Judy Resnik was an American astronaut who died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986. She received degrees in electrical engineering and worked as an engineer before being selected to join NASA as an astronaut. Resnik flew on the Space Shuttle Discovery and was scheduled to be aboard Challenger for its fatal 25th mission, which broke apart 73 seconds after launch due to an O-ring failure, killing all seven crew members including Resnik. She was remembered for her contributions to the space program through various memorials and scholarships established in her honor.
2. The future doesn't belong to the fainthearted; it belongs to the brave. -Ronald Reagan
3. Judy Resnik was born on April 5, 1949 in Akron, Ohio. She attended Fairlawn Elementary School, Perkins Middle School, and Firestone High School. She graduated from Firestone High School in 1966. Education
7. NASA Dr. Resnik was chosen to be an astronaut and qualified to be a mission specialist. Her first mission was the maiden voyage of the space shuttle Discovery .
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10. Dr. Resnik was a well respected eye doctor in Akron. (pictured on the far left)
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13. A Diverse Crew RON MCNAIR CHRISTA MCCAULIFFE MICHAEL SMITH JUDY RESNIK GREGORY JARVIS ELLISON S. ONIZUKA RICHARD SCOBEE
15. Christa McCauliffe This flight was special because it included a high school science teacher named Christa McCauliffe. She had been chosen from thousands to become the first civilian in space. More media attention was paid to this flight than had been in many years. Space shuttle flights had become commonplace.
16. January 28, 1986 was the coldest day NASA ever attempted to launch a space shuttle.
18. Traditional Breakfast It is tradition that the astronauts have a breakfast together before the launch.
19. The flight had been delayed five times due to weather so despite the conditions they proceeded with the launch. This was the 25 th Space Shuttle mission and the 10 th flight for Challenger.
41. O-Ring It was determined by the NASA investigation that the Challenger disaster was caused by a frozen O-Ring. The O-Ring is a rubber ring that uses moisture to keep its seal. When the ring became frozen on that fateful day it became brittle and broken. The seal failure caused a breach in the SRB joint it filled, allowing a flare to reach the outside and impinge upon the adjacent attachment hardware and external fuel tank.
43. Many memorials were held after the accident. The memorial service for Judith A. Resnik was held at Firestone High School on February 3, 1986.
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46. Judy Resnik Award Judith A. Resnik Award was established by the IEEE Board of Directors in 1986 to recognize outstanding contributions to space engineering, within the fields of interest of the IEEE. This award is presented to an individual or team, with preference given to an individual
50. A historic marker has been placed at Firestone High School to recognize Judy Resnik’s contributions to the space program.
51. Every year during the week of the anniversary of the accident flowers are delivered by an anonymous person. People have speculated throughout the years who sends the flowers but nobody knows for certain.
52. Judy Resnik was known to wear a ILY necklace that displayed “I Love You” in sign language. It was one of the few personal items recovered from the wreckage.
54. APOLLO 1 On January 27, 1967 Apollo 1 astronauts Virgil (Gus) Grissom, Roger Chaffee, and Edward White were killed in a flash fire during a simulated launch.
55. The astronauts were already strapped into the capsule and sealed in with bolts when the fire broke out. There was no way to escape. The capsule is seen at the left.
60. The space shuttle Columbia burned up on re-entry into the earth’s atmosphere. It was later determined that a missing tile on the belly of the shuttle allowed excessive heat to get into the vessel.
61. The shuttle is moved from one side of the country to the other by a piggy back ride on a specially designed plane.