1986 Disasters: Challenger vs. Chernobyl

This chapter examines the intertwining fates of the Challenger shuttle explosion and the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, revealing how seemingly isolated events led to catastrophic failures. It emphasizes the systemic issues within NASA's operations and how political and economic contexts influenced the consequences of each disaster. Through historical context and engineering discussions, the chapter challenges the perception of these incidents as unique, connecting them to broader patterns of risk and safety in technological endeavors.