Hey, with regards to the o-rings, they actually did replace the rubber fillings after every flight. So, it wasn’t wear and tear with o-rings being used over and over that caused the tragedy. It was the fact that it was so cold and the o-rings were so brittle that they didn’t expand and seal the joints properly on ignition of the Solid Rocket Boosters at liftoff.
I worked in the Shuttle program from 1998 to 2003. Arrived in January of 1998, two years after Challenger and a few months before the first Shuttle flight after the program was halted.
*** I worked in the Shuttle program from 1998 to 2003. Arrived in January of 1998, two years after Challenger and a few months before the first Shuttle flight after the program was halted.***
Do you mean 1988? The Challenger blew up in 1986.