Seconds from Disaster Space Shuttle Challenger (Season 3, Episode 13)
TV Episode | 46 min | Documentary

Primary photo for Space Shuttle Challenger

Seconds from Disaster

Space Shuttle Challenger (Season 3, Episode 13)

TV Episode | 46 min | Documentary

On January 28, 1986, Challenger exploded 73 seconds after lift-off. The official report named failing O-rings in the booster rockets as the cause of the disaster, but bad communication and decision procedures also played a role.

Director

Iain Riddick

Producers

Iain Riddick | Charlotte Surtees

Composers

Steven Faux | The Insects

Editor

Christine Pancott

See all filmmakers & crew (37)

Edit Released

Updated Jan 31, 2007

Release date

Jan 31, 2007 (United Kingdom)

Awards

Series awards

3 wins & 1 nomination

Contacts

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Cast	+ Add Cast
19 cast members

Name	Known for
Roger Boisjoly Self - Engineer, Morton Thiokel Self - Engineer, Morton Thiokel See fewer	Seconds from Disaster (2004)
James R. Chiles Self - author Self - author See fewer	Secrets of the Universe (2022)
Grace Corrigan Self - Mother of Christa Mcauliffe Self - Mother of Christa Mcauliffe See fewer	CNN Prime News (1980)
Richard O. Covey Self - Astronaut (archive footage) Self - Astronaut (archive footage) See fewer	Home Improvement (1991)
Peter Guinness Narrator (voice) Narrator (voice) See fewer	Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)
Gregory Jarvis Self - Astronaut (archive footage) Self - Astronaut (archive footage) See fewer
Daniel Jefferson Supervisor Supervisor See fewer	Where Seagulls Cry a Song (2009)
Paul Kelleher Roger Boisjoly Roger Boisjoly See fewer	Capture the Flag (2015)
Christa McAuliffe Self - Astronaut (archive footage) Self - Astronaut (archive footage) See fewer	The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962)
Ron McNair Self - Astronaut (archive footage) Self - Astronaut (archive footage) See fewer
Barbara Morgan Self - Astronaut (archive footage) Self - Astronaut (archive footage) See fewer	Challenger: The Final Flight (2020)
Ellison Onizuka Self - Astronaut (archive footage) Self - Astronaut (archive footage) See fewer
Ronald Reagan Self - President of the United States (archive footage) Self - President of the United States (archive footage) See fewer	Kings Row (1942)
Judith A. Resnik Self - Astronaut (archive footage) Self - Astronaut (archive footage) See fewer
June Scobee Rodgers Self - Widow of Francis 'Rick' Scobee Self - Widow of Francis 'Rick' Scobee See fewer	Seconds from Disaster (2004)
Francis 'Dick' Scobee Self - Astronaut (archive footage) (as Francis Scobee) Self - Astronaut (archive footage) (as Francis Scobee) See fewer
Ashton Smith Narrator (voice) Narrator (voice) See fewer	Major League II (1994)
Michael J. Smith Self - Astronaut (archive footage) Self - Astronaut (archive footage) See fewer
Chris Wilson Joe McDonald Joe McDonald See fewer	Mutant Chronicles (2008)