NPR: challenger disaster https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=466271785 challenger disaster en Copyright 2024 NPR - For Personal Use Only Story API Shim 1.2.24 Tue, 19 Aug 2025 01:47:08 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 NPR: challenger disaster https://www.npr.org/tags/466271785/challenger-disaster Twenty years after the Columbia disaster, a NASA official reflects on lessons learned Seven astronauts died when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon reentry on Feb. 1, 2003. NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy looks back on the tragedy and how it shaped the agency. Wed, 01 Feb 2023 05:06:18 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/02/01/1153150931/columbia-space-shuttle-disaster-20th-anniversary https://www.npr.org/2023/02/01/1153150931/columbia-space-shuttle-disaster-20th-anniversary

Seven astronauts died when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon reentry on Feb. 1, 2003. NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy looks back on the tragedy and how it shaped the agency.

(Image credit: Brett Coomer)

]]> Rachel Treisman Remembering Allan McDonald: He Refused To Approve Challenger Launch, Exposed Cover-Up Allan McDonald, who directed the booster rocket project at NASA contractor Morton Thiokol, urged delaying the launch of the space shuttle before it exploded in 1986. He has died at age 83. Sun, 07 Mar 2021 15:09:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2021/03/07/974534021/remembering-allan-mcdonald-he-refused-to-approve-challenger-launch-exposed-cover https://www.npr.org/2021/03/07/974534021/remembering-allan-mcdonald-he-refused-to-approve-challenger-launch-exposed-cover

Allan McDonald, who directed the booster rocket project at NASA contractor Morton Thiokol, urged delaying the launch of the space shuttle before it exploded in 1986. He has died at age 83.

(Image credit: Howard Berkes)

]]> Howard Berkes Challenger Engineer Who Warned Of Shuttle Disaster Dies Bob Ebeling was one of five booster rocket engineers at a NASA contractor who tried to stop the 1986 launch of the space shuttle Challenger, which exploded 73 seconds into its flight. He was 89. Mon, 21 Mar 2016 21:13:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/03/21/470870426/challenger-engineer-who-warned-of-shuttle-disaster-dies https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/03/21/470870426/challenger-engineer-who-warned-of-shuttle-disaster-dies

Bob Ebeling was one of five booster rocket engineers at a NASA contractor who tried to stop the 1986 launch of the space shuttle Challenger, which exploded 73 seconds into its flight. He was 89.

(Image credit: Howard Berkes)

]]> Howard Berkes Your Letters Helped Challenger Shuttle Engineer Shed 30 Years Of Guilt After NPR reported Bob Ebeling's story on the anniversary of the Challenger explosion, hundreds of people responded. Ebeling, now 89, says those letters "helped bring my worrisome mind to ease." Thu, 25 Feb 2016 09:07:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/02/25/466555217/your-letters-helped-challenger-shuttle-engineer-shed-30-years-of-guilt https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/02/25/466555217/your-letters-helped-challenger-shuttle-engineer-shed-30-years-of-guilt

After NPR reported Bob Ebeling's story on the anniversary of the Challenger explosion, hundreds of people responded. Ebeling, now 89, says those letters "helped bring my worrisome mind to ease."

(Image credit: Howard Berkes)

]]> Howard Berkes An Enduring Lesson From The Challenger Disaster: 'The Sky Is No Limit' Though accidents may happen, there is no stopping human exploration of space: We are bound to outer shores as we were once bound to shores on this planet, says astrophysicist Marcelo Gleiser. Wed, 10 Feb 2016 10:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2016/02/10/466269077/marking-30-years-since-the-challenger-disaster https://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2016/02/10/466269077/marking-30-years-since-the-challenger-disaster Though accidents may happen, there is no stopping human exploration of space: We are bound to outer shores as we were once bound to shores on this planet, says astrophysicist Marcelo Gleiser.

]]> Marcelo Gleiser