Adam Higginbotham has the remarkable power to write about well-known historic catastrophes and make me believe that somehow I can still change the outcome--I don't know how else to describe it. In his expansively researched and presented book "Challenger," Higginbotham somehow creates--as he did in his previous book, "Chernobyl"--an almost unbearable sense of suspense; he leads readers step by meticulous step towards a tragedy that we know is inevitable but that, as he plainly demonstrates, could have been prevented. "Challenger" is fascinating, infuriating and heartbreaking in equal measure, as Higginbotham begins with the Apollo 1 launch pad fire debacle and the safeguards NASA put into place in its aftermath to try to ensure that an accident like that never happened again--and then scrupulously builds a case explaining the complicated scientific and petty bureaucratic reasons it did. Alongside this, he introduces each of the doomed men and women aboard Challenger--their backgrounds and families, their selection into NASA's astronaut training program (or, in the cases of Christa McAuliffe and Greg Jarvis, their selection as part of the Teacher-in-Space and Hughes Aircraft shuttle passenger contests) and their excited progress through the preparations for blastoff. Having set these two storylines in motion, Higginbotham steadily builds toward their tragic collision on the morning of January 28, 1986, when Challenger, despite many clear recommendations for grounding, lifts off into oblivion. I couldn't put "Challenger" down--it's riveting and essential.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Simon & Schuster for providing me with an ARC of this book in return for my honest review. Highly recommend.

"Challenger" was an easy book to read; "Challenger" was a difficult book to read. Higginbotham takes literal rocket science and makes it accessible to the general public, and by doing so has created a damning story of ambition, of cutting corners, of miscommunication and of heartbreak.

I remember the Challenger disaster. I was three, and watching it live on the television screen. I remember the confusion, the horror, the fact that. school teacher had died. Now, forty years later, here I am working within the aerospace industry in the very buildings and conference rooms where so much of this history took place. While Higginbotham has some cIear heroes and villains in this tale, he never oversimplifies the narrative. Nor does he let people off of the hook entirely. I loved this book because it was so thoroughly researched but never clinical; it was an approachable retelling of a complicated, tragic piece of ambition and man's fallibility.

I cried. It took me two months to read, and every chapter was a horror and a delight.

I think each generation has a historical event that becomes a formative moment of that era. For me, it was the Challenger disaster. I remember hearing about it on my car radio as it happened and following it for days after on the major television networks. This was pre-internet so following the story was not like it is today. I got what the TV and newspapers fed me. On subsequent anniversaries, especially after the advent of the internet, more information came to light as well as rumors and speculation – but it was all piecemeal and muddled in with the vast tsunami of other internet news. Reading this book filled in my many gaps in my knowledge and provided me with a more complete picture of what happened.

There was a lot of science and technology in this book and much of it is important to painting a decades long picture of decisions that ultimately culminated in the Challenger explosion. I wish there had been more about the human aspect of this story. We do get to meet some key players, but I wish there had been more about the crew. I understand that there is a line that is easy to cross in terms of exploiting the victims and their families, but I would have liked just a little more.

After reading this book, I think it is nothing short of miraculous that there have not been more space disasters, more lives lost. The space program was held together by spit and glue for decades. Some of what happened – and a lot of it was decades in the making – was preventable, but a great deal of it was the unfortunate fall out of multiple individuals, interests, and companies trying to manage a vast amount of information and opinions in an era that was not well suited for the fast and efficient sharing of this information.

I think this is an important book for anyone who, like me, was impacted by the event as it happened in 1986. I think it is important for understanding the full depth of the tragedy.

4.5 stars I read this in two days. I remember my mom talking about how she watched the explosion on live TV, and how a family friend was a finalist for the teacher in space. It had never mattered much to me because it was before my time. After reading this book, I now want to consume every cold war space nonfiction on the planet. I care so much about O-rings. There's a ton of background but all of it is so interesting.

Every so often very slow and has a lot of science jargon, but a great history of the astronauts and the disaster - thanks to the author, netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

A startling and throughly researched re-telling of the Challenger disaster. The author not only exposes the faulty bureaucracy of NASA but also humanizes the astronauts who were victims of that lack of oversight. A book that I could not put down Mr. Higginbotham creates a stirring and emotional narrative that makes for an amazing read.

Thank you to Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy. I enjoyed Challenger by Adam Higginbotham once we got to the discussion of the Challeneger. I felt like it took a long time to get to that point and some of the background story information was very technical and a bit of a slog. But once we got to the actual Challenger discussion with the shuttle and the astronauts, it was very interesting. 3⭐️

Absolutely fantastic. Thanks to the publisher for early access to this book. Similarly well-researched like his previous book on the Chernobyl disaster, this author has clearly found his niche in researching man-made disasters.

"Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space" is a Adam Higginbotham's exploration of what happened in the tragedy and how it fits within NASA's history. Through the book, he shows the development of NASA's standards as well as how factors like convenience, political expediency, and PR overrode those standards. He speaks as well to the complicated relationships between industry, government, and science that could--and did--override key issues of safety.

What's good: Higginbotham's research is thorough. He lets the evidence, for the most part, speak for itself, and he does so with good taste. (For example, the discussion of the astronauts' fate is spare, evidence-driven, and carefully written to avoid ghoulishness.) Through his writing, he does help you to see the individual astronauts as, indeed, individuals--they're not just the names of victims. He has an ability to explain scientific processes in ways that are both vivid and easily understood by the non-science community. By the end of this book, without a mechanical engineering background, you will fully understand the issue of the O-Rings.

What's iffier: There are times when it feels like Higginbotham is pulling his punches a bit. He makes it clear that the leaders of both NASA and the contractor's company failed egregiously, but other than the poignancy of knowing the efforts that had been made to stop the shuttle launch--and had been dismissed--I'm not seeing a sharply worded conclusion that goes beyond the comments on the Columbia disaster (a restatement on the report on it) and how it showed NASA's ongoing issues. That may be the author's stylistic choice but I feel the evidence is there within the book for the author to step forward and be more aggressive with argumentation.

With gratitude to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

This isn't the first time I had read about the Challenger, but Higginbotham writes in an extremely readable way. I was curious as to how much could be written about this event and keep the reader engaged, but the book does it well. He begins by exploring the history of the space program, focuses on the Apollo shuttle missions. (I found the history of the X-15 interesting; I had never read about these stories before). The Columbia history in 1981 is also well-accounted.

Higginbotham gives a good explanation of the engineering of the shuttle and the research that went into its construction. For some, this may be tangential to the story, but he makes a technical topic more accessible that I thought he would have. This is just one example of how the book has an abundance of background info that leads up to the event. The "Teacher in Space" program gets respectable coverage here, and has a unique and interesting story of its own.

Space fans may not learn anything new from this book if they are familiar with this story. However, Higginbotham puts together a great story. I don't think I can say that it is as good as his book on Chernobyl. Partially, I think that it a topic wider in scope, and because the way it was handled seemed so completely absurd.

What Higginbotham's coverage of the investigation and examination of the Challenger destruction showed me, was that he has a knack for exploring the foolishness of human ingenuity. As much as we can say we are forward-thinking and problem-solving, there are times throughout history where our selfishness, our pride, tend to get the better of us. When it does, its consequences touch others' lives.

Very readable and informative. Perfect for fans of the author’s previous book or space shuttle enthusiasts.

Among the fatalities that have plagued space exploration, the Apollo 1 fire remains one of the lesser-known accidents in NASA's history. The lessons learned from that disaster were instrumental in placing astronauts on the Moon and returning them safely, without further loss of life. In contrast, the Challenger disaster remains one of the most talked-about and written-about space travel incidents. Despite this, Adam Higginbotham manages to unearth brand new insights nearly 40 years after the fact. Written with incisive quality, he brings to light the human element and makes the reader empathize with the astronauts who perished. Even though the ending is a foregone conclusion, the description of the launch is a masterclass in foreboding and tension. Preceding this are almost 20 chapters covering the flaws and missteps that led to the tragedy in damning detail. The tragic tale of the few humans who touched the face of God needed a book equal to the task. Highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I am grateful to NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. 

This book, subtitled “A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space” is by the author of “ Midnight in Chernobyl” and is a worthy follow-up. It tells the story of the NASA space program from the early days of manned space flight, leading to the Space Shuttle program and the Challenger disaster. Some major world events seem to need a decade or two of reflection before a complete and accurate accounting may be made. This seems to be the case with the Challenger disaster, a notable event in the history of American space missions. This is a story of the people involved and technology developed in these missions as well as the relationships between Government institutions, the military and private enterprise. All taking place in the media and public spotlight of the American public.

The author takes us through the early days of NASA after the Second World War including many successful space missions as Kennedy’s vision of a manned Moon landing was fulfilled. Early in the book a previous NASA disaster is covered in some detail; the deaths of three astronauts during preparation for the first Apollo flight. This sets the scene or at least some of the background context of what is to come with the Challenger disaster.

As the Apollo program prematurely ends, the author presents NASA’s direction in the 1970s. This is a fascinating story as near-earth space travel appears to become somewhat routine or at least less in the public eye compared to the glory of Apollo years. Many of the people involved from Apollo remain. However the Shuttle mission is quite different calling for new and reusable spacecraft with even more powerful booster engines. This new technology enables various missions, for scientific, commercial as well as military purposes. Many issues remain from the Apollo era. Funding, political will, contractor participation, safety issues, mission timetables and so on. Throughout the book, how these issues are addressed provides ominous signs leading towards the events the reader knows is coming.

The technology, in particular those aspects that most contributed to the Challenger disaster, are presented in some detail. This is a key aspect of the book, and as in his previous book, the author does this with some success. Engineering and scientific complexities are presented in a clear, comprehensive and understandable manner.

The author brings to life many of the names of the people involved in the Space Shuttle program. Some well known names, others lesser known. He adds richness and colour to these people who play roles on the ground in various NASA and contractor locations and of course in the Space Shuttle as crew. These people are heroic, courageous, brilliant and ambitious. But also human; flawed in ways that become clear leading up to the disaster and in the aftermath. The family members, particularly those of the astronauts, are portrayed with care and sensitivity, as well as honesty. The people surrounding and taking part in events are just as important to this story as the technology, engineering and equipment involved. In some ways perhaps, they are much more important. The accident could have been avoided if certain decisions, based on the data available, had been made before the fatal Challenger flight.

The book also covers events following the disaster as issues around culture and organisation are addressed as well as equipment improved. Sadly, the Challenger disaster was followed by another Shuttle disaster some years later, which may indicate that organisation and culture, is just as crucial as technology when lives are at stake. Manned space travel is anything but routine; space is an unforgiving environment where unseen events may have fatal results.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, often seeking further information online when a particular person, issue or event left me wanting to know more. It is a moving story, one that I expect will remain with me for some time. This is a serious book, an important book and ultimately an uplifting book of courage and bravery.

Given our times of increased exposure to space, plans for manned missions once again to the Moon and then Mars, one hopes that this book reaches a wide readership in the general public as well as those in public office, the military and related contractors. In particularI hope this book reaches those decision-makers responsible for the lives and safety of anyone placed in a potentially dangerous environment, on earth or in space. I wish the author well-deserved success with the publication of this book.

What a fascinating read!
I was provided an uncorrected arc by NetGalley and author Adam Higginbotham. I am thrilled to be able to review this book before it is published. I haven't read this author before and I am not disappointed. This story is a detailed account of the Challenger’s fatal moments, from the people that worked that day to the aftermath following the investigation. I would highly recommend reading this book.
#NetGalley #Challenger #ChallengerNeverForgotten

I was too young to know anything about the Challenger tragedy when it occurred. I learned about it in school, but it wasn't in any great detail. While I was still young, space became one of my favorite topics, and Challenger had a place in that, even if I didn't know much about it. When I saw this book, I figured it could fill in the blanks that I never learned growing up. I wasn't disappointed.

Adam Higginbotham has done a great job of compiling all the details of the Challenger explosion, from the people that worked that day to the aftermath following the investigation. He did not gloss over anything, even if it made someone look bad. This book is for anyone that wants to know the full story of what happened, and what caused it.

I received a free ARC of the book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thoroughly researched, much like "Midnight at Chernobyl". This author does an excellent deep-dive into the history of the space program and provides an empathetic look at the Challenger disaster and its aftermath. Higginbotham gives the reader insight into the lives and humanity of those lost in this accident as well as those left behind to sort through the pieces.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

The Challenger disaster is one of the first major news events that I (barely) remember, so I was definitely excited for this in-depth look at the entire tragedy.

Although I haven't read Midnight in Chernobyl, I did know that it was a detailed and somewhat technical/scientific read that required concentration, so I was prepared for this invigorating read. Higginbotham clearly portrays a management and image-conscious heavy situation that was ripe for disaster, starting with the Apollo 1 fire in 1967 and ending with the Columbia shuttle disaster in 2003.

This requires some patience, but readers will be rewarded with a sharp overview and analysis of this entirely avoidable tragedy, as well as the personalities of the astronauts who perished. The tick-tock chronicle of Challenger's last moments are unforgettable.

Many thanks to Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a must-read for space, NASA, and government readers! It's a fascinating look at the Challenger disaster investigation and the impact on families... I'd give it 5 stars except:

Way too much "flowery" language. I've never had to look up "mandarins" before this book nor used it in a sentence not involving fruit.

A little too much drama where none was needed... He (should) know that the GLS holds the countdown at 31 seconds but acted as though the launch almost occurred.

And lastly - I am VERY appalled at the detailed description of the condition the bodies were found in. It added ABSOLUTELY nothing to the story and had no value being so details.

If there's still time to edit those areas, this turns into a 5-star book.

Sometimes books make me nervous. With Adam Higginbotham's Challenger, I worried there was no way it could reach the heights of his previous book, Midnight at Chernobyl. Great news, I had nothing to worry about.

Higginbotham can now be considered an expert at taking a tragedy and deconstructing it while engaging the reader at every turn. As someone who can easily get sleepy when I read too much science, this is no small feat to keep me focused. Challenger is the story of the space shuttle disaster in 1986. If you are an American, you either saw it happen or heard about it in school. Like Chernobyl, it is a major event in history which is not fully understood. Higginbotham seeks to fix that and does so.

This book will leave you heartbroken, tired, and absolutely enraged. Seven people died not because of the vagaries of nature but due to amazing human hubris. Many narratives of tragedies spend their page count on the disaster and the gory aftermath. Challenger spends the vast majority of the time explaining not why Challenger happened but leaving the reader wondering how it didn't happen much sooner. Higginbotham is one of the few writers who can make even a boring science discussion seem propulsive. In fact, the book almost feels like a horror story at certain points as the author clearly leaves clues on what will ultimately more than just the crew of the Challenger.

I am writing this in February of 2024, but I can guarantee this will be in my top 5 books of the year. It's just science.

(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Avid Reader Press.)

Absolutely riveting. I could not put it down.
Even the technical descriptions and definitions were not difficult to follow, and in many cases, horrifying ng to understand.
The story of the Challenger, from the early days of the space program to the shuttle program is a fascinating read.
Anyone who remembers the ticker tape parades for John Glenn and other early astronauts, the walk on the moon and the horrific Challenger explosion, need to read this book.
It takes you through the years before Challenger and how the program got to where it was - who the outside contractors were for the rocket parts as well as who the administrators were, of both NASA and their contractors and how decisions were arrived at.
It is the story of a very brave man who chose to do the right thing and tell the story of what really happened the day before the Challenger went up and how the launch decision was arrived at.
Everything before and after the Challenger explosion is detailed precisely, chronologically and without shading.
Just a fascinating read.
Bravo to Adam H - I wish I could give this 10 stars.