Report Extracts of the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident

(In compliance with Executive Order 12546 of February 3, 1986)

Table of Contents

                 
                 Preface...........................................1  

  Chapter I    - Introduction......................................2
  Chapter II   - Events Leading Up to the Challenger Mission......10
  Chapter III  - The Accident.....................................19
  Chapter IV   - The Cause of the Accident........................40
  Chapter V    - The Contributing Cause of the Accident...........82
  Chapter VI   - An accident Rooted in History...................120
  Chapter VII  - The Silent Safety Program.......................152
  Chapter VIII - Pressures on the System.........................164
  Chapter IX   - Other Safety Considerations.....................178

                 Recommendations.................................198          
                 The Commission..................................202
                 The Staff.......................................204

  Appendix A   - Commission Activities...........................206
  Appendix F   - Personal Observations on Reliability of Shuttle