6. The Challenger disaster prompted tighter safety regulations for subsequent missions
NASA immediately suspended all shuttle missions in the aftermath of the Challenger tragedy. President Ronald Reagan immediately launched the Rogers Commission to determine the cause of the explosion that took 7 lives. The report heavily criticized NASA and Morton-Thiokol, the company responsible for the rubber rings that failed. In response, NASA fundamentally changed its modus operandi, and improved safety for astronauts. It no longer accepted private contracts for launching satellites, and agreed to launch far fewer missions. This ensured technicians and shuttles were not overtaxed, thus protecting the astronauts. Astronaut safety has been far better ever since the Rogers Commission.
