National Aeronautics and Space Agency, also known as NASA
A distinct historical item was discovered by a documentation team looking for a World War II-era wreck off the coast of Florida.
A piece of the 1986 space shuttle Challenger, whose explosion killed all seven astronauts on board only seconds after liftoff, was found by History Channel crew members when they were excavating in the seabed. The findings were confirmed by NASA in a statement released on Thursday.
On Twitter, the History Channel shared video of the dive. The brief video depicts two divers looking at a sizable object coated in sand and square tiles as detritus.
The organization contacted NASA as a result of the object’s proximity to the Florida Space Coast, an area focused on the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station where NASA launches its spaceflights, and the object’s alleged contemporary appearance. The US government owns space shuttle artifacts, according to Patti Bielling, chief news officer at NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center.
“Although it has been almost 37 years since seven courageous and brave explorers lost their lives aboard the Challenger, this tragedy will forever be etched in our nation’s collective memory. To millions around the world, including myself, January 28, 1986 still feels like yesterday,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement.
“This discovery gives us an opportunity to pause once more, lift the legacy of the seven pioneers we lost, and reflect on how this tragedy has changed our priority as our missions explore more of the cosmos than ever before.”
The Challenger exploded just 73 seconds after takeoff due to a malfunction due to the cold temperatures of the day. His crew consisted of Francis R. “Dick” Scobee, Michael J. Smith, Ronald E. McNair, Ellison S. Onizuka, Judith A. Resnik, Gregory B. Jarvis, and S. Christa McAuliffe (who was involved as a teacher in the launch ).
