> I assumed, like I suppose many, the crew were killed outright at the time of disintegration and that would have been the most merciful outcome
The breakup was certainly slower and less directly destructive for the crew than the Columbia. Challenger essentially broke up due to aerodynamic stresses as the entire stack tumbled when the SRB broke loose (the stack rotated so the orbiter was on top, at Mach 1.92). The massive visible 'explosion' was actually the fuel from the external tank igniting as a result of the tank breaking up mechanically, not the initial cause of the orbiter's destruction. The separated but mainly intact crew compartment then continued upwards ballistically before beginning its long fall back to the ocean.
In contrast, due to earlier launch-time damage to its wing, Columbia entered a flat spin while re-entering hypersonically at Mach 15. Complete break-up was about 20 seconds after the last comms from the crew. By this time the crew were already dead, due to physical trauma from being violently buffeted around - e.g. their non-conforming 'fishbowl' helmets offered no real head-protection in the event of violent movement.
Thanks for that. I presume on both accounts NASA is much more conversant with the details than are publicly available. That's how it ought to be out of respect for the families.
> I presume on both accounts NASA is much more conversant with the details than are publicly available. That's how it ought to be out of respect for the families.
Yes, and I agree. The Columbia break-up left fragments scattered over a massive area and from the fact that parts of spacesuits, belts, seats etc are scattered sometimes miles apart, it's clear that the breakup was massively destructive. But in the otherwise very detailed reports, the 'medical' details are (rightly, I think) redacted, as you say, out of respect.
The breakup was certainly slower and less directly destructive for the crew than the Columbia. Challenger essentially broke up due to aerodynamic stresses as the entire stack tumbled when the SRB broke loose (the stack rotated so the orbiter was on top, at Mach 1.92). The massive visible 'explosion' was actually the fuel from the external tank igniting as a result of the tank breaking up mechanically, not the initial cause of the orbiter's destruction. The separated but mainly intact crew compartment then continued upwards ballistically before beginning its long fall back to the ocean.
In contrast, due to earlier launch-time damage to its wing, Columbia entered a flat spin while re-entering hypersonically at Mach 15. Complete break-up was about 20 seconds after the last comms from the crew. By this time the crew were already dead, due to physical trauma from being violently buffeted around - e.g. their non-conforming 'fishbowl' helmets offered no real head-protection in the event of violent movement.