Parts of Suspect Booster Found, Searchers Say

A field of underwater debris has been positively identified as containing remnants of Challenger’s right rocket booster, and searchers said Wednesday that they are confident that the key to the space shuttle explosion will be found somewhere along a murky path about 2,300 feet long and 330 feet wide.

The serial number from a 21-inch hydraulic reservoir recovered from the site provided proof that the booster suspected of causing the Jan. 28 explosion of the Challenger plunged into an area of the Atlantic 45 miles off the coast of Cape Canaveral, said Air Force Col. Edward O’Connor, director of salvage and search operations.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration released photos and video tapes of parts of the rocket booster’s aft segment and skirt, including parts of the rocket’s steering system, found in the same debris field.

Key Seam Still Missing

None of the material identified so far, however, includes the critical lower seam between rocket segments, suspected of springing a leak that allowed fiery gases to escape from the rocket and ignite the huge external fuel tank.

But, O’Connor said, “We are hot on the trail of the most important item and, looking at ballistics and physics, if that (already found) is there, the most important segment must be nearby.”

Navy searchers have already tracked about 30 identifiable pieces of the rocket booster, but sonar scans have shown there may be many more.

Recovery could take anywhere from a week--to bring up a single piece identified as crucial to the accident investigation--to six months if it is necessary to bring the entire booster to the surface, an unlikely possibility, O’Connor said.