Conference 7.286::space

118.0. "AP News on CHALLENGER Disaster" by ECAD::LAW () Tue Jan 28 1986 14:02

Associated Press Tue 28-JAN-1986 12:11                          Space Shuttle

   URGENT
Eds: Combines prvs, edits
                          By HOWARD BENEDICT
                          AP Aerospace Writer
   CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) - Space shuttle Challenger exploded
into a gigantic fireball moments after liftoff today, apparently
killing all seven crew members, including schoolteacher Christa
McAuliffe.
   There was no announcement of the fate of the crew but it
appeared there was no way they could survive.
   The $1.2 billion spacecraft appeared to be destroyed.
   It was the first in-the-air disaster in 56 U.S. man-in-space
missions, although three astronauts were killed in a 1967 launch
pad explosion during the Apollo program.
   After a series of weather and technical delays, the shuttle rose
spectacularly off the launch pad at 11:38 a.m. EST and was climbing
smoothly trailing a 700-geyser of fire when suddenly it erupted in
a huge fireball and shot out of control.
   A voice at Mission Control said, ``We are checking with recovery
forces to see what can be done at this point. ...Contingency
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Associated Press Tue 28-JAN-1986 12:11                 Space Shuttle (cont'd)

procedures are in effect.''
   The voice said, ``Vehicle has exploded. ... We are awaiting word
from any recovery forces downrange.''
   The explosion was a devastating setback for the National
Aeronatutics and Space Administration after successfully carrying
out 24 space shuttle missions in slightly less than five years.
   There were seven crew members aboard, including Mrs. McAuliffe,
a 37-year-old New Hampshire teacher selected as America's first
citizen in space.
   Mission Control said debris from the shuttle fell several miles
out in the Atlantic and that reovery forces were speeding in that
direction.
   The other crew members were commander Francis R. Scobee, 46,
pilot Michael J. Smith, 40; Judith Resnik, 36; Ronald E. McNair,
35; Ellison S. Onizuka, 39; and Gregory B. Jarvis, 41.
   Mission Control said parts of the spacecraft fell at 28.64 north
latitude and 80.28 degrees west longitude, just a few miles off
Cape Canaveral.
   Ships and helicopters raced to the area and the control center
said paramedics had leaped into the water.
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Associated Press Tue 28-JAN-1986 12:11                 Space Shuttle (cont'd)

   There was no indication how much of the shuttle was intact.
   The shocking spectacle of the explosion was seen by millions of
people around the country who were watching the launch on
television.
   All 1,200 students at Mrs. McAuliffe's Concord High School were
cheering the televised launch when a teacher yelled for them to be
silent because something appeared to be wrong.
   As it became clear there was an explosion, stunned students
murmured ``This can't be real.... We can't be watching this.''
   Students, who were gathered in the auditorium, were ordered back
to their rooms. Many of the youths went relunctantly, protesting
that they wanted to be allowed to continue watchng.
   White House spokesman Larry Speakes said President Reagan was
``concerned'' and ``saddened'' at the accident but had no immediate
details. ``We don't have any more information than what is being
provided the public on television.''
   Challenger was one of four shuttles in NASA's fleet.
   The flight was the second of a record 15 shuttle flights that
NASA had planned this year.
   It probably will be months now before another shuttle can be
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Associated Press Tue 28-JAN-1986 12:11                 Space Shuttle (cont'd)

launched, while engineers try to determine what went wrong.
   NASA said the explosion occurred about 60 seconds into the
mission, at a point when the astronauts were beginning to throttle
their engines up to maximum thrust after they throttled them down
to a 60 percent level at 35 seconds in order to reduce the forces
of gravity during liftoff.
   The explosion also occurred about the time Challenger was to
enter a period of maximum aerodynamic pressure when wind and other
atmospheric conditions would place the maximum force on the outside
of the vehicle.
   There was no indication whether the explosion occurred in the
solid boosters or in the main engines fueled by hydrogen and oxygen
from the main tank. When Challenger lifted off, its huge fuel tank
carried 526,000 gallons of volatile liquid hydrogen and oxygen.
   Mission control reported that there was no indication of any
problem with the engines, the solid boosters or any other system
and that the shuttle just suddenly blew apart.
   Radio communications and telemetry abruptly ended.
   There was total shock and disbelief among workers at the shuttle
assembly buildig as they watched Challener break up in a ball of
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Associated Press Tue 28-JAN-1986 12:11                 Space Shuttle (cont'd)

fire and white and orange smoke.
   ``I can't believe it,'' said a young woman, almost crying, as
she stood among coworkers outside the building.
   ``I can't see the orbiter - what happened to the orbiter,'' said
a young technician.


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TITLE "Tue 12:11 Reagan-Space Shuttle"
KEYWORD "AP-REAGAN-SPACE"
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Associated Press Tue 28-JAN-1986 12:11                   Reagan-Space Shuttle

   URGENT
   WASHINGTON (AP) - President Reagan today stood in ``stunned
silence'' as he watched a television replay of the space shuttle
explosion.
   Presidential spokesman Larry Speakes said Vice President George
Bush and his national security adviser, Adm. John Poindexter,
interrupted a meeting of Reagan and senior aides to tell him of the
explosion.
   ``The president is concerned; he is saddened; he is anxious to
have more information,'' Speakes told reporters at a briefing.
   The spokesman added that ``quite frankly, the president stood
there in almost stunned silence as he watched the television.''
   Told of theblast, Reagan had gone immediately to his small
study to watch developments on television.
   Speakes said he did not anticipate any change in Reagan's plan
to deliver his State of the Union speech to Congress tonight.
   ``I'm sure the president will feel compelled to mention this,''
Speakes added.
   Asked if the president said anything about Christa McAuliffe,
the teacher on board the flight, Speakes said, ``It was something
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Associated Press Tue 28-JAN-1986 12:11          Reagan-Space Shuttle (cont'd)

that was on all of our minds, that it had the first teacher in
space, the first civilian'' on board.
   As for the impact of the explosion on the future of the space
program, including future civilian participation in flights,
Speakes said such questions were ``premature.''
   ``I'm sure it will not affect the United States' determination
to continue the exploration of space,'' he added.
   ``The United States has met adversity many times before in the
space program,'' the spokesman said.
   On Capitol Hill, the House of Representatives convened at noon
and met for a minute of silent prayer, then adjourned for two hours.
   Sen. Jake Garn, the Utah Republican who was the first senator to
fly on the shuttle, headed to the Senate floor, where he was
expected to make a statement.