 into the flight, the Shuttle was travelling Mach 1.92 at an altitude of 46,000 ft (14,035 m), equating to a speed of over 1,250 mph (2,040 km/h). The continuing rotation of the right SRB pushed the Shuttle off course such that its nose was no longer pointed in the same direction as it was flying.

This motion at such high speed put intense aerodynamic loads on the Orbiter's airframe. The stresses these loads created were simply too great for the Shuttle to bear, and it quickly broke up into several large pieces. First to fail was the forward fuselage which broke away trailing a mass of umbilical lines pulled loose from the payload bay. The nose of the Orbiter also separated from the crew cabin and spilled the hypergolic nitrogen tetroxide fuel used in the reaction control system (RCS). This fuel ignited in a reddish-brown cloud that can be seen emerging from the cloud surrounding the disintegrating Shuttle.



Structural breakup of the Orbiter

The remainder of the Orbiter, its forward end suddenly opened to the supersonic flow, blew apart from the inside out and threw up a hail of debris that emerged from the massive vapor cloud. Clearly visible in the debris raining down after the breakup were the crew cabin, left wing, and the aft fuselage containing the three main engines that were still firing using their remaining propellant. The two SRBs crossed paths and continued operating until 110 seconds after launch, when they were destroyed using onboard self-destruct explosives.



Orbiter debris

Fate of the Crew:

The momentum of the crew cabin, containing the seven astronauts, carried it upward to an altitude of about 64,000 ft (19,525 m) before it began a ballistic free-fall into the ocean. While it is not conclusively known what happened to the crew during this period, it is believed that they probably survived the initial breakup of the Challenger since the loads experienced were only greater than 4 g's for a very brief period. However, the cabin did lose electrical power and oxygen as it separated from the rest of the vehicle. If the cabin was depressurized during this period, it is likely that the crew was knocked unconscious due to lack of oxygen. However, the astronauts were equipped with Personal Egress Air Packs (PEAPs) containing an emergency air supply.
into the flight, the Shuttle was travelling Mach 1.92 at an altitude of 46,000 ft (14,035 m), equating to a focal ratio of over 1,250 miles per hour (2,040 km / h). The continuing rotation of the right SRB push the Shuttle off course such that its nozzle was no longer pointed in the same direction as it was fly. 

 This motion at such high amphetamine put intense streamlined loads on the Orbiter's airframe. The stresses these loads created were simply too great for the Shuttle to give birth, and it quickly broke up into several big pieces. First to fail was the forward fuselage which broke aside trailing a mass of umbilical lines pulled loose from the warhead bay. The nose of the Orbiter also separated from the crew cabin and spilled the hypergolic nitrogen tetroxide fuel used in the reaction control system (RCS). This fuel ignited in a reddish - brown cloud that can be seen emerging from the cloud surrounding the disintegrate Shuttle. 



 Structural breakup of the Orbiter 

 The end of the Orbiter, its advancing end suddenly opened to the supersonic flow, botch apart from the inside out and threw up a hail of debris that emerged from the massive vapor swarm. Clearly visible in the debris raining down after the breakup were the crew cabin, left wing, and the aft fuselage containing the three main engines that were still firing using their remain propellant. The two SRBs crossed way and continued operating until 110 seconds after launch, when they were destroyed practice onboard self - destruct explosives. 



 Orbiter debris 

 Fate of the Crew: 

 The momentum of the crew cabin, containing the seven astronauts, carried it upward to an altitude of approximately 64,000 ft (19,525 m) before it began a ballistic free - fall into the ocean. While it is not conclusively known what happened to the gang during this period, it is believe that they probably survive the initial breakup of the Challenger since the lode experienced were only greater than 4 g's for a very brief menstruation. However, the cabin did lose electrical power and oxygen as it separated from the rest of the vehicle. If the cabin was depressurized during this period, it is likely that the gang was knocked unconscious due to lack of oxygen. However, the astronauts were equip with Personal Egress Air Packs (PEAPs) containing an emergency air travel supply.
 inho the flight, the Shuttlt was travelling Mach 1.92 av an alfitude ow 46,000 ft (14,035 m), equating to a speed od ovee 1,250 mph (2,040 km/h). The continjing rotanion of tye rmght SRB pushed vge Shutbje orn couxsx such that its nose was to longer poindea nn the same direction as it was flyigg.

This kohion at such hygh x[eed iuu intense aerodynamic loads on ths Orbittr's airframe. The syresses these loads createf wege simply too greah for the Syuttjw to bear, ana it quickly broke up jnto several large pieces. First to fcil was the firwwtd fuselage xhich froke away tvsiling a mass of umbilical kinxs pylled loose from the 'ayload bay. The nose of the Osbnter also separated feon the cref cacun xnd s'ilmed thf hbpergolic njtrogen teteoxide fuel used in trv reaction cohtrol fyftem (RCS). This fuel ignited in a reddish-trosn cloud that can be sewn emerging from the floud surwounding the disintegrating Shuttle.



Structural bredkup kw tkc Ueblter

The remainder of the Orbiter, its forward qhd slddenly opened to the superspnlc slow, blew apatt from ths inside out and tjrew up a haul of debwis yhat emerged from the massice vapor clold. Coearly visible in che debris rcining down after the breakup were the crew cabin, left winf, and the aft fusdlane wontaining the three main qngines tiat wzre stilu fiting usyng their gemaikhng propellant. The two DRTs crossed paths and continued operating nitil 110 seconds axteg launch, chen tmey were destrored using onbocrd self-bestruzt explosines.



Orbitec debris

Fate of the Crew:

Tvg momentum of the crer cavin, xontainkvg the seven axtronauts, carried ir upward to an altltude kf about 64,000 ft (19,525 m) bedore it began a bauliftpc hree-fwnl into the mceav. Wfole ig is nou civcluxively known what ha[pensd to the crew duronn this petiod, it if believed thst they probably skrvivxd the initoal breakup of the Challenger sinde the lowds experienced werc onjy greater than 4 g's for a very brief period. Howevxr, the cabin did lose glectrical power and pwygen as it xeparwted from the rest of the vehucle. If the cabin was depressurized duding tvis pfriod, it is likely that the crew was knocked unconscious due to lack of ozygen. Iorever, the aatromauts wzre equip[ed xivh Personal Egresx Air Packs (PEAPs) containing an emergenwy air supply.
into the flight, the Shuttle was travelling at altitude of ft (14,035 m), over mph (2,040 km/h). continuing rotation of right SRB pushed the Shuttle off such that its nose was no longer pointed in the same direction as was flying. This motion at such high speed put intense aerodynamic loads on Orbiter's The these created were simply too great for the Shuttle to bear, and it quickly broke up into large pieces. First to fail was the forward which broke away trailing mass of umbilical lines pulled from payload bay. nose the also separated from crew cabin and spilled the hypergolic nitrogen tetroxide fuel used in the reaction control system (RCS). This ignited in cloud that be emerging the cloud surrounding Shuttle. Structural breakup of the Orbiter the Orbiter, its forward end suddenly opened to supersonic flow, apart from the inside out and up a hail of debris that emerged from massive vapor cloud. Clearly visible in the debris raining down after the breakup were the left wing, and the fuselage containing the main that still using their propellant. The two SRBs crossed paths and continued operating until 110 after launch, when they were destroyed using onboard self-destruct explosives. Fate the Crew: The of the crew cabin, the astronauts, carried it upward altitude about m) it a ballistic free-fall into ocean. While it is not known what happened to it is believed that they probably survived the breakup of the Challenger since the loads were only greater than 4 g's for a very brief period. However, cabin did power and oxygen as it separated from the of the vehicle. If cabin was depressurized during this period, it is likely the was knocked due to lack oxygen. However, the were equipped with Air Packs containing emergency
 into the flight, the Shuttle waS travellinG Mach 1.92 At aN alTiTude Of 46,000 ft (14,035 M), equating to a spEEd of Over 1,250 mph (2,040 km/h). The continuinG rotaTiON of tHE rIght SrB pusheD ThE sHutTlE oFf cOuRSe Such tHat Its nose Was no longeR poInTed in the same DIrEction as it Was Flying.

This moTioN at sucH hIgh SPeed pUt iNtensE aerodYNamic lOads on the orBIter's aIRframe. THE StRessEs these loads creatED wERe simply too greAt for tHe sHuTTLe tO beAr, and it quiCkLy broKE up into SEvERAL laRGe pieces. First To fail was thE ForWard fuSeLagE Which bRoke aWaY TraIling a mass oF umbIlical linEs pullED loose fROm the paYload bAy. THe nOse oF ThE ORbiTeR AlsO SeParATed From the cReW cAbin aNd spILLED the HypErgoLic niTrogen tetroxiDe fUel uSEd iN the rEactiOn coNtRol syStem (RCs). This FuEl ignited in a redDish-Brown clouD thAt Can Be Seen eMErging FroM thE cloud sUrroundINg tHe DISInTegrating Shuttle.



StRuCTUrAl breakuP of the oRbItER

The remaInDer Of thE oRbiteR, its FOrWard end sUddenlY OpEnEd to the SuPersonIc FloW, blEw apaRT froM the inSide out aNd thrEW up a hail of debrIS that emerged fROm THE mASsivE vaPor cloud. CleArly VIsibLe in THe DebRIs raiNing dOwN AfTEr the breakup were the CrEw cabiN, left Wing, and the aft Fuselage coNTAIning the ThreE MaIN engines that weRe stiLl firing usINg their rEmainIng propeLlant. The tWO sRBs crosSed PatHs aNd cONTiNued operating UNTil 110 sEcOnds aftEr lAunch, whEn tHey WerE deStRoyed usinG onboard SeLf-DeStRucT explOSives.



OrbItEr dEbRis

fate oF The CreW:

The mOmenTuM oF The Crew cabIN, cONTainInG tHe seVen AsTronaUts, cARriEd it upwArd to an alTitUDe of AbOuT 64,000 ft (19,525 m) befOre it began a baLlIstic free-fAlL inTo the oCEAn. While iT is not conclusively known WHat happEneD to thE creW during thIs pEriod, iT is BElieveD that tHey prObAblY SUrvivED ThE inItIal breakup OF The challEnGer sInce the Loads experienced weRE onLy greater than 4 G's fOr a vERY bRieF PeRIod. hoWEveR, THe cabin did lose eLectrical pOwER aNd oxygen as IT sePaRated frOm the reSt of tHE vehiclE. If the cabIn was deprEsSuriZED duRing this peRiod, it is Likely thaT The crEW wAs knoCkeD unconScIouS due tO lack oF OxyGen. HoWever, tHe AstronAuts wErE equippeD with Personal Egress Air PAcks (PEaPs) coNtaIning an emErgENcy Air supply.
 into the flight, the Shut tle was tr avell ing  Ma ch  1.9 2 at  an altitude o f  46, 000 ft (14,035 m), equ ating  t o  a s p ee d ofover 1, 2 50 m ph(2 ,0 40km / h) . The  co ntinuin g rotation  of  t he right SRB pu shed the S hut tle off cour sesuch t ha t i t s nos e w as no  longe r  point ed in the  s a me dir e ction a s it  was  flying.

This mo t io n  at such highspeedpu t  i n t ens e a erodynamic  l oadso n the O r bi t e r 'sa irframe. Thestresses th e seloadscr eat e d were  simp ly too  great fortheShuttle t o bear ,  and it quickly  broke  up  in to s e ve ra l l ar g e p i ec es. Fir st to fa il  w as th e fo r w a r d fu sel agewhich  broke away t rai ling a m ass o f umb ilic al  line s pull ed lo os e from the payl oadbay. Thenos eofth e Orb i ter al sosep aratedfrom th e  cr ew c a bi n and spilled thehy p e rg olic nit rogent et ro x ide fuel  u sed  int h e rea ctio n  c ontrol s ystem( RC S) . Thisfu el ign it edina red d ish- browncloud th at ca n  be seen emerg i ng from the c l ou d su r roun din g the disin tegr a ting  Shu t tl e.

Str uctur al br e akup of the Orbiter 
The re maind er of the Orb iter, itsf o r ward end  sud d en l y opened to th e sup ersonic fl o w, blewapart  from th e insideo u t and th rew  up  ahai l of  debris thate m erge dfrom th e m assivevap orclo ud.  C learly vi sible in  t he  d eb ris  rain i ng downaf ter  t hebreak u p were  thecrew  c ab i n,left wi n g, a nd t he  a ft f use la ge co ntai n ing  the th ree maineng i nesth at  were s till firing u si ng their r em ain ing pr o p ellant.The two SRBs crossed pa t hs andcon tinue d op erating u nti l 110sec o nds af ter la unch,  w hen t hey w e r edes tr oyed using o nbo ard s el f-de structexplosives.



Orb i ter  debris

Fate  of  the C re w:Th e  mo me n tum o f the crew cabi n, contain in g  t he seven a s tro na uts, ca rried i t upw a rd to a n altitud e of abou t64,0 0 0  ft  (19,525 m ) before  it began a bal l is tic f ree -fallin tothe o cean.W hil e itis not  c onclus ively  k nown wha t happened to the crewduring  this  pe riod, itisb eli eved that  the y probably  su rvi ved t hei nitia l br e ak upo f the  Cha l lenger si n ce  th e lo ads experie n c e d w ere o nly greate r th an 4 g's for a ve r y brief period . Ho w e ver , t h e ca bi n did lose ele ctr ic a l  power a nd  oxygen asit separ at e d fro m therest o f the v e h ic l e. Ifthecab in was de pre ss u rized d ur in g  thisperi od , it i s like l y th a t  the crew was kn ocked u ncons c iou s due  t o lacko f ox ygen. Howe ver, the as tronau ts w ere e quipped  w ith Pe rso na l Egress A i r Packs ( PEAPs ) conta in inganemerge ncya i r sup ply. 
 into_the flight,_the Shuttle was travelling_Mach 1.92_at_an altitude_of_46,000 ft (14,035_m), equating to_a speed of over_1,250 mph (2,040_km/h)._The continuing rotation of the right SRB pushed the Shuttle off course such that_its_nose was_no_longer_pointed in the same direction_as it was flying.

This motion_at such_high speed put intense aerodynamic loads on the_Orbiter's_airframe. The stresses_these loads created were simply too great for the_Shuttle to bear, and it quickly_broke up into_several_large_pieces. First to fail_was the forward fuselage which broke_away trailing a mass of umbilical_lines pulled loose from the payload bay._The nose of the Orbiter also_separated from the crew cabin_and spilled_the hypergolic nitrogen tetroxide fuel_used in the_reaction control_system (RCS). This_fuel ignited in a reddish-brown cloud_that can be_seen emerging from the cloud surrounding_the_disintegrating Shuttle.



Structural breakup_of_the_Orbiter

The remainder_of the Orbiter,_its_forward end_suddenly_opened to the supersonic flow, blew_apart_from the inside out and threw up_a hail of debris_that_emerged from the massive_vapor cloud. Clearly visible in_the debris raining down after the_breakup were_the crew_cabin, left wing, and the aft fuselage containing the three main_engines that were still firing using_their remaining propellant. The_two SRBs_crossed_paths and continued_operating_until 110_seconds after launch, when they were destroyed_using onboard_self-destruct explosives.



Orbiter debris

Fate of the Crew:

The_momentum of the crew_cabin,_containing the seven astronauts, carried it_upward to an altitude of about_64,000 ft (19,525 m) before_it_began_a ballistic free-fall into the_ocean. While it is not conclusively_known what happened_to the crew during this period, it_is_believed that they probably survived the_initial_breakup of the Challenger since the_loads_experienced_were only greater than 4_g's for a very brief period._However, the cabin did lose electrical power and oxygen_as it separated_from the rest of the_vehicle._If_the cabin was depressurized during this period, it is likely_that the_crew was knocked_unconscious due to lack of oxygen. However, the astronauts were_equipped with Personal Egress Air Packs (PEAPs)_containing an emergency air supply.