Top 10 Saddest Space Flight Disasters

[Music]

[Music] houston we have a problem welcome to

houston we have a problem welcome to

houston we have a problem welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting

watchmojo.com and today we’re counting

watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 saddest

down our picks for the top 10 saddest

down our picks for the top 10 saddest space accidents before we begin we

space accidents before we begin we

space accidents before we begin we publish new videos every day

publish new videos every day

publish new videos every day so be sure to subscribe for more great

so be sure to subscribe for more great

so be sure to subscribe for more great content for this list we’ll be taking a

content for this list we’ll be taking a

content for this list we’ll be taking a look at the history of space exploration

look at the history of space exploration

look at the history of space exploration and the disasters that occurred across

and the disasters that occurred across

and the disasters that occurred across different countries both in the private

different countries both in the private

different countries both in the private sector and government-run programs

sector and government-run programs

sector and government-run programs whether it occurred during liftoff

whether it occurred during liftoff

whether it occurred during liftoff re-entry or training and testing as long

re-entry or training and testing as long

re-entry or training and testing as long as it was an accident related to

as it was an accident related to

as it was an accident related to aeronautics and attempts at spaceflight

aeronautics and attempts at spaceflight

aeronautics and attempts at spaceflight it was considered for this list while

it was considered for this list while

it was considered for this list while this is a tragic setback we are moving

this is a tragic setback we are moving

this is a tragic setback we are moving forward and will do so deliberately and

forward and will do so deliberately and

forward and will do so deliberately and with determination number 10 the death

with determination number 10 the death

with determination number 10 the death of Valentin Bondarenko

of Valentin Bondarenko

of Valentin Bondarenko as part of the very first group of men

as part of the very first group of men

as part of the very first group of men selected for cosmonaut training in 1960

selected for cosmonaut training in 1960

selected for cosmonaut training in 1960 Valentin Bondarenko could have been

Valentin Bondarenko could have been

Valentin Bondarenko could have been Russia’s first men in space

Russia’s first men in space

Russia’s first men in space however 10 days into a 15 day experiment

however 10 days into a 15 day experiment

however 10 days into a 15 day experiment in a low-pressure altitude chamber a

in a low-pressure altitude chamber a

in a low-pressure altitude chamber a fire broke out after an alcohol soaked

fire broke out after an alcohol soaked

fire broke out after an alcohol soaked cotton ball he’d used to clean himself

cotton ball he’d used to clean himself

cotton ball he’d used to clean himself landed on a hot plate the flames quickly

landed on a hot plate the flames quickly

landed on a hot plate the flames quickly spread through the oxygen-rich

spread through the oxygen-rich

spread through the oxygen-rich environment leaving third-degree burns

environment leaving third-degree burns

environment leaving third-degree burns over most of his body he died 16 hours

over most of his body he died 16 hours

over most of his body he died 16 hours later at just 24 years old the Soviet

later at just 24 years old the Soviet

later at just 24 years old the Soviet government kept his death and

government kept his death and

government kept his death and involvement in the cosmonaut program

involvement in the cosmonaut program

involvement in the cosmonaut program secret for decades but today a crater on

secret for decades but today a crater on

secret for decades but today a crater on the far side of the Moon is named in

the far side of the Moon is named in

the far side of the Moon is named in Bondarenko honor number 9 the VSS

Bondarenko honor number 9 the VSS

Bondarenko honor number 9 the VSS enterprise crash the project was dealt a

enterprise crash the project was dealt a

enterprise crash the project was dealt a serious setback when its spaceship 2

serious setback when its spaceship 2

serious setback when its spaceship 2 exploded during a test flight over

exploded during a test flight over

exploded during a test flight over California’s Mojave Desert as part of

California’s Mojave Desert as part of

California’s Mojave Desert as part of the Virgin Group Virgin Galactic is

the Virgin Group Virgin Galactic is

the Virgin Group Virgin Galactic is developing a space plane known as

developing a space plane known as

developing a space plane known as spaceship 2 with hopes of ultimately

spaceship 2 with hopes of ultimately

spaceship 2 with hopes of ultimately providing commercial suborbital space

providing commercial suborbital space

providing commercial suborbital space flights to Taurus on Halloween 2014 the

flights to Taurus on Halloween 2014 the

flights to Taurus on Halloween 2014 the company was testing one such ship the

company was testing one such ship the

company was testing one such ship the VSS enterprise in the Mojave Desert in

VSS enterprise in the Mojave Desert in

VSS enterprise in the Mojave Desert in California

California

California shortly after detaching from the launch

shortly after detaching from the launch

shortly after detaching from the launch vehicle the craft began to break apart

vehicle the craft began to break apart

vehicle the craft began to break apart due to an unidentified in-flight anomaly

due to an unidentified in-flight anomaly

due to an unidentified in-flight anomaly pilot Peter Sebold was ejected from the

pilot Peter Sebold was ejected from the

pilot Peter Sebold was ejected from the craft parachuted to safety and sustained

craft parachuted to safety and sustained

craft parachuted to safety and sustained non-life-threatening injuries however

non-life-threatening injuries however

non-life-threatening injuries however copilot Michael Al’s burry was not

copilot Michael Al’s burry was not

copilot Michael Al’s burry was not able to get three of the crafts and died

able to get three of the crafts and died

able to get three of the crafts and died in the crash is almost unbelievable that

in the crash is almost unbelievable that

in the crash is almost unbelievable that anybody could survive a rocket plane

anybody could survive a rocket plane

anybody could survive a rocket plane crash at the speed of sound number eight

crash at the speed of sound number eight

crash at the speed of sound number eight Michael J Adams after leaving MIT US Air

Michael J Adams after leaving MIT US Air

Michael J Adams after leaving MIT US Air Force pilot Michael Adams received the

Force pilot Michael Adams received the

Force pilot Michael Adams received the ad hunt trophy as the top scholar and

ad hunt trophy as the top scholar and

ad hunt trophy as the top scholar and pilot in his class at the Air Force

pilot in his class at the Air Force

pilot in his class at the Air Force experimental test pilot school no doubt

experimental test pilot school no doubt

experimental test pilot school no doubt he was on the fast track to being an

he was on the fast track to being an

he was on the fast track to being an astronaut in 1966 he joined the x-15

astronaut in 1966 he joined the x-15

astronaut in 1966 he joined the x-15 program which was developing a

program which was developing a

program which was developing a hypersonic rocket-powered and

hypersonic rocket-powered and

hypersonic rocket-powered and experimental aircraft Adams had

experimental aircraft Adams had

experimental aircraft Adams had completed six flights successfully in

completed six flights successfully in

completed six flights successfully in the x-15 prior to November 15th 1967

the x-15 prior to November 15th 1967

the x-15 prior to November 15th 1967 during his seventh and final flight

during his seventh and final flight

during his seventh and final flight however the aircraft began to spin

however the aircraft began to spin

however the aircraft began to spin violently at Mach 5 and entered a dive

violently at Mach 5 and entered a dive

violently at Mach 5 and entered a dive the g-forces exerted on the craft were

the g-forces exerted on the craft were

the g-forces exerted on the craft were too much and it broke apart killing the

too much and it broke apart killing the

too much and it broke apart killing the 37 year old Adams the US Air Force

37 year old Adams the US Air Force

37 year old Adams the US Air Force posthumously awarded him his astronaut

posthumously awarded him his astronaut

posthumously awarded him his astronaut wings number seven until fad 708 the

wings number seven until fad 708 the

wings number seven until fad 708 the Intelsat 708 was an American

Intelsat 708 was an American

Intelsat 708 was an American telecommunication satellite meant to be

telecommunication satellite meant to be

telecommunication satellite meant to be launched into orbit via China’s long

launched into orbit via China’s long

launched into orbit via China’s long march 3b rocket on February 15 1996 the

march 3b rocket on February 15 1996 the

march 3b rocket on February 15 1996 the boosters ignited and the rocket began

boosters ignited and the rocket began

boosters ignited and the rocket began its ascent however due to an engineering

its ascent however due to an engineering

its ascent however due to an engineering defect it veered off course within

defect it veered off course within

defect it veered off course within seconds and exploded over a village

seconds and exploded over a village

seconds and exploded over a village lighting up the sky the Chinese

lighting up the sky the Chinese

lighting up the sky the Chinese government initially reported that only

government initially reported that only

government initially reported that only six people were killed but this was

six people were killed but this was

six people were killed but this was highly disputed due to eyewitness

highly disputed due to eyewitness

highly disputed due to eyewitness accounts and the size of the blast no

accounts and the size of the blast no

accounts and the size of the blast no official number has ever been released

official number has ever been released

official number has ever been released but it is most likely in the hundreds

but it is most likely in the hundreds

but it is most likely in the hundreds number six

number six

number six Apollo one one of these days there are

Apollo one one of these days there are

Apollo one one of these days there are going to be some mistakes made either in

going to be some mistakes made either in

going to be some mistakes made either in the systems design or are we on the

the systems design or are we on the

the systems design or are we on the ground which results in an accident and

ground which results in an accident and

ground which results in an accident and assailant won the Apollo program that

assailant won the Apollo program that

assailant won the Apollo program that ultimately brought the first men to the

ultimately brought the first men to the

ultimately brought the first men to the moon had a tragic beginning the first

moon had a tragic beginning the first

moon had a tragic beginning the first mission Apollo 1 was due to launch in

mission Apollo 1 was due to launch in

mission Apollo 1 was due to launch in February 1967 bringing Gus Grissom

February 1967 bringing Gus Grissom

February 1967 bringing Gus Grissom Edward Higgins white and Roger B Chaffee

Edward Higgins white and Roger B Chaffee

Edward Higgins white and Roger B Chaffee to a low Earth orbit during a routine

to a low Earth orbit during a routine

to a low Earth orbit during a routine launch rehearsal in January a fire broke

launch rehearsal in January a fire broke

launch rehearsal in January a fire broke out in the cabin

out in the cabin

out in the cabin it took workers five minutes to open all

it took workers five minutes to open all

it took workers five minutes to open all the hatches to get to the astronauts but

the hatches to get to the astronauts but

the hatches to get to the astronauts but it was too late all three men perished

it was too late all three men perished

it was too late all three men perished all died in moments helplessly trapped

all died in moments helplessly trapped

all died in moments helplessly trapped inside their spacecraft the pure oxygen

inside their spacecraft the pure oxygen

inside their spacecraft the pure oxygen atmosphere combined with electric arcs

atmosphere combined with electric arcs

atmosphere combined with electric arcs from faulty wires ultimately ignited the

from faulty wires ultimately ignited the

from faulty wires ultimately ignited the blaze

blaze

blaze all three were posthumously awarded the

all three were posthumously awarded the

all three were posthumously awarded the Congressional space medal of honor the

Congressional space medal of honor the

Congressional space medal of honor the Apollo 1 fire changed us forever

Apollo 1 fire changed us forever

Apollo 1 fire changed us forever and we’ve never forgotten it number five

and we’ve never forgotten it number five

and we’ve never forgotten it number five the Vostok 2m rocket explosion the

the Vostok 2m rocket explosion the

the Vostok 2m rocket explosion the Vostok rocket was the Soviets answer to

Vostok rocket was the Soviets answer to

Vostok rocket was the Soviets answer to America’s Atlas and Titan rockets to

America’s Atlas and Titan rockets to

America’s Atlas and Titan rockets to send men and satellites into space on

send men and satellites into space on

send men and satellites into space on March 18th 1980 a Vostok 2 M was being

March 18th 1980 a Vostok 2 M was being

March 18th 1980 a Vostok 2 M was being fueled on its launch pad at the place

fueled on its launch pad at the place

fueled on its launch pad at the place yet cosmodrome when it exploded over 40

yet cosmodrome when it exploded over 40

yet cosmodrome when it exploded over 40 people mostly young soldiers were burned

people mostly young soldiers were burned

people mostly young soldiers were burned to death with about a half a dozen dying

to death with about a half a dozen dying

to death with about a half a dozen dying later due to injuries sustained in the

later due to injuries sustained in the

later due to injuries sustained in the blast the launch pad was damaged so

blast the launch pad was damaged so

blast the launch pad was damaged so severely that it was not used again for

severely that it was not used again for

severely that it was not used again for four years due to the secrecy of the

four years due to the secrecy of the

four years due to the secrecy of the USSR government the outside world would

USSR government the outside world would

USSR government the outside world would not learn about one of the worst

not learn about one of the worst

not learn about one of the worst disasters in the Space Age for nearly a

disasters in the Space Age for nearly a

disasters in the Space Age for nearly a decade

decade

decade number 4 Soyuz 11 the Soviet Union Soyuz

number 4 Soyuz 11 the Soviet Union Soyuz

number 4 Soyuz 11 the Soviet Union Soyuz 11 mission was the only manned mission

11 mission was the only manned mission

11 mission was the only manned mission to dock with and board the first ever

to dock with and board the first ever

to dock with and board the first ever space station Salyut 1 after 22 days on

space station Salyut 1 after 22 days on

space station Salyut 1 after 22 days on board cosmonauts gay orgy d’urberville

board cosmonauts gay orgy d’urberville

board cosmonauts gay orgy d’urberville ski vladislav volkov and viktor pasilla

ski vladislav volkov and viktor pasilla

ski vladislav volkov and viktor pasilla began their journey home their capsule

began their journey home their capsule

began their journey home their capsule made a textbook re-entry into the

made a textbook re-entry into the

made a textbook re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere parachuting safely to

Earth’s atmosphere parachuting safely to

Earth’s atmosphere parachuting safely to the ground

the ground

the ground however when the recovery team opened

however when the recovery team opened

however when the recovery team opened the hatch all three men were dead an

the hatch all three men were dead an

the hatch all three men were dead an investigation revealed that a pressure

investigation revealed that a pressure

investigation revealed that a pressure release valve malfunctioned causing a

release valve malfunctioned causing a

release valve malfunctioned causing a loss of cabin pressure since cosmonauts

loss of cabin pressure since cosmonauts

loss of cabin pressure since cosmonauts did not use pressure suits during this

did not use pressure suits during this

did not use pressure suits during this era the men is sick ceated within

era the men is sick ceated within

era the men is sick ceated within seconds

seconds

seconds the three were posthumously awarded the

the three were posthumously awarded the

the three were posthumously awarded the hero of the Soviet Union medal and each

hero of the Soviet Union medal and each

hero of the Soviet Union medal and each has a crater on the moon named in his

has a crater on the moon named in his

has a crater on the moon named in his honor

honor

honor after the loss of the Soyuz 11

after the loss of the Soyuz 11

after the loss of the Soyuz 11 cosmonauts the Soviet space agency made

cosmonauts the Soviet space agency made

cosmonauts the Soviet space agency made it mandatory for all crew members to

it mandatory for all crew members to

it mandatory for all crew members to wear spacesuits during reentry

wear spacesuits during reentry

wear spacesuits during reentry number three then a daelin catastrophe

number three then a daelin catastrophe

number three then a daelin catastrophe the Vostok rocket explosion was not the

the Vostok rocket explosion was not the

the Vostok rocket explosion was not the first launch pad disaster the Soviet

first launch pad disaster the Soviet

first launch pad disaster the Soviet Union experienced almost 20 years prior

Union experienced almost 20 years prior

Union experienced almost 20 years prior in 1960 the nydalen disaster claimed the

in 1960 the nydalen disaster claimed the

in 1960 the nydalen disaster claimed the lives of about a hundred Russian workers

lives of about a hundred Russian workers

lives of about a hundred Russian workers and soldiers during the development of

and soldiers during the development of

and soldiers during the development of the ICBM r16 rocket a prototype was

the ICBM r16 rocket a prototype was

the ICBM r16 rocket a prototype was being prepped for a test flight at the

being prepped for a test flight at the

being prepped for a test flight at the Baikonur cosmodrome when the second

Baikonur cosmodrome when the second

Baikonur cosmodrome when the second stage engines inadvertently ignited

stage engines inadvertently ignited

stage engines inadvertently ignited killing countless military and technical

killing countless military and technical

killing countless military and technical personnel no standing close to the

personnel no standing close to the

personnel no standing close to the rocket including field marshal nedelin

rocket including field marshal nedelin

rocket including field marshal nedelin were instantly incinerated as was the

were instantly incinerated as was the

were instantly incinerated as was the norm in Soviet Russia the government

norm in Soviet Russia the government

norm in Soviet Russia the government kept the disaster under wraps for

kept the disaster under wraps for

kept the disaster under wraps for decades the incident is named for me to

decades the incident is named for me to

decades the incident is named for me to define Ivanovich nydalen commanding

define Ivanovich nydalen commanding

define Ivanovich nydalen commanding officer of the Soviet Union strategic

officer of the Soviet Union strategic

officer of the Soviet Union strategic rocket forces who was killed in the

rocket forces who was killed in the

rocket forces who was killed in the explosion over 150 people died including

explosion over 150 people died including

explosion over 150 people died including many top Soviet scientists and engineers

many top Soviet scientists and engineers

many top Soviet scientists and engineers but for decades afterwards the story of

but for decades afterwards the story of

but for decades afterwards the story of the disaster remained hidden from the

the disaster remained hidden from the

the disaster remained hidden from the public number two the space shuttle

public number two the space shuttle

public number two the space shuttle Columbia disaster we have booster

Columbia disaster we have booster

Columbia disaster we have booster ignition and liftoff of space shuttle

ignition and liftoff of space shuttle

ignition and liftoff of space shuttle Columbia with a multitude of national

Columbia with a multitude of national

Columbia with a multitude of national and international space research

and international space research

and international space research the space shuttle Columbia had just

the space shuttle Columbia had just

the space shuttle Columbia had just finished a 16-day scientific mission

finished a 16-day scientific mission

finished a 16-day scientific mission orbiting the Earth when it began to

orbiting the Earth when it began to

orbiting the Earth when it began to re-enter the atmosphere what NASA and

re-enter the atmosphere what NASA and

re-enter the atmosphere what NASA and the Columbia did not know was the during

the Columbia did not know was the during

the Columbia did not know was the during takeoff a piece of insulating foam had

takeoff a piece of insulating foam had

takeoff a piece of insulating foam had become dislodged and punctured a hole in

become dislodged and punctured a hole in

become dislodged and punctured a hole in one of the wings

one of the wings

one of the wings this allowed gases to pierce through the

this allowed gases to pierce through the

this allowed gases to pierce through the wing during re-entry which slowly tore

wing during re-entry which slowly tore

wing during re-entry which slowly tore it apart and led to complete control

it apart and led to complete control

it apart and led to complete control failure the Columbia broke apart before

failure the Columbia broke apart before

failure the Columbia broke apart before NASA’s eyes killing all seven crew

NASA’s eyes killing all seven crew

NASA’s eyes killing all seven crew members NASA suspended flight operations

members NASA suspended flight operations

members NASA suspended flight operations for two years and the crew was

for two years and the crew was

for two years and the crew was posthumously awarded the Congressional

posthumously awarded the Congressional

posthumously awarded the Congressional space medal of honor before we unveil

space medal of honor before we unveil

space medal of honor before we unveil our number one pick here are a few

our number one pick here are a few

our number one pick here are a few honorable or in this case dishonorable

honorable or in this case dishonorable

honorable or in this case dishonorable mentioned

mentioned

mentioned [Music]

number one the space shuttle Challenger

number one the space shuttle Challenger disaster with CNN broadcasting the

disaster with CNN broadcasting the

disaster with CNN broadcasting the launch all eyes were on the space

launch all eyes were on the space

launch all eyes were on the space shuttle Challenger in January 1986 the

shuttle Challenger in January 1986 the

shuttle Challenger in January 1986 the crew consisted of five astronauts and

crew consisted of five astronauts and

crew consisted of five astronauts and two payload specialists one of whom was

two payload specialists one of whom was

two payload specialists one of whom was Christa McAuliffe a teacher from Concord

Christa McAuliffe a teacher from Concord

Christa McAuliffe a teacher from Concord New Hampshire who would have become the

New Hampshire who would have become the

New Hampshire who would have become the first-ever teacher in space after a

first-ever teacher in space after a

first-ever teacher in space after a handful of delays the launch was set for

handful of delays the launch was set for

handful of delays the launch was set for the morning of January 28 73 seconds

the morning of January 28 73 seconds

the morning of January 28 73 seconds after launch with millions of Americans

after launch with millions of Americans

after launch with millions of Americans watching the Challenger broke apart

watching the Challenger broke apart

watching the Challenger broke apart during his ascent and was gone

during his ascent and was gone

during his ascent and was gone in an instant it was determined that an

in an instant it was determined that an

in an instant it was determined that an o-ring seal and the right booster failed

o-ring seal and the right booster failed

o-ring seal and the right booster failed during liftoff due to cold conditions

during liftoff due to cold conditions

during liftoff due to cold conditions the shuttle program was grounded for 32

the shuttle program was grounded for 32

the shuttle program was grounded for 32 months while America mourned their first

months while America mourned their first

months while America mourned their first astronauts lost since the 1960s do you

astronauts lost since the 1960s do you

astronauts lost since the 1960s do you agree with our picks check out these

agree with our picks check out these

agree with our picks check out these other great clips from WatchMojo and

other great clips from WatchMojo and

other great clips from WatchMojo and subscribe for new videos every day