The Nation - News from Dec. 21, 1986

A near-failure in the 10th shuttle mission sparked an order in March, 1984, for a full review of the O-ring rocket seals that led to the Challenger disaster, but the two officials who ordered the study resigned before it was completed, the New York Times reported. The order was issued nearly two years before the Jan. 28 explosion that killed seven, the newspaper said, citing transcripts of interviews with the officials by National Aeronautics and Space Administration investigators. Lt. Gen. James A. Abrahamson left NASA to head “Star Wars” missile defense research. Hans Mark is now University of Texas chancellor.