The Challenger Disaster

***The Challenger Disaster*** (also known as ***The Challenger***) is a 2013 TV movie about Richard Feynman's investigation into the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. The film was co-produced by the BBC, the Science Channel, and the Open University, and premiered on May 12, 2013 on BBC Two in the United Kingdom, and subsequently on November 16, 2013 on the Science Channel in the United States. It is the latter network's first scripted feature.

## Plot

Dr. Richard Feynman, a physics professor at Cal-Tech, gives a guest lecture to students, lamenting on both the power and limitations of science. While driving home, he heard on the radio that the Space Shuttle *Challenger* exploded on takeoff and that the astronauts likely perished in the accident. Several days later, Richard receives a phone call from a former student of his who asks him to sit on the Presidential Commission to determine what caused the accident. Feynman, a vocal opponent of the political game's politicians and government play, initially isn't sure if he should sit on the inquiry; however, his wife Gwen encourages him that he cannot pass up a puzzle like this and must sit on the inquiry and figure out what really happened.

Feynman arrives in Washington and quickly realizes that chairman William Rogers wants to protect NASA and may not be seeking the real truth of what caused the accident. Unbeknownst to Feynman, the commission will be in recess for five days before any official work begins. During this time, he visits various NASA production facilities on his own to learn and attempt to determine the cause of the accident. He finds there is a culture lacking in truth and reality as NASA employees are afraid to openly discuss known issues with the shuttle program out of fear. As a maverick investigator, Feynman discovers many other known issues through research and a surreptitious note that the loss of a shuttle was expected. His only ally on the commissions is General Donald J. Kutyna, who attempts to leak information to him as he has a secret source within NASA who knows what really happened.

As Feynman draws closer to the truth, his health dramatically changes as he discovers he has cancer. Realizing how important the truth is, he returns to Washington to divulge the reason of the shuttle's failure. In a televised broadcast of the commission hearing, Feynman, having discovered the O rings to be what caused the explosion, demonstrates that the O ring could not expand and exploded due to cold temperatures. The commission, unable to hide from these findings, issues its reports to President Reagan, including an appendix from Feynman with his own findings, citing "for a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for nature cannot be fooled." The film closes with a montage of key members and their contributions.

## Cast

* William Hurt as Richard Feynman
* Joanne Whalley as Gweneth Feynman
* Bruce Greenwood as General Donald Kutyna
* Brian Dennehy as Chairman William Rogers
* Eve Best as Dr. Sally Ride
* Henry Goodman as Dr. Weiss
* Kevin McNally as Lawrence Mulloy
* Sean Michael as Judson Lovingood

## Reception

*The Challenger Disaster* received positive reviews from critics. It currently has a score of 92% on Rotten Tomatoes based on thirteen reviews. On Metacritic, it has a score of 80 based on 10 critics.