SMRTR TechJan 28, 2026The Register

Challenger at 40: The disaster that changed NASA

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Forty years ago, Space Shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after launch due to failed O-ring seals in freezing 36°F temperatures, killing all seven crew members. NASA management ignored engineer warnings about launching below 53°F, fundamentally changing the agency's safety culture and decision-making processes.

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