Short Wave Lessons and failures from the Challenger space shuttle explosion
16 snips
Jan 30, 2026 
Adam Higginbotham, journalist and author of Challenger, recounts the 1986 shuttle disaster with concise reporting and deep research. He discusses launch delays and pressure to make flights routine. He examines O-ring warnings, management reversals, and the investigation. He reflects on the shuttle’s legacy, Krista McAuliffe’s role, and how lessons shaped later accidents.
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The Launch And Sudden Loss
- Adam Higginbotham recounts how Challenger lifted off and then disintegrated 73 seconds into flight as millions watched.
- He describes the stunned crowd and mission control reading telemetry even as the shuttle exploded.
Routine Flight Became Organizational Pressure
- Higginbotham explains NASA intended the shuttle to fly frequently, even weekly, to make space routine.
- That expectation created pressure to meet schedules and normalize risky launches.
Small Leak, Catastrophic Failure
- Joints in the solid rocket boosters leaked in ways that could rapidly cut through steel casings and destroy the vehicle.
- Engineers knew the failure mode was catastrophic even for small leaks during the two-minute burn.
