They said it was an o ring failure, how did they figure it out when everything was blown to bits
In: 54
The report and a few (good) documentary films are available, but the short-version is that it is visible in the launch film once you know to look for it.
TW: images of the craft exploding
The infographic over at [space.com](https://space.com) covers the basics pretty well. direct link to infographic: [https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LqUztPnzVZLExP66bZLdQL-970-80.jpg.webp](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LqUztPnzVZLExP66bZLdQL-970-80.jpg.webp)
Longer article with more info/images that the infographic comes from: [https://www.space.com/31732-space-shuttle-challenger-disaster-explained-infographic.html](https://www.space.com/31732-space-shuttle-challenger-disaster-explained-infographic.html)
edit: even if anyone had noticed the little fire in real time AND been able to yell to abort, it likely would not have helped. The three motors on the actual craft (by the tail) can turn on and off just like a car or an airplane, but the tall white booster motors are like a big Roman Candle — once lit, they go until they burn out on their own, their is no turning them off once they light. And the craft had no option to abort until the boosters separated, at which time the shuttle had the option to either return to the Cape, abort to an international runway (varied depending on the intended orbital inclination), abort once-around (basically nearly going to orbit but doing like an ICBM instead and landing back in the states after a partial highly-decayed orbit), or abort to orbit (which would require repair or rescue to return to earth). There was no abort before the booster separation, though.
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