Evidence of Survival and the Challenger Disaster

Your question about the Challenger astronauts' survival is a common one, and it's understandable given the detailed plans and backup systems in place. Despite the tragic nature of the event, evidence strongly indicates that the astronauts did not survive the initial breakup of the spacecraft. Let's delve into the details and the evidence that has been collected.

Compelling Evidence for the Crew's Survival

It is well-known that a significant amount of physical evidence has been recovered, which indicates that at least some crew members were manually activating systems immediately after the Space Transportation System (STS) breakup. According to contemporary reports, the astronauts likely used their onboard emergency systems to try to restore communications or initiate critical safety functions. These actions were crucial in understanding the post-incident status of the astronauts.

What Caused the Breakup

The Challenger disaster did not involve an explosion in the traditional sense. The breakup of the spacecraft occurred due to aerodynamic forces that were far beyond its design tolerances. Specifically, the exhaust gases from the solid rocket booster (SRB) burned through a critical seal in the external tank, causing it to rupture. Had this burn-through occurred on the outboard side of the SRB, the mission would have proceeded normally. Instead, the rupture led to the rapid release of liquid hydrogen and oxygen, creating the illusion of an explosion, but in reality, the spacecraft simply fell apart.

The Role of Fumes in the Incident

The well-known yellow glow observed during the breakup was due to the hydrogen burning, but it was not an explosion. Explosions occur much faster. The visible glow was a result of the rapid expansion of the gases, a harbinger of the impending failure of the spacecraft.

The critical moment came when Challenger was thrown from the external tank, already at high altitudes. At these velocities, the orbiter would have been torn apart. This breakup was sudden and catastrophic, and it is clear that the astronauts would not have survived this process.

Determining the Cause of Death

While the exact sequence of events leading to the astronauts' deaths is complex, medical professionals involved in the investigation have provided some insights. The forces involved were not sufficient to directly cause the astronauts' deaths. However, the crew compartment did lose pressure immediately upon breaking up, rendering the astronauts unconscious within 10 seconds.

When the remains were recovered, the evidence showed that the emergency oxygen packs of three of the crew members had been activated. This suggests that at least some of the astronauts were still conscious and attempting to use their backup systems. The roughly five minutes of oxygen were consumed, indicating that these astronauts remained conscious until the crew compartment plunged into the ocean. The rapid ocean impact rendered any survivors instantly unconscious, and the lack of buoyancy would have made survival virtually impossible.

Conclusion

In summary, while there is evidence that some astronauts attempted to activate emergency systems, the physical forces at play during the breakup of the Challenger were too severe for survival. The decompression of the crew compartment and the rapid ocean impact likely caused the fatal consequences. The lack of any direct evidence for survival and the well-documented investigations conclude that the astronauts did not survive the incident.