But the capsule the crew was sitting inside did not explode. It was ejected in the explosion, and remained intact. The brave crew members — Smith, Dick Scobee, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Judith Resnik, Gregory Jarvis and Christa McAuliffe — survived the initial disaster and “were conscious, at least at first, and fully aware that something was wrong,” author Kevin Cook writes in the new book “The Burning Blue: The Untold Story of Christa McAuliffe and NASA’s Challenger” (Henry Holt and Co.), out now.

The cabin likely remained pressurized, as the later investigation showed no signs of a sudden depressurization that could have rendered the occupants unconscious. The astronauts were equipped with emergency air packs, but due to design considerations, the tanks were located behind their seats and had to be switched on by the crew members sitting behind them.

Examination of the wreckage later showed that three of the astronauts’ emergency air supplies had been switched on, indicating the crew had survived the initial seconds of the disaster.

It’s likely that the ship’s pilots tried to take control of the ship.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5176582&forum_id=2Elisa#45040449)

It was probably a lot like that except they didn't have to live with the consequences

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5176582&forum_id=2Elisa#45040455)

A similar peak experience has been thrust out of the blue on hundreds of unsuspecting men, women and children on normal passenger flights. Some of the trajectories of plane crashes are akin to supersonic nose dive coaster.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5176582&forum_id=2Elisa#45041095)