Being an astronaut is a high-risk job. It requires great mental stability as well as specialized knowledge and very good physical condition. NASA is one of the most prestigious space agencies, but despite the number of professionals that are part of this organization, throughout history there have been several missions that have been complete failures. The truth is that it took many years for the eyes of the world to return to focus on an American space mission. The SpaceX Crew Dragon launches have not only meant the return of the United States to space, it is also the representation of the participation of a private company in this type of operation. Let’s take a look at some of the worst launch mistakes in space history.
SpaceX is the first non-state organization to partner with NASA to send a manned spacecraft to the International Space Station. An activity that for years has been carried out only by world powers . In the world of science, precision is one of the most important elements to safeguard the integrity of astronauts. Throughout the history of space missions there have been several launch errors. Some of them unexpected, but others could have been avoided.
space shuttle challenger
On January 28, 1986, the United States was preparing one of the most important launches in its history. Among other things, it was the first time a civilian had been included in a mission : high school teacher Christa McAuliffe. Joining her are astronauts Francis Scobee, Michael J. Smith, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Gregory Jarvis, and Judith Resnik. One minute and eleven seconds after launch, Challenger exploded in mid-air, killing all six astronauts and the teacher.
Perhaps the worst thing about this tragedy is that it could have been prevented. After a long investigation it was discovered that, due to the low temperatures, the rubber seals of the right booster rocket did not expand, facilitating the exit of the fuel. A current of wind shook the ship, facilitating the leak of fuel again, in such a way that the rocket caught fire colliding with the upper part of the tank. This fact caused its explosion. Several engineers had detected this problem in the meetings and wrote a report in order to alert NASA managers that the launch would end in tragedy if it took place on a day of low temperatures.
space shuttle challenger
apollo 1
In the context of the Cold War , the arrival of the first man in space thanks to the work of the Soviet Union in 1961 was a severe blow to the United States. From that moment on, it focused all its technological activity on becoming the first country to land on the moon, that is, to reach the lunar surface. This is how the Apollo space program began, whose main objective was to advance in the “conquest” of the terrestrial satellite. The missions of the Apollo Program got off to a very bad start . Apollo 1 was the first manned mission of this project and aimed to reach low Earth orbit. An electrical failure during one of the final test sessions made it impossible to take off. Failure that ended up causing a fire in the main module of the ship causing the death of the three astronauts (‘Gus’ Grissom, Edward White and Roger Chaffee) who were on board.
sailor 1
Decades ago, space agencies began working with probes equipped with instruments and technology aimed at obtaining information about the universe and the solar system. NASA’s first space probe experience came with the Mariner Program . The objective of the Mariner probes was to approach various planets in the solar system in order to collect data and take images of them.
Like the Apollo program, Mariner was not destined to come to fruition on its first mission. Several of the probes failed during the different stages of liftoff, causing them to end up in a thousand pieces or completely unusable. The Mariner 1 probe was destined for the planet Venus , but did not even manage to leave Earth. The rocket that carried the Mariner 1 probe had several errors in its navigation system, causing a deviation in its trajectory. The risk of it hitting inhabited areas was quite high and NASA had to make the decision to destroy the spacecraft in the air.
seaman 2
Other errors and tragedies that have marked space history have been the Columbia or Soyuz 11 shuttle . In the first, the astronauts carried out their mission without problems. During the re-entry of the shuttle, the spacecraft had to withstand high temperatures causing the spacecraft to break apart and the seven astronauts on board to lose their lives on their return to Earth. The three Soyuz 11 astronauts also failed to return home alive, although the spacecraft passed through the atmosphere and managed to land.
SpaceX failures
In the most recent history of space events, SpaceX has had several failures. Starship is one of the most ambitious projects of the private company. Despite being successful in some launches, the company led by billionaire Elon Musk has been the victim of several failed attempts.
The first attempt to launch the Starship SN1 exploded during a pressure test at the facility platform in Boca Chica, Texas. SN3 also exploded. One of its last versions, the SN11, took off , but its fourth launch and landing test ended in another failure.