Challenger: The Final Flight

Challenger: The Final Flight (also known as Challenger) is a 2020 American docuseries developed by Glen Zipper and Steven Leckart for Netflix.[1][2] The series revolves around the day the Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated and events that preceded launch and aftermath of the tragedy.

Challenger: The Final Flight
GenreDocuseries
Developed by
Directed by
ComposerJeff Beal
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes4 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Maren Domzalski
  • Bridget Topp
  • Steven Leckart
  • Daniel Junge
CinematographyGraham Willoughby
Editors
  • Poppy Das
  • Adrienne Gits
Running time180 minutes
Production companies
  • Bad Robot
  • Zipper Bros Films
  • Sutter Road Picture Company
Release
Original networkNetflix
Picture formatHDTV 1080p
Audio formatStereo
Original releaseSeptember 16, 2020 (2020-09-16)

The series includes Christa McAuliffe's preparation for the flight, problems with the solid rocket boosters, a teleconference between NASA and Morton Thiokol the night prior to launch, accounts from the astronauts' families who witnessed the explosion from the ground, and the investigation into the catastrophe, while archive footage is used to delve into the Space Shuttle program.

The series was released on September 16, 2020, on Netflix.[3]

Synopsis

On January 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its ascent, killing all seven crew members, including New Hampshire high school teacher, Christa McAuliffe, who was to be the first civilian in space. The tragedy sent shockwaves across the United States and resulted in the Space Shuttle program being grounded for 32 months.

Interviews

Challenger features interviews with families of the STS-51-L crew, former NASA officials and astronauts, employees of Morton Thiokol (manufacturer of the solid rocket boosters), members of the Rogers Commission investigation board, and journalists involved in exposing a cover-up:

Episodes
No.TitleOriginal release date
1"Space for Everyone"September 16, 2020 (2020-09-16)
President Nixon authorises development of the Space Shuttle, a reusable spacecraft that will transform the space frontier. NASA introduces the 35 persons chosen after a positive campaign encourages women and minorities to become astronauts. Thousands witness the historic launch of Columbia in the first American spaceflight for six years. NASA management tries to convey the shuttle is a safe vehicle that flies like a commercial aircraft, despite the tremendous risks involved. Regardless of many close calls over the years, the success of the Apollo program breeds a streak of arrogance within the organisation.
2"HELP!"September 16, 2020 (2020-09-16)
Christa McAuliffe is named the winner of the Teacher in Space competition following a nationwide search conducted by NASA under the direction of President Reagan. Engineers at Morton Thiokol start seeing erosion inside the solid rocket boosters and part of an O-ring burned off. It is a significant concern and when the problem persists, the engineers feel it is not being effectively dealt with. Judgement being it not risky enough, Lawrence Mulloy issues a waiver they will fly as is. Under the pressure of a demanding schedule, and in order to preserve its budget, nobody is willing to ground the fleet.
3"A Major Malfunction"September 16, 2020 (2020-09-16)
After consecutive scrubbed launches for STS-51-L, NASA has a program assessment review with representatives from all subcontractors to discuss what going down to 22 °F the night before will mean. The people most knowledgeable of the O-ring problem make a presentation during a teleconference with NASA, recommending not launching and NASA should not do so below 53 degrees. Mulloy is angry with what he considers an irrational decision, making an intimidating comment which eventually forces Thiokol into changing their minds. Cold overnight temperatures and engineers at Kennedy Space Center switching on the spigots on the launch tower sees icicles form on the service structure. After a two-hour delay, during which the shuttle stack is inspected and experts in the mission evaluation room run calculations and conclude ice will not hit the orbiter, Challenger is finally cleared for launch.
4"Nothing Ends Here"September 16, 2020 (2020-09-16)
In the wake of the Challenger disaster, Reagan speaks to the nation about the tragedy from the Oval Office. With NASA officials making false statements during the investigation, budget analyst Richard Cook leaks confidential information regarding the solid rocket boosters. Nobel Prize-winning theoretical physicist Richard Feynman plays a key role in the inquest, doing a demonstration which proves O-rings lack resilience when at a temperature of 32 degrees. After a four-month investigation, the Rogers Commission returns its verdict of a "fatally-flawed" decision process, stating a faulty rubber seal on a solid rocket booster, along with an attitude of NASA that is equally to blame. NASA goes to fly again after a 32-month hiatus and America's return to space is confirmed when mission control instructs the shuttle commander to "go at throttle up" and the redesigned solid rocket boosters successfully separate from the external tank a few moments later.

Release

The official trailer was released on September 2, 2020.[4]

Reception

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 84% based on 19 reviews, with an average rating of 8.2/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Challenger: The Final Flight doesn't uncover any new information, but intimate interviews elevate its well-crafted, heartbreaking retelling of an avoidable national tragedy."[5] Metacritic, which used a weighted average, assigned the series a score of 76 out of 100 based on 11 reviews, indicating "generally favourable reviews".[6]

See also

References
  1. Netflix's Challenger: The Final Flight scrutinizes one of NASA's - and America's - worst moments. The A.V. Club. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  2. 'Challenger: The Final Flight' details the reasons the disaster happened and the people we lost. Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  3. Netflix in September: Tom Holland film, 'Jurassic' show, 'Ratched'. USA Today. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  4. Challenger: The Final Flight | Official Trailer | Netflix. YouTube. Retrieved on December 4, 2022.
  5. Challenger: The Final Flight. Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  6. Challenger: The Final Flight. Metacritic. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
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