v4p40-41

Report of the PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident

Volume 4 Index

Hearings of the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident: February 6, 1986 to February 25, 1986

FEBRUARY 6, 1986 SESSION [part1 of 2]

[Ref. 2/6-21]

[40] STS-51L MISSION ACCIDENT

INITIAL ASSESSMENT

LAUNCH HAD BEEN DELAYED FOR TWO HOURS DUE TO:
- LAUNCH PROCESSING EQUIPMENT PROBLEMS DURING PROPELLANT LOADING
- ICE INSPECTION OF LAUNCH COMPLEX AND ICE REMOVAL FROM MOBILE LAUNCH RESULTING FROM BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES
ASCENT APPEARED NORMAL FOR APPROXIMATELY THE FIRST 73 SECONDS THROUGH THE PROGRAMMED ROLL MANUEVER, MAIN ENGINE THROTTLE DOWN, MAXIMUM DYNAMIC PRESSURE AND MAIN ENGINE THROTTLEUP
SHUTTLE VEHICLE APPEARED TO BE PERFORMING NORMALLY ON ALL SYSTEMS AT 104 PERCENT. MAIN ENGINE THRUST AT APPROXIMATELY 1200 MPH AT 47,600 FEET ALTITUDE WHEN ALL TELEMETRY DATA INSTANTLY TERMINATED
AT APPROXIMATELY THAT TIME SHUTTLE BREAK-UP WAS OBSERVED FROM THE GROUND

[Ref. 2/6-22] IMMEDIATE ACTIONS TAKEN.

IMMEDIATE ACTIONS TAKEN

ALL MISSION DATA AND INFORMATION IMPOUNDED AT ALL SITES
- AGENCY AND CENTER STS CONTINGENCY PLANS PUT INTO EFFECT
INTERIM MISHAP INVESTIGATION BOARD FORMED

BOARD MEMBERS

CHAIRMAN:	JESSE W. MOORE, ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR FOR SPACE FLIGHT
MEMBERS:	RICHARD SMITH, DIRECTOR, KENNEDY SPACE CENTER
	WILLIAM LUCAS, DIRECTOR, MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER
	ARNOLD ALDRICH, MANAGER, NATIONAL STS PROGRAM, JOHNSON SPACE CENTER
	WALTER WILLIAMS, SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO NASA ADMINISTRATOR
ADDITIONAL MEMBERS:	ROBERT CRIPPEN, ASTRONAUT OFFICE, JOHNSON SPACE CENTER
	JOSEPH KERWIN, DIRECTOR, SPACE/LIFE SCIENCES, JOHNSON SPACE CENTER
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS:	JOHN O'BRIEN, GENERAL COUNSEL
	MILTON SILVEIRA, CHIEF ENGINEER
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY:	JAMES C. HARRINGTON, DIRECTOR, STS PROGRAM INTEGRATION