positioning transmitter... Astronauts can only fall with it.
The Challenger exploded shortly after liftoff Image credit: The Associated Press
However, NASA took a firm stand, declaring in its official report that "the cause of death of the Challenger astronauts cannot be determined." ”
Kevin Cook's new book reaffirms all sorts of speculations: during the plane's final crash, the astronauts even used their spare oxygen bags to try to survive. They've all undergone rigorous survival training, and if properly equipped, there's a good chance they'll survive...
In June 1986, after the Presidential Commission's investigation into the disaster, debris from the Challenger was buried in an unused missile silo in Cape Canaveral.
Bob Cabana, director of the Kennedy Space Center, said: "It's like they're saying, 'We want to forget about this.' ”
Let's remember their names: Michael Smith, Dick Skoby, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Judith Resnick, Gregory Jarvis and Krista McAuliffe.
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