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Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space
Challenger A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space
Author: Adam Higginbotham
On January 28, 1986, just seventy-three seconds into flight, the space shuttle Challenger broke apart over the Atlantic Ocean, killing all seven people on board. Millions of Americans witnessed the tragic deaths of the crew, which included New Hampshire schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe. Like the assassination of JFK, the ...  more »disaster is a defining moment in twentieth-century history—one that forever changed the way America thought of itself and its optimistic view of the future. Yet the full story of what happened, and why, has never been told.

Based on extensive archival research and metic­ulous, original reporting, Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space follows a handful of central protagonists—including each of the seven members of the doomed crew—through the years leading up to the accident, and offers a detailed account of the tragedy itself and the inves­tigation afterward. It’s a compelling tale of ambition and ingenuity undermined by political cynicism and cost-cutting in the interests of burnishing national prestige; of hubris and heroism; and of an investigation driven by leakers and whistleblowers determined to bring the truth to light. Throughout, there are the ominous warning signs of a tragedy to come, recognized but then ignored, and later hidden from the public.

Higginbotham reveals the history of the shuttle program and the lives of men and women whose stories have been overshadowed by the disaster, as well as the designers, engineers, and test pilots who struggled against the odds to get the first shuttle into space. A masterful blend of riveting human drama and fascinating and absorbing science, Challenger identifies a turning point in history—and brings to life an even more complex and astonishing story than we remember.
ISBN-13: 9781982176617
ISBN-10: 198217661X
Publication Date: 5/14/2024
Pages: 576
Rating:
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 1

4 stars, based on 1 rating
Publisher: Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster
Book Type: Hardcover
Members Wishing: 25
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tbowman avatar reviewed Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space on + 62 more book reviews
This was a long book. I admit that I skipped some of the first third of the book and started reading it in earnest a few chapters prior to the Challenger disaster. I remember coming home from college on a cold January 28, 1986, and going in to talk to my mother about it. I really dropped the ball after the disaster, not playing attention to the Rogers Commission or the results afterwards. I enjoyed learning more about this historical event and the changes to the NASA program afterwards.


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