Challenger disaster
- Wikipedia has an article on this topic: Space Shuttle Challenger disaster
On January 28, 1986, Space Shuttle Challenger
broke apart 73 seconds after launching from Kennedy Space Center, killing all seven crew members on board.[1]
The crew members who lost their lives were:
- Commander Francis Richard "Dick" Scobee[2]
- Pilot Michael John Smith[3]
- Mission Specialist Ellison Shoji Onizuka[4]
- Mission Specialist Judith Arlene Resnik[5]
- Mission Specialist Ronald Erwin McNair[6]
- Payload Specialist Gregory Bruce Jarvis[7]
- Payload Specialist and Teacher in Space Sharon Christa McAuliffe [8]
Flat earthers and other conspiracy morons have capitalized on the tragedy to spread lies, most notably the idea that the crew members were not killed in the accident.
"Challenger crew are still alive" lie
This lie maintains that no one was inside Challenger as it launched on STS-51-L, and no one was killed in the resulting accident. The claim is often accompanied by memes purporting to have found images of the dead astronauts living in plain sight in the USA, often with the same name.
One example of a flerf pushing this is Earnest Pearson.
This claim has been comprehensively debunked many times over. One example is this video from Astronomy Live hosted on Reds Rhetoric's channel. In that video each claimed image is compared to the actual images of the astronauts using face comparison tools and the results clearly show that the claims are baseless.
This is a particularly offensive claim to make since it denies the genuine loss of the Astronauts and it disrespects their sacrifice. MCToon will cancel your debate with him if you go here.
Origin
- Further information: Justin Harvey
This lie seems to have been popularised by Justin Harvey who gave a presentation at his county's commission meeting in 2024. He brought a large double-sided poster with side-by-side comparisons between the deceased astronauts and the people Harvey alleges are actually them. He presented no concrete evidence whatsoever, instead citing the fact that they have "the exact same faces" (in Harvey's biased opinion) and "the exact same name".
After trying to promote Sean Hibbeler's worthless 'documentary' Level With Me, Harvey was escorted out of the meeting.[9]
Judith Resnik
the year following the disaster—obviously a completely different person to the Challenger astronaut.
Space Shuttle Challenger - Misidentified Heroes@6:57 • Astronomy Live's analysis of the facial differences between the astronaut and law professor
Believers in the lie assert that law professor Judith Resnik is the same person as the astronaut Judith Resnik
-
Astronaut Judith Resnik in 1985 -
Professor Judith Resnik in 1987
Astronomy Live conducted an analysis using facial recognition software. He compared photos of the two women from around the same time (to prevent anyone from using the "ageing" excuse for why they look different) and the software found the faces to be different. Additionally, the facial recognition software still recognised Professor Resnik's face in recent photos despite only being trained on younger photos closer to the accident.[10]
Aside from looking completely different, records of their personal history do not line up. In 1977, astronaut Judith Resnik was receiving her doctorate in electrical engineering from the University of Maryland, while Professor Resnik joined Yale Law School as a lecturer. Professor Resnik subsequently worked at the University of Southern California for 17 years, meanwhile astronaut Ms Resnik began training as an astronaut after being selected in 1978.[11]
References
- ↑
The Challenger STS-51L Accident
. NASA. - ↑
Biographical Data
. NASA. - ↑
Biographical Data
. NASA. - ↑
Biographical Data
. NASA. - ↑
Biographical Data
. NASA. - ↑
Biographical Data
. NASA. - ↑
Biographical Data
. NASA. - ↑
Biographical Data
. NASA. - ↑
Challenger Dopplegangers No One Can Explain
- ↑
Space Shuttle Challenger - Misidentified Heroes
@6:57 - ↑ Lincoln, Nadia (16 September 2026).
No, the NASA astronauts killed in the 1986 Challenger disaster are not still alive
. fullfact.otg.