NASA completed 2 SRB engine tests a year (1981-2011) that could result in thermal curtain failure. If the failure rate of the thermal curtain is NASA rated at 0.001% (or 0.00001 probability) per test and there are 2 tests of the Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) each year, we can calculate the expected frequency of a thermal curtain failure. ### Annual Probability of Failure First, calculate the probability of no failure in a single test: \[ P_{\text{no failure per test}} = 1 - 0.00001 = 0.99999 \] Since there are 2 tests per year, the probability of no failure in both tests within a year is: \[ P_{\text{no failure per year}} = (0.99999)^2 \] The probability of at least one failure in a year is: \[ P_{\text{at least one failure per year}} = 1 - (0.99999)^2 \] Let's calculate this: \[ P_{\text{no failure per year}} = 0.99999^2 \approx 0.99998 \] \[ P_{\text{at least one failure per year}} = 1 - 0.99998 = 0.00002 \] ### Expected Frequency of Failure The expected time between failures, given the annual probability, is: \[ \text{Expected time between failures} = \frac{1}{P_{\text{at least one failure per year}}} \] \[ \text{Expected time between failures} = \frac{1}{0.00002} = 50,000 \text{ years} \] ### Conclusion Given a failure rate of 0.001% per test and 2 tests per year, a thermal curtain failure leading to both boosters igniting would be expected approximately once every 50,000 years. Not 4.9 million years. The NASA computer in the movie needs an update.

Didn't do very well in theaters, 'cause it came out right after Challenger. But, it later made a ton on home video!

A blast from the past. I was still at school when I first saw this on VHS. An enjoyable walk down memory lane and simpler times. Thank you.

Please everyone. Remember that the release of the movie was slowed down by the Challenger Accident (51L) that occurred a short time before the release. The actual Astronauts of the mission were all killed short after the Challenger was destroyed during and following an explosion of the External Fuel Tank. It is widely believed that several of the Astronauts survived all the way down to where the debris impacted the Ocean.

she still has to land hello

"Remember the trainer? You can do it." Yeah, we remember the trainer. She didn't do it.

If only they could have made the film without the silly ("we'll sell a million of these toys") robot. "And the is our AI robot that forms friendships and acts on its own" that we aren't going to make a big deal about".

I wonder after all these years if anyone else beside me knows the actor who played Rudy in this movie Larry B. Scott was also in the Revenge of the Nerds films and in Karate Kid (1984).

really late but relevant. I went to HS in White Sands NM. Officially known as White Wand Missile Range, bottom center of NM. The 1982 Columbia landed there after weather issues at Edwards. An official "snow day" was called as we could see it land AND hear the multiple sonic booms from it re-entering the earths atmosphere and shake any China on a shelf. Once NASA came to town, the cost of every motel room was TRIPLE knowing it would be covered; then it only dropped to a higher rate given the notoriety of some fame.

6:25 Kevin thought he was the top candidate for the program until he sees "Wally Funk" (the stunning Lea Thompson) climb from the cockpit and he is instantaneously put in his place.

The camera movement inside the shuttle when they're doing the 180 roll is ridiculous. They're rolling to the side, but the camera movement inside acts like they're flipping end over end.

Man... i visited space camp. I spoke to the guy in charge. You can actually schedule a group event and do all that... the place was really impressive!

I have been searching for "American Girl" from this movie forever and have yet to find a free-floating version of it anywhere

Such a great soundtrack

0:30 White Plains NY

3:30 mark Boat shoes. No socks Light blue jeans and White sweater no under shirt Damn classic

I feel sorry for kids today The 80’s we’re amazing We all were happy back then And we all believed in America and ourselves Now hate is everywhere We will get it back After the fourth turning

Old enough to remember watching the launches and landings of the shuttles.

Love how their hair defy zero gravity!

Some of the smartest technical minds in that room and not a single one of them noticed the large, red, odd blinking light for days?

Hey - great boosters!

Everyone at NASA forgot about White Sands. Good thing Marty McFly’s mom didn’t.

They could've easily aborted and go to one of the TAL sites instead of going straight to orbit... but that would've made the movie rather short... unless there were Russian waiting for them, and the whole thing was an elaborate Russian ploy to capture the shuttle so they can make their own, which would end up being the Buran (and launched in real life in 1988).

Wow little river phoenix!

1:12 Lorraine: oh no not again Biff: you cost me $300 damage to my car you some of the bich, im going to take it out of your as. Lorraine: let him go Biff your drunk Biff: Well look what we have here a shuttle pilot.

After all these years I still love this movie!

Lorraine Baines-Mcfly fly the space shuttle, now Biff Tannen is jelouese George Mcfly would be proude and Marty: Mom you are great you flew the space shuttle.

Its Lorraine Baines-McFly, Biff: well look what we have here.

Just realized Max legs are not long enough to anchor himself in the zero gee toilet. No wonder it stressed him out.

12:00 the first lesson that I want to teach you is to not to touch anything.

The movies I've seen with Lea Thompson: SpaceCamp Dennis the Menace Caroline in the City Back to the Future Back to the Future 2 Back to the Future 3 Howard the Duck Some Kind of Wonderful Jaws 3 Casual Sex All the Right Moves Red Dawn

The movies I've seen with Tom Skerritt: Alien SpaceCamp Top Gun Whiteout Tears of the Sun Dead Zone River Runs Through It Contact M.A.S.H. Poltergeist 3 Aftershock:Earthquake in New York Category 7:The End of the World

Actually they could have landed in White Plains. Sturart Airport was an alternate landing site.

Why don’t they have a trans kid in the movie ?

i recently watched a documentary on the sodium lamp film making technique and the shot of the orange tinted shuttle made me realize that they used it for this film because sodium lamps are bright orange and would cause that effect i made a audible gasp and went "they used sodium lamps"

After all these years since I first saw this movie one thing has always bugged me and that has to do with the suits that Andy and Max are wearing what's up with the tubes that are on their arms what are they for.

Come on stupid

And after the landing many people were fired or brought up on charges...parents sued NASA and the government.....congressional hearings went on for months...and the kids went back to school.......

The hilarious part is that SpaceCamp is in Huntsville AL. The launch pad at KSC is 300 miles away in FL. Gotta love movie geography.

Wow! Joaquin Phoenis is so young😮

A time in America where anything was possible

Mrs steven speilberg😮

Kathryn get in the seat max friends forever

Well keep in mind that the shuttle was the most complicated flying machine up until now. The crew only had one attempt to land as the whole thing was landed without any engine power, like a glider . So this is of course total ballyhoo without any sense of reality.

Remember, we're all counting on you !! 5mns after landing , Remember we're all counting on you!!

I know this isn’t PC, but Kate Capshaw, Lea Thompson, and Kelly Preston all in one movie!!! Thank you Space Camp!

Remember when Hollywood had creativity? Pepperidge Farms Remembers.......

And that is the reason they dont let kids test the shuttle engines anymore………

Not sure what is my Fav Bit when DATA ~ LESS got damaged , or when JINX ! that funny little Robot found the Mesage ;

This movie, and Last Starfighter created and cemented my love for space and Sci-Fi.