Plume Space Shuttle Challenger disaster

plume on right srb @ t+ 58.788 seconds

beginning @ t+37 , 27 seconds, shuttle experienced series of wind shear events stronger on previous flight.

at t+58.788, tracking film camera captured beginnings of plume near aft attach strut on right srb. unknown on challenger or in houston, hot gas had begun leak through growing hole in 1 of right-hand srbs joints. force of wind shear shattered temporary oxide seal had taken place of damaged o-rings, removing last barrier flame passing through joint. had not been wind shear, fortuitous oxide seal might have held through booster burnout.

within second, plume became defined , intense. internal pressure in right srb began drop because of rapidly enlarging hole in failed joint, , @ t+60.238 there visual evidence of flame burning through joint , impinging on external tank.

at t+64.660, plume changed shape, indicating leak had begun in liquid hydrogen tank, located in aft portion of external tank. nozzles of main engines pivoted under computer control compensate unbalanced thrust produced booster burn-through. pressure in shuttle s external liquid hydrogen tank began drop @ t+66.764, indicating effect of leak.

at stage situation still seemed normal both crew , flight controllers. @ t+68, capcom richard o. covey informed crew go @ throttle , , commander dick scobee confirmed, roger, go @ throttle ; last communication challenger on air-to-ground loop.