By https://x.com/rumpdumpler/status/2051338760109883888

Context https://www.nbcnews.com/science/weird-science/nasa-confirms-talks-fly-big-bird-doomed-shuttle-challenger-n353521

NASA has confirmed reports that space officials discussed putting Big Bird on the space shuttle Challenger, before it was lost along with its entire crew in an explosion in 1986. But the space agency said the plan never got to the point of giving Caroll Spinney, the human who portrays the 8-foot-2 bird on the “Sesame Street” TV show, a spot on the passenger list.

  • abc [he/him, comrade/them]@hexbear.netEnglish
    12·
    21 days ago

    Yeah I have played KSP but spaceflight is more of a ‘read about it’ hobby for me beyond the like 60 hours I sunk into Elite Dangerous haha. I did a real deep dive on Challenger & Columbia awhile back after seeing the memorial & fuselage at Kennedy Space Center.

    FWIW I personally believe the theory that the crew cabin lost pressure after the orbiter broke apart and they all quickly lost consciousness before striking the ocean - based on the facts that:

    1. Activating the PEAPs was likely in response to the cabin depressurizing. 3/4 of the ones found were activated.
    2. They found shrapnel embedded in one of the windows (debatable though due to the high velocity of the impact with the ocean)
    3. The fact that the PEAPs, even when activated, would not have provided enough oxygen to keep them conscious if the cabin had depressurized.