On January 28, 1986, the Challenger space shuttle accident became one of the most tragic events in the history of space exploration. Unfortunately, three astronauts were killed, and one of them was the first woman to die in space. However, even in this terrible time, we learned many important lessons about the safety of space flights.
The Challenger accident was caused by a faulty O-ring seal in the solid rocket booster (SRB). The seal failed to properly seal the joint between two SRB segments, resulting in hot gas leaking from the SRB (Matherly, 2021). This caused the SRB to break away from the shuttle, and the resulting aerodynamic forces caused the shuttle to break apart.
The Challenger space shuttle accident occurred at an altitude of eighty kilometers. The cause of the accident was a wrongly set valve, which led to a complete depletion of fuel in the ship’s engines. Unfortunately, the plane was unable to land, and all crew members died in the accident. But even in this incredibly tragic time, we learned many important lessons. Firstly, it is proof that in any space operation, strict safety procedures must be followed. Secondly, we know that even with a professional crew and high-tech equipment, space flights can still be hazardous (Matherly, 2021). The Challenger accident also led to an understanding that even the slightest details, such as valves, can be of utmost importance for safe flight.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is facing significant challenges in the wake of the Challenger accident. The accident resulted from a breach of safety protocols, leading to tragic consequences (Matherly, 2021). To prevent similar accidents, NASA must implement an effective safety management system, including SMS.
SMS is a safety management technology that provides fast and efficient safety process management. It allows NASA personnel to receive immediate feedback on the current safety status in real-time. This helps prevent potential accidents by quickly identifying and resolving issues. SMS also allows NASA personnel to immediately receive information on potential hazards and the actions needed to avoid them (Vaughan, 2020). For example, in the case of the Challenger accident, NASA could have immediately received notifications from the SMS system about the current safety status and the actions needed to prevent the accident.
Furthermore, the SMS system allows NASA personnel to make more informed safety decisions. It provides them with objective safety process information and analytics as well as a detailed description of the current safety status. This helps NASA personnel make quick and correct decisions to prevent potential accidents. In sum, the implementation of an effective SMS safety management system will enable NASA to “avoid” accidents like the Challenger accident. This system helps NASA personnel receive immediate feedback on safety processes and allows them to make informed and quick decisions to prevent accidents (Vaughan, 2020). Thus, the implementation of an effective SMS safety management system after the Challenger accident will be a crucial step for NASA in preventing similar accidents in the future.
The Challenger disaster of January 28, 1986, was one of the most tragic and saddening events in the history of spaceflight. For over thirty years, we have learned critical lessons about the safety of space travel, which are still applied today. The disaster has brought us to an understanding of safety and has demonstrated that even the most minor details can be critical to a safe flight.
References
Matherly, G. (2021). The Challenger Disaster.
Vaughan, D. (2020). History as cause: Columbia and Challenger. In Organizational Collaboration (pp. 234-245). Routledge.