I would just like to take this time if I could to say a big FU to NASA for their part in killing the crew who were aboard the shuttle when it exploded.

You knew there was a problem with the shuttle, yet, you arrogantly gave them the go ahead to send them into space.

Arrogance at the highest level, rears its ugly head costing the lives of the innocent crew of the shuttle.

It did bring a few tears to my eyes to see the crew before the flight and then its horrible end tragedy, such a waste of valuable life for something so needless.

Disgusting it really is :(

They were arrogant, but at the same time the US body politic had to accept some responsibility.

Had NASA started pulling missions, it's debatable whether the limited amount of manned spaceflight we've had in recent years would have continued.

They were arrogant, but at the same time the US body politic had to accept some responsibility.

Had NASA started pulling missions, it's debatable whether the limited amount of manned spaceflight we've had in recent years would have continued.

Agreed with your response Joe!

There were massive mistakes made, and it seems the rush to shoot man into space has its major consequences over and over again, and I am starting to wonder whether we should be shooting ourselves into space in the futile attempt to unlock its mysteries.

Its the same as the oceans as well- I dont think we really should be messing with something we have no idea about.

I think space flight is an important part of our future - I believe that we missed a marvellous opportunity to keep it going through the 70s and 80s. I guess I'm hooked on a Star Trek future. :)

I'd like to live long enough to see astronauts walk on Mars, or maybe even get further - that would be marvellous and a great memorial for all the people who've given their lives in the pursuit of space exploration.

I'd like to live long enough to see astronauts walk on Mars, or maybe even get further - that would be marvellous and a great memorial for all the people who've given their lives in the pursuit of space exploration.

I'd like to see this as well, however NASA seem to send people up into space without the slightest concern about the astronauts welfare, its all a big publicity stunt for NASA in my eyes.

They dont seem to give two hoots about the people who may be killed if anything goes horribly and publicly wrong.

The trouble with the US space missions is that it's all run like a huge popularity poll. NASA needs funds so it pulls stunts to get lots of US citizens watching its flights on the TV. US politicians won't approve funds unless they think it's a popular thing to do, and so will look to TV ratings to see whether or not the average US citizen is interested in space flight.

Obviously there are a lot of really good, dedicated people working in NASA. The problem seems to be (as usual) with the people at the top. Donkeys leading lions, as someone else nearly a hundred years ago now.

I think that the contractor concerned (Morton Theircol?) changing their management decision at the last minute, ignoring the advice and evidence from their expert engineers, because a multi-billion dollar contract with NASA was still in negotiation was the real criminal activity. I don't know much about these things but it was clear to me that these men were thinking only of their bonuses and not the lives of the astronauts when they amended their advice upon finding that the other guy would agree with whatever they said. That said, NASA had heard all the evidence and still had to make the final decision.

I felt so sorry for Bourjoli (sp?) as he knew what was going to happen and had, for years, attempted to alert his bosses to the dangers. And yet he was the only person to lose his job over the whole affair (the NASA bosses "retired" at the end of the year, probably with a huge Golden Handshake)

Now I may be being naive, and all this happened almost a year before I was even born, but I was moved to tears by the story, and firmly believe that the bulk of the blame lies with the managers of Morton.

I would just like to take this time if I could to say a big FU to NASA for their part in killing the crew who were aboard the shuttle when it exploded.

You knew there was a problem with the shuttle, yet, you arrogantly gave them the go ahead to send them into space.

Arrogance at the highest level, rears its ugly head costing the lives of the innocent crew of the shuttle.

It did bring a few tears to my eyes to see the crew before the flight and then its horrible end tragedy, such a waste of valuable life for something so needless.

Disgusting it really is :(

Would this be the exposion that killed the crew a few years ago, or has another happened recently ?

One real problem at the root of it was, bizarrely, the apalling graphical represenatation of o ring failure/stress at different launch temperatures, in documents used to determine whether the launch was viable.

Thiokol management were pressured to give a positive answer and were able to do so on the basis of these graphics.

DJ Shadow, this is the 1986 Challenger disaster although I didn't see the program.

Did they show Richard Feynman doing his thing on the TV?

It was an excellent documentary filling in a lot of detail around the basics which have been 'out there' for a long time.

There were clips of original footage, recreations by actors and current interviews with individuals.

They recreated Feynmans "rubber in ice" show which made NASA chiefs look as stupid as they were.

The final blame lies at NASA's door. They were told of all the risks but bullied the contractor into covering their backs.
The professional with the greatest knowledge and experience said "don't go" and they ignored him.

It would also appear that the Commander of that Challenger mission was aware of the problem with the seals and thought that the mission was going to be postponed until warmer weather.
I cannot guess what was in his mind during take off.

I also wonder why this documentary has taken so long to be made?
Were they waiting for someone to die?