U of I Professor Shares Insights on Challenger Tragedy 40 Years Later

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Wednesday marked the somber 40th anniversary of the Challenger disaster, a tragic event that claimed the lives of seven crew members aboard the U.S. space shuttle. Moments after liftoff, a catastrophic equipment failure led to the shuttle’s disintegration in midair.

Among those reflecting on this pivotal moment is Matt Hausman, an aerospace professor at the University of Illinois, who has dedicated time to studying the causes of the accident.

“One of my earliest childhood memories is witnessing the Challenger explosion on the news,” Hausman recalled. “Even as a young child, the impact of that event was profound.”

Beyond his academic pursuits, Hausman is committed to advocating for safety and accountability. He pointed out that the mission suffered from being rushed, with the disaster ultimately traced back to a faulty seal on the rocket.

“It has been a cautionary tale throughout the industry now about what went wrong — a combination of technical and then also programmatic, the pressure that was received from upper-level management to make sure it happens,” Hausman said.

He experienced first-hand how this issue was fixed working at Space X, and he said that sometimes, you have to say ‘no,’ when lives are on the line.

“Making it easier for engineers if they notice they have a problem to go to management and even if need be, go above their direct managers to let them know, and then also have independent safety review going on,” Hausman said.

Hausman said he wants to use this information to teach a class to his graduate students, and he hopes it helps them realize how important safety protocols are.