Yep. Sorry to report it, but NASA reported that they were alive for three minutes after the explosion.
The big explosion was NOT the shuttle, it was the fuel tank. The shuttle was damaged, but it did NOT explode. It was further damaged as it turned sideways to the direction of travel -- it was going at Mach2, remember. But when they recovered the wreckage, there was evidence of the crew being alive until the impact with the water -- three minutes later. This included the fact that the crew had gotten out oxygen kits and other emergency gear. These facts are in the NASA reports on the accident, but are not widely reported in the MSM.
It is incredibly sad, but the crew knew they were in an accident, and they knew they were doomed. Try to sit still for three minutes by the clock, and think about nothing except that you are falling 40,000 feet into the ocean.
No wonder it's not widely reported. The MSM says "the shuttle exploded" but it didn't. The tank did, and it threw the shuttle free. Sad, but true. Read the NASA reports for detail; they make me too sad to transcribe here.
> Yep. Sorry to report it, but NASA reported that they were alive for three minutes after the explosion....
Here's one of the rare MSM articles that covers it -- it's a collection of myths (and corrections) about the disaster, including the myth that they died instantly. Saves having to look up the details in the NASA reports.
Thanks so much for the various information. The fact that the crew was alive for a time relly disturbs me.