Artifact from Space Shuttle Challenger found on ocean floor, NASA confirms
Discovery comes nearly 37 years after tragedy.
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Updated: 11:04 AM CST Nov 11, 2022
when when Nasa got word from this um tv documentary crew that they found something. Can, can you talk *** little bit about, I mean what that process was like and how it went? Certainly. Um they reached out to us History Channel and their teams reached out to us and said we found something, we're not quite sure exactly what it is, but we are confident it has certain significance to it. We'd like to identify what that is. So it certainly piqued our attention and interest. Um And then when they came forward and we set up the meeting to meet with them and review the footage, um That's when they showed us what they had on the films. And when you when Nasa looked at it, I don't know if you specifically had. Now you I'm sure you've seen the footage. But if if you were there at that first initial meeting, what did you find from it? And what were you able to tell from that video? Yeah, Well I was the initial meeting and when they actually came forward, you know, you're you have *** certain anticipation, you're not quite sure what you're about to see. Um So you have that going into the meeting and then once you start reviewing the footage and looking at the still pictures and the video as it starts moving through, um It became clear and clear that we're looking at something very significant. And then the closer resumed in and saw some structure, some of the materials, colors and all these, all these clues start coming forward. Um then became very more clear and convincing we should say, um, that we're looking at space shuttle hardware? Uh, and then zooming in zeroing. It's it's Challenger. And how were you able to zero in specifically on the fact that it was the challenger? That's *** great question. You know, as you know, we've launched rockets for over 70 years. Right? So there's *** lot of components um out there out there in the ocean. So we're looking for certain things. I had the honor to work on the program for many years. And so you're looking at items, but you're also looking at it through the lens of history. Right? What, what the, the environment has done to those pieces. So, we're looking at the materials, we're looking at the structure. We're looking at rivet patterns, we're looking at perhaps primers in certain codings we put on the vehicle and then other materials as well. Um, in this case, the space shuttle was very vehicle that was the first world's reusable vehicle. So part of that which made it reusable, we could use it again, was its heat shield, its thermal protection system, very unique design. Um, and so that tile design which covered the vehicle over 30,000 of these tiles. Um, I start seeing evidence of portions and pieces of those tiles still adhere to the structures. So that was *** really clear and convincing piece when I start seeing those that we were looking at challenging, Do you know? And maybe this will take further investigating. Do you know which part of the space shuttle it might be from? Well, I'm very confident that it's the underside of the vehicle. So that includes everything underneath the fuselage sections and also potential wing sections. So, I'm very confident of that, of the exact pinpoint location on the vehicle. We don't know exactly. Um, because we haven't seen the full piece, but I can be very confident saying it is the underside of challenging. And now, of course, like you mentioned before we started, this is *** very sensitive situation. Um, when you realized and kinda nailed down that this was *** piece from the Challenger. What was your reaction? You know, emotionally? It was powerful. You know, when when you're looking at the footage, it's almost like going back in time and you're stepping back in the history books and coming face to face um, back in 1986. So, so, initial feelings, emotional feelings were reflecting upon that day. Um, it's one of those, I think moments in history, where where *** great number of people across the nation in the world Remember where they were, what they felt like the day we lost challenger and our beautiful crew. So, so my mind first went back to 1986, went back to the emotions of that day, remembering the crew and all those emotions came forward. Um, so that was the initial feeling. And then I think that slowly transition into what do we have before us, you know, can we identify this piece and really take this moment in uh, and then I have to say that motion kind of slowly transformed into um the future because what we do is on *** daily basis. We teach the lessons learned from Challenger in Colombia and Apollo, one of the other mishaps we've had and we share those with the next generation. So it transformed from remembrance of those feelings through the present moment into how we try to change the vote for the better. Still using Challenger as *** guide going forward and you kind of answered it and um, response right there. But with this physical piece of that spacecraft, what will happen with it moving forward? Has *** decision been made with that yet? Yeah, no decision has been made yet. I can tell you are our highest goal is to make sure whatever we decide to do, we're paying the highest respects and honor to the challenger to the crew and the family. So that's that's our first and foremost mission to do so. So every option we're looking at, that's our number one goal to accomplish. So I can assure you whatever we decide that will be the focus of how we do it. And I think that just about does it for all the questions I have, Is there anything else that I didn't ask you that you wanted to add? Yeah, I, I just like to share if we could that you know, we're really excited about this program, the Apollo Challenger Columbia lessons loan program because it really does take the mission of the crew. Um, and part of Krista's mission to teach and inspire going forward and in her memory in the cruise memory, we want the next generation of folks in the programming outside because we work with industries far outside of Nasa from race cars, rocket ships, if you will to teach the lessons. So so the sacrifice Krista and her crew gave, we don't want that ever be lost or forgotten. And we wanna make sure folks that know we're out there teaching it and then they're welcome to collaborate with Nasa. If they can find ways that we could perhaps be *** benefit to them to help save lives and to help their mission success to reach out to us and perhaps find ways to partner and collaborate into transferring, ensuring those lessons learned.
Artifact from Space Shuttle Challenger found on ocean floor, NASA confirms
Discovery comes nearly 37 years after tragedy.
![WMUR logo]()
Updated: 11:04 AM CST Nov 11, 2022
A piece of the Space Shuttle Challenger was recently found off the coast of Florida, NASA announced in a news release Thursday. The shuttle exploded 73 seconds after takeoff on Jan. 28, 1986.The artifact was discovered by a History Channel documentary crew diving for wreckage of a World War II-era aircraft, NASA officials wrote."Once we realized what it was, we got the evidence we needed to share that with NASA," said Michael Barnett, a marine biologist. "We didn't want to intrude any more because what this site represents, this is, you know, this is hallowed ground, this is solemn ground. It needs to be respected."Divers found the 20-foot object on the seafloor, and given its proximity to Florida's Space Coast, members of the documentary team decided to contact NASA, whose leaders reviewed the footage and confirmed the object came from the Challenger. "This discovery gives us an opportunity to pause once again, to uplift the legacies of the seven pioneers we lost, and to reflect on how this tragedy changed us. At NASA, the core value of safety is – and must forever remain – our top priority, especially as our missions explore more of the cosmos than ever before," NASA administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement.Watch one of the divers who made the discovery describe his experience in the player below.The discovery comes nearly 37 years after the shuttle exploded, killing New Hampshire teacher Christa McAuliffe and six other crew members: Dick Scobee, Mike Smith, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Judith Resnik and Gregory Jarvis.McAuliffe was the first civilian teacher ever chosen for a space mission."NASA currently is considering what additional actions it may take regarding the artifact that will properly honor the legacy of Challenger’s fallen astronauts and the families who loved them," officials wrote in the news release.Michael Ciannili, program manager of the Apollo, Challenger, Columbia Lessons Learned Program, said he's confident it's the underside of the spacecraft. "In her memory and the crew's memory, we want the next generation of folks in the program and outside, because we work with industries far outside of NASA from race cars, rocket ships, if you will, to teach the lessons of the sacrifice Christa and her crew gave," Ciannili said. "We don't want that to ever be lost or forgotten." NASA officials said a show about the so-called Bermuda Triangle will depict the crew's discovery of the Challenger artifact. It airs on Nov. 22.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A piece of the Space Shuttle Challenger was recently found off the coast of Florida, NASA announced in a news release Thursday.
The shuttle exploded 73 seconds after takeoff on Jan. 28, 1986.
The artifact was discovered by a History Channel documentary crew diving for wreckage of a World War II-era aircraft, NASA officials wrote.
"Once we realized what it was, we got the evidence we needed to share that with NASA," said Michael Barnett, a marine biologist. "We didn't want to intrude any more because what this site represents, this is, you know, this is hallowed ground, this is solemn ground. It needs to be respected."
Divers found the 20-foot object on the seafloor, and given its proximity to Florida's Space Coast, members of the documentary team decided to contact NASA, whose leaders reviewed the footage and confirmed the object came from the Challenger.
"This discovery gives us an opportunity to pause once again, to uplift the legacies of the seven pioneers we lost, and to reflect on how this tragedy changed us. At NASA, the core value of safety is – and must forever remain – our top priority, especially as our missions explore more of the cosmos than ever before," NASA administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement.
Watch one of the divers who made the discovery describe his experience in the player below.
The discovery comes nearly 37 years after the shuttle exploded, killing New Hampshire teacher Christa McAuliffe and six other crew members: Dick Scobee, Mike Smith, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Judith Resnik and Gregory Jarvis.
McAuliffe was the first civilian teacher ever chosen for a space mission.
"NASA currently is considering what additional actions it may take regarding the artifact that will properly honor the legacy of Challenger’s fallen astronauts and the families who loved them," officials wrote in the news release.
Michael Ciannili, program manager of the Apollo, Challenger, Columbia Lessons Learned Program, said he's confident it's the underside of the spacecraft.
"In her memory and the crew's memory, we want the next generation of folks in the program and outside, because we work with industries far outside of NASA from race cars, rocket ships, if you will, to teach the lessons of the sacrifice Christa and her crew gave," Ciannili said. "We don't want that to ever be lost or forgotten."
NASA officials said a show about the so-called Bermuda Triangle will depict the crew's discovery of the Challenger artifact. It airs on Nov. 22.
