Crew Cabin Intact, NASA Says

WASHINGTON — NASA said for the first time today that the cabin of the ill-fated shuttle Challenger was “essentially intact” throughout the explosion that killed its seven crew members and remained so until it smashed into the ocean at more than 200 m.p.h.

The space agency’s search, recovery and reconstruction team reported to the presidential commission investigating the Jan. 28 disaster that there was no evidence of any damage or flaws in the shuttle itself or its payload before Challenger’s right-side rocket booster ruptured, triggering the disaster.