Comment by dgfl
15 hours ago
Yes, challenger. The O-ring failed, creating a gas exhaust that almost instantly destroyed the main propellant tank.
15 hours ago
Yes, challenger. The O-ring failed, creating a gas exhaust that almost instantly destroyed the main propellant tank.
I believe what it destroyed was the strut holding the booster to the tank. When the strut burned through the assembly came apart and aerodynamic forces did the remainder of the destruction.