Challenger Space Shuttle Fragment Found 36 Years After Disaster

Space shuttle Challenger fragment discovered 36 years after crash A part of the Challenger space shuttle, which exploded shortly after takeoff in 1986 

 and tragically killed all seven crew members, has been found, according to NASA. 

During a dive off the coast of Florida, a History Channel documentary crew looking for the remains of a World War II-era aircraft discovered the chunk

On the bottom, partially buried in sand, are what appear to be pieces of Challenger's 8-inch-square thermal protection tiles.

According to reports, the 15 square foot component may come from the spacecraft's underside. 

Over the years, about half of the Challenger spacecraft has been recovered; the most recent significant discovery was two pieces of the left wing, which washed ashore in 1996.

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