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US Space Shuttle
The US Space Shuttle, first launched in 1981, was the world's first reusable spacecraft. Of its three components – the Orbiter space plane, rocket boosters, and external fuel tank – only the fuel tank is not recovered after a mission. Special heat-resistant tiles prevent the Orbiter from burning up when it reenters the Earth's atmosphere. The remote manipulator
arm in the Orbiter's payload bay can put satellites into space, recapture them from space, and act as a stable platform for astronauts working in the bay.
Challenger Disaster
On January 28, 1986, millions of television viewers all over the world watched in horror as the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded less than 2 minutes after its launch. It was totally destroyed, and all seven crew members were killed. One of the crew, Christa McAuliffe, was a teacher who had intended to conduct lessons from space. An inquiry into the disaster found that the seal between two sections of a booster rocket had failed, causing a gas leak, which then ignited. The Shuttle program was grounded for nearly 3 years after the accident while its safety was improved.
Destructive force
The puff of smoke at the bottom right of this photograph shows where leaking gas caught fire just 73 seconds after lift-off.
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