The space shuttle program

On April 12, 1981, the maiden flight of the space shuttle Columbia began, three years past the original launch date, 30 percent over the original estimated R&D costs, and 120 percent over the original estimated average cost per flight for the first three years of operation. On January 28, 1986, a seal failed on the right solid rocket booster of the shuttle Challenger, leading to an explosion seventy-three seconds into the launch and the loss of the seven crew members on board.