Originally Posted by mikesouth

which one? you know all of that is easily google-able assuming, because of the teacher reference you mean Challenger (STS51L) ....

the bigger question is was Christa McAuliffe (the teacher killed in STS51L) lulled in by a false sense of security, shuttle launches had become so routine that the launch of that mission was only carried live by CNN. Sitting on top of enough rocket fuel to blast hundreds of tons into orbit is inherently dangerous and no place for a civilian teacher who really did not understand the risks involved.

Incidentally the crew compartment was intact until it hit the water, most likely they survived the explosion but not the impact with the water.
as for fault you can argue whether it was weather or a faulty o ring or a combo or the fact that the systems being used to launch were antiquated, it doesn't change the fact that it happened and was probably inevitable