The Challenger Disaster (2019) - full transcript

Subtitles by explosiveskull

I am an O-ring expert.

I worked on the
Solid Rocket Boosters

for the Space Shuttle
Challenger.

So you work for NASA?

No.

I worked for the company
in Utah

that was contracted
to build rockets for NASA.

You work there now?

No.

And your responsibilities
were...



what?

I was appointed to the
Special Seals Integrity Unit.

And I would make inspections
for the recovered rockets

and the rockets
that were ready for launch.

And on the night in question
during the telecon,

I made my findings clear.

Just a moment, please.
We will get to that later.

During the presidential
commission,

my colleagues and I
expressed our concern.

We will get to that later.

I'm here to bring
a billion-dollar civil suit

against my company,

so what do you want to know
right now?

I'm here to determine
if you are a victim,



or if you are the cause
of the problem

before we take your case.

I'm not the problem.

You were responsible
for the O-rings, correct?

Yes.

Did anyone work for you
or with you?

What does that matter?

Because what you are proposing
we do with your case

won't be like the Presidential
Commission hearings.

In the Court of Public Opinion,
perception matters.

Now, was anyone working for you
or with you?

I didn't have any employees
working for me, so what?

I'm responsible?

Didn't take you long
to us get there, did it?

I'm here to protect you.

Protect us from what?

Well, I heard
about what you did,

which was a great thing.

You saw something
that concerned you

and you spoke up about it.

I'm the one
that tried to stop it.

The future of the space program
was in our hands.

And seven lives.

And seven lives.

There are gonna be a lot
of accusations,

a lot of questions,

but this is our chance, that...

I mean, our story,
as a team, is heard.

Did you know that
the Space Shuttle Challenger

was set to launch
the day before?

And had it launched,

everything would have been
perfectly fine.

If not for a jammed up
door handle

on the outer hull of the hatch.

Yes, sir.

No, sir.

Yes, sir, we're working on it.

Yes, sir.

There were a lot of factors
that contributed to this.

In 1986, the space program
was attempting to launch

24 shuttles a year.

We're really
gonna work on a spaceship

with a hacksaw?

Should we get the drill?

I don't know.

They weren't even getting close.

The most we got was ten.

I think they should send Mike
up with the drill.

You guys sending Mike up?

It was embarrassing.

And only added pressure on us
to launch.

- What'd they say?
- Mike's coming up.

I'll do it.

Got it.

Yes, sir. We got it.

Okay.

Okay.

Okay. Well, I'll let them know,
but I think...

Yes, sir, I'll let them know.

What's going on?

They're pushing launch
to tomorrow.

Put it back on.

Okay.

- Five minutes to finish.
- Okay.

Emma!

Five minutes to get ready.

Dad makes the rockets?

No, dummy, he seals them.

- Don't say "dummy."
- Stop!

Stop. Mom!

- Stop it.
- I'm trying to show her.

- Stop! Stop!
- The rocket is broken up

into pieces and he makes sure
they are sealed

- when they go back together.
- Stop that. Come here.

I was trying to show her.

Name-calling and bullying
accomplishes nothing.

But Dad says being right
is what matters.

Dad, tell her
you make the rockets.

I seal the rockets.

See?

And that's part
of making the rockets.

- See?
- Come on, let's go.

We're gonna be late.

Let's go, let's go.
Five, four, three, two...

Don't forget your lunch.

...one.

Emma, hey.

- Dad?
- Yep?

Is the shuttle launching today?

Nope. You're good.

Wait. Why not?

Those idiots
can't get anything right.

Don't say "idiots."

And just remember how
you're right is important, too.

There's only one way
to be right.

Dad?

Yeah?

Does everybody work
at the company you work for?

Mostly.

How many?

I don't know.
Thousands of those doo-dahs.

Dad?

Yes?

Is Mom right or are you right?

Now that's
the right question to be asking.

Don't you ever forget that.

In our family,
we do what's right, okay?

- What does that mean?
- What does that mean?

That means your mom
is probably right.

But we'll see.

Many of you
in the news media have asked

to have an opportunity to,
uh, to hear a little a bit more

about the events
that occurred, uh, this morning.

Okay, thank you. You know what?

Of course,
it was just not our day.

Removed in the...

the ground support
assist handle.

And that handle
could not be removed

because a threaded fastener

apparently was stripped.

And we had a little bit
of problem with the...

the frost and the ice
on the external tank.

And then the wind picks up.

Uh, we we're really getting
in the condition of no go

from the standpoint
of RTLS crosswind.

Today also, we used
a hacksaw on the, uh, vault.

Well, if the, uh,
they did use a hacksaw

to... to cut away the...
the cylinder

on this...
this particular handle.

What...
At what point would you say,

tomorrow the temperature's
have caused, uh, a scrub in...

The outside temperature,

the absolute
outside temperature,

we... we don't have...

No one seemed to care
about the space program

until that stunt
with that teacher.

Why do you call it a stunt?

It was unnecessary.

But, suddenly everyone's
interested in space again.

Everyone was glued
to their TVs, which meant...

all eyes were on us.

Adam. Adam!

When do you think
they will reschedule the launch?

Not sure.

Why did they scrub the launch
in the first place?

I don't know.

What about the...

Just getting to work
like you, okay?

I'm sure we'll find out.

Okay. But, uh, they're
expecting the temperatures

to be below freezing in Florida.

Freezing in Florida?

Okay.

The Challenger launch
was postponed three times

and scrubbed once
from the planned date

of January 22, 1986.

Correct.

They have a way of twisting
your words around

and using them against you.

Would the other launches
have resulted in O-ring failures

had they taken place?

You say one thing a little bit
different a year from now...

you're on trial for perjury.

I guess the other launches
would have been fine.

Do you do a lot of guessing
in your line of work?

Florida may be experiencing

record low temperatures,

but the heat is still on.

School children from around
the nation have gathered

to watch their favorite teacher
prepare to blast off into space.

Sadly, there will be
no launch today

as NASA has yet again
scrubbed another shuttle launch.

This time, because
of a jammed door handle.

Will NASA ever launch
space shuttle Challenger?

I didn't find out until 1 p.m.

that they planned to launch
the next morning.

What was your main concern
that day?

Temperature was a concern.

It was the concern.

And at around five o'clock,
we began to realize

we were in some serious trouble.

Listen to me,
I don't think you realize

how deadly important this is.

The shuttle is scheduled
to launch in about 16 hours,

so I need to know from you guys

what exactly is the temperature
going to be?

- In Florida?
- Yes, in Florida!

The rockets are in Florida.

I'll check, uh, let me see...

Looks like 30 degrees.

And you're sure
that's Cape Canaveral,

not Orlando, right?

Carl, get out.

- Whoa!
- It's 30 degrees right now.

- So?
- In Florida.

- Are you sure?
- Of course, I'm sure.

Why do you think
I came storming in here?

You come storming in everywhere.

Is it going to get colder
than 30 degrees?

What do you think?
Does it get colder at night?

Fair point.

- Carl.
- Mm?

What do you think?

That sounds serious.
I think we should tell someone.

Okay, we'll get the guys
together,

and we'll, um, discuss it
and then take it upstairs.

Will do.

Oh, um, where do you want
us to meet?

Bullpen.

Okay.

Uh, where in the bullpen?

- Oh, boy.
- Anywhere is fine, Carl.

On it.

This guy.

You have to take it down
a notch.

What?

That's why nobody
listens to you, you know.

The storming in.

Kicking Carl out.

You know he agrees with you.

Oh, yeah, 'cause I'm right.

Okay.

What do you want to do about it?

Well, what have I been
talking about?

- Okay. Okay.
- For months?

Dial it down.

You are right.

Correct. We believe you.

No one has ever been righter

in the history of being right!

So, what should we do?

Who do you want me to call?
You want me to call Reagan?

How do we convince them
that you are right?

Convince?
This isn't a convincing thing.

You show them the numbers,
and that's the number.

I know, but have the numbers
meant anything so far?

No.

And you've been at this
for about a year now?

And?

So, how do we discuss
and convince?

Do you want to run
into every office hysterically?

Screaming that the sky
is falling?

Again, I don't understand
what you're saying right now.

- These idiots...
- All right. Hold on. All right!

Let's just talk to the guys
and see what they say.

- That good?
- Well, it doesn't matter.

Once they see the facts,
then they'll see.

Adam, I'm getting a headache

just thinking about this stuff.

Come on, let's go.

What is it, Carl?

Oh, um, Adam has something
to talk about.

Is it actually important?

He says it's 30 degrees
in Florida.

Well, then, that is important.

I'll be there in a moment.

Uh, Carl?

Yes, Dean?

Where is "there"?

Oh, uh, the bullpen.

Uh, Carl, where in the bullpen?

Oh, I don't know. The middle?

Adam and Bill wanna see us.

Oh, come on.
I was just about to leave.

I'm hungry. Where we going?

You really need to get a handle
on this sort of stuff.

Get it? Handle?

Okay, are you gonna tell me
what's going on or what?

Oh, we need to get Frank.

Frank.

Adam's not gonna like us
getting Frank.

Adam doesn't like anything.
Come on.

We've been summoned.

Not me. I'm not here.

Adam says it's 30 degrees
in Florida.

Really?

What is it with this guy,
and what's his problem?

I don't know. Let's go find out.

I need you guys
to back me up on this in there.

Maybe we should hear him out,
you know, just in case.

He has been going on
about this for a year,

I'm sick of it.

The sooner this is over with,

the sooner
we can get some dinner.

Hey, guys, what's happening?
Happy hour?

Can somebody tell me
why I'm not at home

having dinner right now?

What is the problem?

It's too cold to launch.

Really?

It's too cold to light up
a million pounds of rocket fuel?

What's he doing here?

I thought we could use
as many people as possible.

Let me ask you this,

how does rocket fuel do
when it's spewing out the side

instead of the bottom,
Von Braun?

All we have to do
is take this memo,

show 'em the facts,

and then NASA
will reschedule the launch

till later in the day
or when it warms up.

It's all in the memo.

The memo?

Yes, the memo.

Tell them what's on the memo?

I've been working on this
for over a year.

It has all my findings.

And now you're gonna tell me
that none of you read my memo?

- I read it.
- I didn't read it.

- I skimmed it.
- Okay.

It's on the memo. It's cold.
What does it mean?

Do you have a problem?

- Guys.
- You know something?

You're like this pebble

that gets under the wheel
of a shopping cart

and makes it go...

Oh, yeah, that's right.

And you're like the guy
that can't build a shopping cart

that can go over a pebble.

What do you even do here?

I make sure guys like you
don't torpedo our company.

- Torpedo?
- Torpedo?

Can we just have the facts,
gentlemen?

All of this bickering
gets us nowhere.

What's the coldest temperature
NASA has ever launched

one of our
Solid Rocket Boosters?

STS-51-C.

One year ago minus three days,
third launch of Discovery,

the temperature
53 degrees Fahrenheit.

Wow, good job, Dean.

Oh, yeah, cookies for everybody.

Hey, Frank,
what's the coldest temperature

we've ever tested one
of our Solid Rocket Boosters?

Hey, Adam, do you get more

or less erosion
at a 73-degree launch?

Oh, so you did read it,

and you know
there was more erosion

but less blowby.

You are trying to stop
this launch,

and I am not going to allow it.

And neither is Carl.

If there was a problem,
why didn't you stop the launch?

Because it wasn't up to me.

I'm not the decision-maker.

There is a chain of command.

We are just a very small cog
in a very big machine.

Seems pretty important.

The shuttle is made up
of millions of parts.

It is the most complex piece
of machinery in human history.

The O-rings are just one piece
in a sea of pieces.

And no was listening.

We need to hear more
before we decide either way.

Okay, shopping cart genius.

Uh... Don't take my pencil.

When we ship all the pieces
of our four-story rockets,

and they put them
all back together at Kennedy,

how do you think we keep
a million pounds of rocket fuel

from spewing out
of the connection points?

With our seals.

And if our seals don't seal,
then everyone blows up and dies!

The problem is you can't prove

that the temperature
is a problem!

I know, that's the problem!

Is this what you guys want?

You want this guy making
decisions about your future?

Yeah, why are you making such
a big deal about this tonight?

No.

He's been on about this
for about a year now.

Exactly.

And none of the other
shuttle launches got stopped.

When we launched in 30 degrees?

You know, I think we should talk
to the boss.

Run it up the chain.

Guys, Adam here knows
that he cannot stop a launch

unless everybody else here
is on board.

And he also knows that
management is not going to stop

a billion-dollar launch
without any proof.

And Adam also knows
that he is just one guy.

I must say, I am unconvinced.

I think... we should run
this up the chain

however painful it might be.

Bad idea.

I may be unconvinced,

but this discussion needs
to happen.

To do nothing at this point
would be a big mistake.

Let's say we do postpone
the launch.

What's the worst
that could happen?

Management might find
a replacement company to build

the Solid Rocket Boosters,
that's what.

Oh, and also, our company,

you know,
the one we still work for,

they might just start
laying off people

because we are the ones who
delay launches at the 13th hour.

I think he has a point.

We all have jobs to think about.

And dinners.

Don't you have a kid in college?

Don't you have a mortgage?

And don't you have a wife
and two kids

who are depending on you?

Yeah, we have
all these problems,

but what's the solution here

that's not killing
another launching?

And what happens if we blow up
the shuttle tomorrow?

What happens after that?

- That is beyond ridicu...
- Come on now let's settle down.

I never thought of it like that.

- How's that for job security?
- Ridiculous.

Adam, you can get back to them.

I really admire
what you guys did.

You don't have the first clue
about what we did,

or what we do,
or what we will do.

He's on our team.

It's time you two
start acting like it.

Yeah, ever since this happened

management has been trying
to paint me

as some kind of...

malcontent employee,
bent on causing problems.

Excuse us for just a minute.

No, no,
it's completely all right.

You're right, I don't know you.
Personally. I don't know...

But I know you're a person
of conviction.

And I know that you care deeply
about the space program,

which is why we're all here
trying to get this sorted out.

What do you make of him so far?

Well, if you press him,
he falls apart.

He's defensive, rude,
and difficult to deal with.

Hmm.

I would like to hear more,
though.

Look, what we can't do
is turn on each other.

I mean, yeah, let's get it
all out in here where it's safe.

But out there,
we have to stick together.

Are you asking us to lie?

No. Nobody is advocating lying.

Going back
to our previous conversation,

are you a malcontent employee,
bent on causing problems?

No.

Maybe.

Probably, but for good reason.

What reason?

Why can't you just talk to him
like a normal person?

Be reasonable?

I don't have to,
I'm right.

He's just afraid
of losing his job. Hell, I am.

And you're never going to win
anybody like this.

This needs to stay
an engineering question,

that's what.

If we go to the boss like this,
we'll get nowhere.

Who? Kurt?

Why aren't we marching up
to his office right now?

I thought we would have
a brief, calm conversation,

come up with an agreement
together,

and then walk up there
with a proposal.

But I didn't anticipate this
or Frank.

Why do we need to take a problem

that has no solution
to our boss?

There's at least
two other engineers

that think we have a problem.

As soon as we go,
Frank is gonna follow us.

And as soon as we get up there,

he's gonna throw around
his credentials.

Problem Review Board this

and problem assessment
systems that,

and nothing's gonna happen.

Adam.

- I'm getting Jim on the phone.
- Just hold on.

Let's just see
how we're gonna grade

and keep Frank away
for a few minutes.

Get Jim on the phone,
get him on our side.

Have him call Kurt.

And make it seem
like Cape Canaveral

is asking for a flight ready
review meeting.

Jim can make everyone concerned
about the temperature.

This is a farce.

- We are engineers. We're not...
- No. We're not engineers.

We're people.

Dumb, emotional people.

Well, thanks for the psychology
lesson, Professor.

Right now, I'm more interested
in rockets exploding.

Did it ever occur to you
that your interpersonal skills

may have hindered your ability
to convince your coworkers?

Yeah, if that isn't the
understatement of a lifetime.

Is this guy the best you got?

I was right.

When you were
in engineering school,

did they make you show
your work?

What does that have to do
with anything?

Did they make you show them
your work?

When you were solving problems
and analyzing potatoes?

So what if they did?

Well, you're gonna show
your work here.

Because it's not good enough
to just say you were right.

Anyone can make a prediction.

It's gonna rain.

I wanna know how you knew.

And I want to know
how you told them.

Because maybe the problem
wasn't with their understanding.

Maybe the problem was
with how it was communicated.

And that's on you.

So how exactly
did you maneuver yourself

through the chain of command

to get the new information
to the Cape.

How do we get the Cape
on the phone

without Frank knowing about it?

Hey, I thought you said
Carl was on my side.

Why don't we just take Frank
to the recovery facility?

- Show him the soot.
- What?

Yeah, that'll work.

And then you just go ahead
and think of a way to break off

and go to your office and get
some papers or something.

I'm not playing games.

Just think of a good reason
to break off

as soon as we get going,
all right?

Bill had a way
that he wanted to do things.

And did you agree with Bill?

Okay, fellas, we are going
to the recovery facility.

Does fluorocarbon elastomer
work better or worse

in freezing temperatures?

What is fluoro... elastic?

It's the seal. And no,
rubber-like substances

do not work better
in the freezing cold.

Exactly, cold rubber
doesn't seal as well.

I want us to go.

What difference do a few degrees
make about anything?

Dean does water freeze
at 33 degrees?

No, it does not.

But it does at 32.

That's right. A single degree
can make a difference.

And it can affect
that fluorocarbon elastomer.

You guys are hopeless.

Help me understand why
you weren't taking the advice

of your problem assessment
specialist.

Who? Frank? Are you kidding me?

You should be asking me why
didn't everyone take my advice.

You're not going to convince me

to put everyone's jobs here
in jeopardy

on some theory
you can't even come up with!

Jobs? That's your criteria?

Maybe you should've done
your actual job.

Now it's time for the smart guys
to do their jobs.

You're willing
to kill people for jobs?

You self-righteous...

Frank! Frank!

I'm not the problem.

I've just about had enough
of this.

Guys.

Relax.

Okay, we have to get
to the bottom of this.

It may be uncomfortable,

but you need
to tell me the truth.

Get...

Hey!

Where is he going?

I think he's got something
in his office.

Did you forget something
in your office?

No!

If the recovery boats come in,

they want to know
what that means.

It means our rockets will
get lost in the Atlantic Ocean.

Those things are expensive.
We better not lose them.

Is that option on the table?

They wanna know
what this will mean to NASA.

Can't you just pick it up
off the bottom?

What kind of question is that?

Tell the recovery boats
to remain out at sea

and get those rockets
when they splash down.

Boats can't stay out there
in the wind.

We need you to figure
the cost for your company

if we launch
with no recovery boats.

Oh.

See if NASA
can figure this out, then.

If you want 24 launches
in a year,

you can only do that
with reusable parts.

If the parts get lost
in the Atlantic Ocean...

Wait, too windy?

It's too windy for boats
to be on the water,

but not too windy
to launch the shuttle?

We're trying to get
through this launch

before thinking
about making recoveries

to supply the next one.

If the boats come back in now,

they won't be able to make it
back out for the launch window.

The boats are already
headed back.

So, we're going to lose
a billion-dollar asset?

That's right.

Excuse me?

What's he doing? Huh? Huh?

Get the flight engineer
on the phone now.

This is Adam with the team that
built the Solid Rocket Boosters,

and I have important information

regarding a catastrophic
failure of the shuttle launch

due to the primary
and secondary O-rings.

- Get him on the phone now.
- Who is that on the phone?

Are you talking to Kurt? Huh?

Jim Whitt, go.

Jim, you have about 30 seconds
to get Kurt on the phone

and convince him
to call a meeting

between NASA and our company

to discuss the impending
catastrophic failure

of the primary
and secondary O-rings

due to the cold temperature
of our scheduled launch time.

You better hurry.

You better hold on
because it gets worse.

What do you mean it gets worse?

What could be worse
than a catastrophic failure?

Transfer me over to Kurt.

I don't know how to do that,
the girl that does the phones

is gone for the day.

Just hit transfer, receiver,
then extension 304.

Okay. Here.

Great.

This is how you want
to play this, huh?

- Frank, hold up.
- Like a junior high playground?

Can we all just take a breath
and talk about this?

No!

The time for talking is over.

It looks like I'm gonna to have
to single-handedly save

- the space program.
- Save the space program?

Do you even hear yourself?

What good is a space program
that never launches into space?

Kurt.

We are having some major issues

regarding the launch
tomorrow morning

and we need to set up a meeting
with Marshall,

Kennedy and our company.

Uh, temperature needs
to be discussed

as well as our recovery
of the SRBs.

Boats are being called back in
because of wind,

which puts us in jeopardy
of losing our assets.

That's correct.

Yes, sir, uh, we could use
some management assistance

setting up that meeting ASAP.

And, Kurt,
I want to highly stress

that this remain
an engineering decision.

All right, thank you.

Okay...

Here's what we're gonna do.

We're gonna get a meeting
with Kennedy Space Center

and Marshall Space Flight Center
on a conference call.

We're gonna convince them

to push the launch window
a little bit.

We need those boats out there
and recover our rockets.

Now, what's the argument
with the temperature?

It's inconclusive.

The temperature is outside
of our experience data,

and you that we have been
getting erosion and blowby.

It isn't the worst
at a lower temperature.

Yes, it is.

Not with erosion.

What's the difference,
gentlemen?

Erosion means that the rubber
hose seal is being eaten away.

Blowby is the exhaust that
actually gets past the seals.

And it's the blowby that gets
worse at the lower temperatures.

The lower the temperature,

the more the rocket exhaust
passes right past the seals.

The greater the blowby,

the greater the chance
of secondary seal failure.

Secondary seal failure
equals catastrophic failure.

Okay.

We are going to argue
for a launch delay.

And we are all going to be
in agreement, Frank.

Now NASA is pushing
for a launch,

even though it could cost us
our rockets.

It's the engineering.

We need to push
because of the engineering.

There is more at play here,
Adam, than the engineering.

The danged media
keeps pushing and pushing.

So much so that NASA
is staring down the barrel

of another national
embarrassment.

Especially after the handle
and all the delays.

Who cares?

Who cares?

The people
who pay the bills care.

- The taxpayers.
- Yeah, right.

The Department of Defense
pays the bills,

so their satellites
can catch a ride into orbit.

And the DOD wants
what they paid for.

If they don't get
what they paid for,

they'll just go somewhere else.

Where? Macy's?

Maybe NASA and the DOD

think it's time to invest
in a new horse,

especially if this horse can't
get them where they wanna go.

You think it's an engineering
problem, but it's not.

It's an economic problem.

Are we arguing to launch
or not launch?

Yes, economics is a factor.
I thoroughly agree.

- However, the five of us.
- Five lepers.

The five of us believe

temperature
is the best argument.

If NASA's loss is not greater
than our loss of the rockets,

then the economic argument
will not work.

However, if they are concerned
about the loss of their shuttle

in an even
more embarrassing incident,

then we should argue

in the best interest
of their success.

If we delay a few hours,

temperature goes up,
right, Adam?

Yes.

And the rocket gets launched,
right, Frank?

Yes.

And our ships have a better shot
of recovering our SRBs,

right, Kurt?

Absolutely.

Then it seems to me
we have no other choice

in the matter.

It seems we have no choice
in the matter.

Sir, let us put together
an argument.

We want to help the company,
NASA, the DOD, everyone.

You have exactly 45 minutes
to get a presentation together.

Forty-five minutes?

As soon as this sentence
is done,

I am picking up that phone,

calling them
and setting the meeting.

How are we supposed to get
this prepped in 45 minutes?

Get him outta here.

Kurt, this is a complex
technical issue,

- we need more than 45 minutes.
- Stop.

Mr. Nelson?

How are we supposed
to put together

a complex technical presentation

and send it across America,
so Utah, Alabama and Florida

can all see it all
within 45 measly minutes?

We got the win.

Oh, what was all that
about the economics?

Adam, NASA has never gone

against a contractor's
recommendation.

We get the meeting.

We tell them
we don't want to launch,

they don't negate us, we win.

Let's throw some stuff together
and get the launch delayed,

and get to work on this thing,
you know?

Get it launched eventually,
so we can have jobs.

If we do a halfway decent job,
we will be just fine.

Oh, in 45 minutes?

I'm starting to think
this was a bad idea.

Why don't you just go home
for the night?

No. We need everyone working.

I used to think you only cared
about being right.

- That's right.
- Now I think you only care about

being at odds with everyone.

What you think doesn't matter.

I think what he thinks matters!

What if we are chasing
a ghost here? Huh?

A mad man's imagination.

Why do we have to participate
in this death spiral?

Because I'm the one who's right.

- Yeah, says you.
- That's right, says me.

I'm out.

- Edwin, we need you.
- I don't need this.

Ed, you have to look past
the argument and the number

and the data and the O-rings
and see the man.

All right, sometimes
he doesn't get it.

He doesn't care about you,
he doesn't care about me.

Hell, I don't even think
he cares about the engineering.

But I do know
he cares about this,

he cares about being right.

And that's what I trust
and that's the truth.

You gotta get past
his little show.

- I trust him.
- Yeah, you trust everyone.

I just wish I had another day.

- What if he's wrong?
- What if he's right?

- What if he's wrong?
- What if he's right?

Whoa! Why is this our problem
all of a sudden?

If we're wrong and we stop the
launch for no reason, we lose.

If we're right and we stop
a launch, another launch,

we lose.

It's lose-lose.

Because we are the only people
on the planet

who know we don't know

that there might possibly be,
maybe, a problem.

And it's the right thing
to do.

It is time to move.

We split up.

Five minutes to gather.

Fifteen minutes to sort.

Fifteen minutes to chart.

And fifteen minutes to send off.

That's 50 minutes.

We'll have to move faster
than time.

We'll have to hand draw
our charts.

Agreed. They are gonna want
a lot of statistics,

so if you have any doubt,
just bring everything with you.

How do we make
a presentation to people

in three different parts
of the country

in just under 40 minutes?

It's 1986,
we are rocket scientists,

we work with NASA.

We are going to fax it.

Good evening.

I'm joined tonight
by teacher turned astronaut.

And the first civilian
to ever go into space.

I have to start by asking you,

what do you think
this is gonna mean for you

after the mission?

What are you going to do
when you return from space?

I don't know.

But I do know
that this is an adventure

I couldn't say no to.

I mean, to be able to go
into space

and help school children learn

and be more interested
in learning,

that's what I'm really
looking forward to right now.

At first, I was... I was nervous

about what it would mean
for my family,

and my husband, my kids,
my teaching career,

but now I'm just looking forward
to the adventure ahead.

You know, the great unknown,
not necessarily space, but life.

Do you think it's really sunken
yet, you're going into space?

No, absolutely not.

I still can't believe
that I was chosen for this.

You know, 50,000 people applied.

I still remember putting
my letter into the mailbox,

and thinking,
there are so many other people

doing the exact same thing
right now.

We were all alike that day.

We all thought, "It could be me.
I have a chance at this."

And then it was me and it's like
winning the lottery

to be able to go into space
and blasting off in the shuttle.

I mean, I just feel like
I'm taking everyone here

on earth up there with me.

Are you afraid at all?

No. I don't think so.

Who knows, though,
when we're actually strapped in

and those massive rockets
are blasting us off into space.

Yeah, that does sound
kinda scary.

But I have the utmost confidence
in the thousands of people

who make all of this happen.

You know, these days,
space flight is very safe.

You know, recently,

NASA has had a few delays.

How, if at all, has that
affected the crew, mentally?

I mean, it's definitely,

uh, been interesting.

You get so excited about finally
taking this mission,

and then it's delayed.

But I know that the engineers
and everybody else involved

are doing what they need to do
to make it as safe as possible.

So, I have full confidence
in what they're doing

and the decisions they make.

If it needed to be postponed
then, you know, for our safety

or for whatever reason
they have, then that's something

that I think we're all
okay with.

You know, at some
point in everyone's life,

they dream
of being an astronaut.

And you get to be one.

Are you having fun,
has this been a fun experience?

Oh, yes. So much fun.

I... I love everyone
I work with.

Commander Scobee
is a solid unflappable man.

Uh, Mike and Ellison
are the hardest working,

smartest people
you will ever meet.

And Ron and Greg will...

they make us laugh nonstop.

Judi and I
have a lot of fun together.

And, I mean, just as a team,

we really have to rely
on one other.

Sounds like an amazing team.

Oh, it is. I mean,

all the way from the very top
of NASA

down to the guys who clean
to the engineers in between

who make sure that
this is as safe as possible.

I mean, all these people
involved are what make it

such an amazing experience.

And it's...
I've had so much joy

getting to be a part
of all of this.

I know that all of my students,

and even the students
at the elementary

and the middle school

that, uh, go to my high school,
that feed into my high school

are all going to be watching.

And I'm just so excited
to be there to wave

at the cameras and see them
and, you know,

let them see that your dreams
can come true.

Uh, I mean,
who would've thought that I...

I'm a high school science
teacher who's going into space.

We have no time. Let's go
and get this table out here.

Thank you, sir, appreciate it.

Everything passed,
I need to have them.

What else do we need?
We need all sources.

Come on,
we need the erosion charts

- from STS-51-B.
- That is 51-B.

We need to 51-A and 60...

Oh, I saw that one
in one of the brown folders.

- Which one?
- Oh, uh, one of them.

I'm not sure.

I need all SRM recoveries to go.

Go?

- Go out or go in?
- In.

You need this one?

Mm-hm.

Should we separate the
soot levels from the erosion?

No, I want them to see
the correlation.

Should we make a main summary
of all the findings?

Wait, wait, wait.

We need 51-A, 51, uh, G,
and 51-F.

"I" comes after that.

"I" after "F."

Why can't these be in order
and we call them Challenger

and Discovery
and then the number?

Well, because they didn't all go
in consecutive order.

They're... they're all mixed up.

It would just be
even more confusing.

Right, more confusing.

Does anyone else find it funny

that we use labels 51-L
and 61-A, not the number 13?

- Okay.
- Doesn't make sense to me.

- Yeah, just me, okay.
- I blame it on Apollo.

Okay.

I'm missing another launch
from October.

I've got the 30th.

Eighty-four or eighty-five?

Eighty-five.

Anyone have October
not 30th 1985?

Anyone?

Somebody talk to me.

Adam?

Adam. Get your head in the game.

Adam?

You've never been more wrong
about anything.

I get this more than you know.

Okay.

I'm gonna go get a cup of...

Hey, um, give me a hand
with these drawings, okay?

You know he's our best shot.

- I know.
- We know.

Yeah, well...

he has exactly nine minutes
to get it together.

He better.

As a matter of fact,
all of us need to throw

some cold water on our faces
before we go in there.

Agreed.

When you prepared
for the telecon meeting,

had anything changed
in your plan

to approach your higher-ups?

No.

Hello?

Hey.

Hey. How's it going over there?

Oh, I got what I wanted,

just not the way that I wanted.

Is it the temperature?

Yes.

The fluorocarbon elastomer.

Yes.

You're the only ones.

There's no one else.

Mm-hm.

You have a human problem,
not an engineering problem.

What's next?

What do you have
right in front of you

that you have to do right now?

Stand... stand up and go
in the conference room.

And then what?

Make sure everyone
has the right documents.

Then what?

I'll check the temperature
correlations

to blowby and seal integrity.

Good.

You can do this.

Mary?

I know.

Yeah.

We are all here, gentlemen.

This is Jim,

The Company's flight engineer
here at Kennedy Space Center.

Good evening, gentlemen.

Anyone from Marshall on yet?

Uh, yes. Sid, Rust,
and Pat here.

All right, what seems
to be the issue here?

Our best seal expert Adam

has some concerns
about the temperature.

I can't stress enough
how important it is

that how long it takes
for these O-rings to seal

after they are compressed
is vital to a successful launch.

The bottom line is
the colder it gets,

the further we move away
from the direction of goodness.

What do you mean
we're moving away

from the direction of goodness?

The ability for the seals
to expand in their grooves

is reduced as a function
of temperature,

that's when the exhaust blows
right by the gap created,

burns a hole in the side,
and explodes.

You have a history of seal
and erosion

and blowby correlation
from previous relevant launches.

Pages nine through twenty.

Yes, there are... there... there
are two seals on each joint.

Now, we have seen the primary
seal breached in the past.

And we have all discussed

the primary seal
being compromised,

and we have all concluded

that this is an acceptable level
of failure

if we are confident
the second seal will hold.

We are unsure the secondary seal
will hold at these temperatures.

So, you don't know?

We know that we don't know.

Never has a contractor
spoken more truly.

Well, thank you, Marshall.

We try to keep a handle
on things,

though not as good as you guys.

We have enough time
to make jokes,

but we don't have enough time
to fix seals.

If the seals are a problem,
then why aren't they

in the problem assessment system
documents we have here?

And why are we just hearing
about it now, tonight?

Yeah, I'm gonna let our
problem assessment expert

handle that one.

Frank?

Uh, because it looks
to be like that

we left them off
of the document.

Because it was fixed?

No, sir.

Because they were always
on there.

I don't understand.

So you're saying
we took a problem

of the problem assessment system

because it's still a problem?

We all agreed
that these ongoing problems

were cluttering up the PASes,
no one was looking at them.

And the things that we took off

were to be handled
by a special committee.

Uh, seems like,
what's the main seal guy's name?

Adam.

Seems like Adam thinks
the problem isn't fixed.

We all agreed
the problem is acceptable.

We've never launched a shuttle
below 53 Degrees

and we're moving
into the coldest launch

in NASA's history.

So you're changing
the launch criteria

from 40 degrees to 53 degrees
the night before the launch?

We're saying
this is our data limitation.

When we run tests
and squeeze the rubber...

Look at page 38.

When we squeeze it
at 100 degrees,

and then let off the pressure
we never lose contact,

but at 50 degrees
when we let off the pressure,

it takes a few minutes

for the rubber
to spring back into place.

Your test does not
represent reality.

The O-rings are constantly
under pressure,

your conclusion is not logical.

It is logical.

It proves that the fluorocarbon
elastomer rubber

is absolutely affected
by temperature.

If we lose the seal
for a tenth of a second,

the hot fire and gases
could blowby the seal

and erode the O-ring,
which we have seen happen.

And if the secondary backup
O-ring does the same thing,

is compromised...

that's the ball game.

We've seen blowby
on STS-61-A also.

It's page four.

It says here that the launch
went off at 75 degrees

and you got blowby.

I just don't understand

how you can determine
temperature

is the deciding factor.

Yeah, I'd like to answer
that one please.

I just don't understand
how you don't understand

that the cold makes rubber
harder and less flexible.

It's warm, there's blowby.
It's cold, there's blowby.

It's warm, there's erosion.

It's cold, there's erosion.

It doesn't seem to matter
what temperature it is.

Yeah, if you'll just look at it
with a rudimentary pass-fail,

then, yes,
they both get blowby.

But if you get scientific
about it,

at the colder temperatures,

the soot from the blowby
is jet-black.

At 75 degrees, the soot from the
blowby is light gray, spotty.

I examined them myself.

Now, if you can't see
the difference,

I can't help you.

We have seen primary
seal failure in the past.

And if you see
primary seal failure,

then there is a high probability
of secondary seal failure

within the first second
of ignition

when the rocket flexes
at the joint.

And it will flex.

And when the seals
are compromised, you get blowby.

The blowby erodes the seals.

And that's when you have
rocket flames

shooting out the side
instead of the bottom.

And you have never seen
secondary backup seal failure?

Actually, we have.

STS-51-B, the secondary O-ring
suffered 12% erosion.

So why wasn't that
the ball game, Bill?

What do you mean?

Well, you said earlier,

that if we have secondary
seal failure,

it would be the ball game.

This says it's happened before.

Just because we done it once

doesn't mean
we could do it again.

We did it by the skin
of our teeth.

Is this how we're going
to keep going?

Like a child who runs out
into the road

and nothing happens.

He says, "See, I'm just fine.

Let's just keep on running out
into the road."

And the parents do nothing?

Oh.

So you're the parent?

Someone has to be.

I just can't believe that
it's a function of temperature.

The data is inconclusive.

I can't accept
this train of thought.

If you take a look
at the synopsis,

we should not launch
with an O-ring temperature

below 53 degrees Fahrenheit.

It shouldn't matter that we've
skirted disaster in the past.

The odds will catch
with us eventually.

Quantify your results.

Quantify?

What is the probability
of primary

and secondary O-ring failure?

I don't understand
your question.

Quantify!

How do you quantify
a train is coming?

You look down the tracks
and you see a train is coming.

I am telling you to do it.
Quantify your results!

No, I can't.
I can't do that with this data!

I can only work with the data
in front of me.

You're giving me oranges

and asking me to bake you
an apple pie.

I can't do that.

What I can quantify
with 100% accuracy

is that right now
we are moving away

from the direction of goodness.

I don't... I don't understand
this conversation. I...

The facts don't lie!

I don't understand
how you can see the facts

and they don't convince you.

Cold rubber doesn't lie.

Recovered rockets don't lie.

Burned up,
charred up O-rings don't lie.

I'm right about this.

I am.

You hired me to do a job,
and by God, I'm gonna do it.

And I don't care if it ruins me,
or you, or NASA

or anybody else, you get me?

So what do you think, Pat?

I am appalled
that you would dare

to make such a recommendation.

And change the flight criteria
the night before a launch?

Look here,

it is expected to be
29-39 degrees tomorrow.

Even your high temperature

is outside
of our data experience.

Haven't you been
getting ice already?

Fine.

I'm not gonna go against
a contractor's assessment.

When do you want me to launch?
Next April?

I can't go against
a contractor's recommendation

to stop the launch.

Pat?

Jim?

This has to be
an engineering decision,

not program or management.

Kurt? You wanna give us a final?

Uh, can you give us
about five minutes, please?

Yes. You bet.

Thank you.

This is so backwards.

Generating new launch criteria
the night before you launch,

that's backwards.

I suspect our guys
are gathering more data,

running numbers to come up

with a more accurate
temperature launch window.

Whatever they're doing,
they had better come back

with a way to quantify
their recommendation.

What was that?

So now we have to prove
that something doesn't work?

Instead of having to prove
that it does work?

We need to make
a management decision.

We can't do that.

Please, look at the chart
in front of you.

If Bill...
if it tell say nothing,

let them show you
our uncertainty.

We cannot guarantee a good seal!

I don't know what else to say.

Black soot. Look at 'em.

Look at 'em!

Data is inconclusive.

I wouldn't get
on that shuttle tomorrow.

You're not an astronaut.

That's right.
I'm not an astronaut.

But their lives
are in our hands.

Would you get on that shuttle?

They know the risks.

And that's not our concern.

What?

- What kind of a man are you?
- Adam!

Who... How dare you play
with human life like that?

Who do you think you are?
God? Huh?

You think you get to decide
who lives and who dies?

This is despicable
is what this is.

You're a weak,
spineless man, who can't...

won't give these poor souls
a chance, so... so what?

So we can keep our stupid jobs?

And make an extra buck or two?
Huh?

You're willing to drive right up
to the edge of the cliff,

just to see how close
you can get without falling off.

You're gonna fall off tomorrow.

I tell you what,
why don't you put on

one of those pretty
blue costumes and a helmet,

drive yourself down to that cage

with a bomb strapped under it,
huh?

Better yet, why don't you invite
your wife or your daughter?

This is not a management
decision.

NASA, we took a second look
at our data,

and we've determined
that it is inconclusive.

Our recommendation is to launch.

Are there any disagreements?

Then it's a go.

Why didn't you speak up
after that?

Why did you stay silent?

You guys were the engineers.

You should have said something.

I don't know
what to say to that.

That's exactly why you need
our help, to get through this.

These questions
are gonna come up.

You need to have an answer.

Can you fax over a flight
recommendation to get signed?

Right away.

Please sign this.

Oh, no.

We need someone
from your company to sign this.

I'm not signing that.

Can we have someone
from your end

sign a flight recommendation
and fax it over, please?

Right away.

The recovery boats
coming back in

was enough to scrap the launch.

The wind was enough
to scrap the launch.

The ice was enough
to scrap the launch.

Let alone your contractor
safety concerns.

If something happens tomorrow,

I wouldn't want to be the one
to stand up in front

of some board of inquisition
and give testimony

as to why I chose to launch
against the qualifications

and recommendations
of my engineers.

The T-minus ten seconds

to burn off any residual
hydrogen gas.

T-minus 45 seconds and counting.

The Solid Rocket Booster
flight instrumentation reporters

have gone into the record mode.

Coming up on the 32nd point
in our countdown.

The SRB hydraulic power
units have started.

T-minus 21 seconds.

And the Solid Rocket Booster
engine gimbal is now underway.

T-minus 15 seconds.

T-minus ten.

Nine, eight, seven, six...

We have main engine start.

...four, three, two, one.

And lift off.

Lift of from the 25th
space shuttle mission

and it has cleared the tower.

Challenger now
heading down range.

Engine's beginning throttling
now at 94 percent.

Normal throttle, uh,
most applied 104 percent.

It will travel down to, uh,
65 percent, shortly.

Engine's at 65 percent.

Three engines
are running normally.

Three good fuel cells.

Three good engines.

Engines throttling up.

Three engines now
at 104 percent.

Challenger, go and throttle up.

Challenger's gonna throttle up.

One minute, fifteen seconds.

Velocity, 2900 feet per second.

An altitude,
nine nautical miles.

Generates distance,
seven nautical miles.

Did you know the investigation
turned up the fact

that some of them
survived the initial explosion?

Some of the safety switch
protocols had been activated.

Did they die on impact?
Did they drown?

Did they suffocate?

I guess it doesn't matter.

Did you know any of them?

No.

Never met a single one.

This is a tragedy.

A true tragedy, one our nation
will not soon forget.

But I think we have to remember,
it's a risky business.

It is.

But you know what?

I'm really gettin' kinda sick
of hearing that.

Least we had Reagan
to comfort us, though, huh?

Today is a day
of mourning and remembering.

We know we share this pain

with all of the people
of our country.

This is truly a national loss.

To the families of the seven,

we cannot bear as you do
the full impact of this tragedy.

But we feel the loss

and we're thinking
about you so very much.

I've always had great faith in

and respect
for our space program.

And what happened today
does nothing to diminish it.

We don't hide our space program,

we don't keep secrets
and cover things up.

We do it all upfront
and in public.

That's the way freedom is

and we wouldn't change it
for a minute.

We'll continue
our quest in space.

There would be
more shuttle flights

and more shuttle crews.

And, yes, more volunteers,
more civilians,

more teachers in space.

Nothing ends here.

We will never forget them,

nor the last time we saw them,
this morning.

As they prepared
for their journey

and waved goodbye,

and "slipped
the slurry bonds of Earth"

to "touch the face of God."

Thank you.

What are you doing?

Getting rid of this thing.

Why?

Adam, can you just wait
just one second?

Adam, what do you think
this is going to solve?

I don't know.

You don't have to throw away
our TV.

Mary, I don't want
all of this getting in.

Getting in? What are talking...

The reports, the
investigations, the accusations.

Haven't you heard
what he was saying?

Against me. Against us.

You didn't do anything.

Hey.

You did something.

That amounted to nothing.

You didn't do anything wrong.

What?

You did the right thing.

I did the right thing?

This is where you end up
when you do the right thing.

Right out here in the alley,
right next to the trash

where the... where the neighbors
can look at you

and gawk, "Oh, there he is,
there's the engineer,

that's the guy
that works for the O-rings,

killed seven people," Mary.

So, yeah, this spot right here,

this is where you end up
when you do the right thing.

You didn't do anything wrong.

I could've...

I could've done so much more.

No. No. You couldn't have.

You did everything
that you could have.

- No!
- All of you did.

Well, did I, uh,
did I call the media?

Did... did I call
the astronauts?

Did I try to call
the astronaut's families?

Did I pick up the red phone
and try to call the president?

Did I jump in my car

and go flying all the way down
to Florida

and go lay down
in the middle of the launch pad

to try to stop this thing
that I knew was gonna happen?

I know. I know you knew it.

But it wouldn't have
changed anything

because they didn't listen.

They didn't listen.

They should have pushed
the launch...

They should have pushed
the launch.

They should've pushed it
a few hours, a few weeks, days,

whatever it took.

But they didn't.

And that is on them.

You were right.

I was right.

I was right.

So what?

We... This is too heavy
a burden to carry.

This is what you need to be
throwing away, not the TV.

Mary, I wasn't the right man
for the job.

But that's not how this works.

You can throw it away,

but it's not gonna
change anything.

Maybe not,

but you get to decide
where you go from here.

What happened in Utah
a few weeks after?

I don't know.
People were upset.

Uh, the whole town
has a stake in this.

Most of us who live here,
work there.

There were a few individuals
who decided to pull

a very insensitive stunt,
we don't know who they were.

Did you feel like
it was directed at you?

Yeah, I did.

Hey. Hey.

Does anybody call you names
because of what happened?

Some of them.

Yeah.

I am so sorry
that this is happening to you.

Can we just leave now
and never come back?

No.

No, something wrong
has been done,

and your dad
has to see it through, okay?

Why?

I'm not sure why.

And I'm not sure it matters.

I don't wanna go
to school today.

Oh. Come here.

You don't have to, kiddo,
you don't have to.

But you are gonna have
to go back.

And when you do,
it's gonna be hard.

I want you
to remember something,

and you remember this always...

your dad tried to stop
that launch

when no one else would.

That's the truth.

They will eventually call anyone
and everyone

who has a significant role

in the Solid Rocket Booster
fabrication to testify

before the commission of
President Reagan has assembled.

It's a witch hunt.

It's not a witch hunt.

It's just
a Fact-Finding Committee.

Well, they've found an awful lot
of facts lately, haven't they?

Like what?

Like that New York Times
article,

where an insider
leaked sensitive information.

It's not sensitive information,
it's the truth.

And if you're implying
that I'm the one who leaked,

you're out of your mind.

Do not give out
any more information

than is absolutely necessary.

Yes, no, or I don't know.

You shouldn't antagonize
these people.

Don't go out there on your own.

I'm telling you,
for your own sake.

I don't like the way
you said that.

Do you want the space program
to continue.

- Yes or no?
- That's not the question.

Yes or no?

That is the question.
That is the only question.

You engineers seem to think
that in few weeks,

it's business as usual.

Well, I have news for you.

You are not flying again
anytime soon.

You get to decide when.

How long do you wanna wait

before the next shuttle
is on the launch pad?

Three years or three decades?

You decide.

Mistakes have been made
and if they continue to be made,

you are never flying again,
ever.

That decision is made for you.

No more contracts,

no more space program,
no more progress.

This is it.

History-making time, right now.

Do you continue
to shoot your mouth off

with no regard to progress?

Because if you go
against counsel

and you perjure yourself,

or you say something
incriminating by accident,

that is on you.

Testifying before
a presidential commission

is nothing to screw around with.

And how many
have you testified before?

I don't testify.

None.

You've testified before none,
and I have,

so that makes me the expert
in this room.

Yes, no, or I don't know.

I have to get back to work.

If you go against us,
you will lose.

Both of you.

...at the secondary seal
that we were talked,

that we alluded to
with the type of erosion,

uh, that we had was...

I understand what critically
one means,

it means it is important
for safety and for flight.

Is there a high...
higher category than that?

Let me go back just one moment
to the Cook memorandum.

He said, "I would think
that any NASA budgets

submitted this year
for fiscal year 1987,

should certainly be based
on a reliable judgement."

Just getting started.

Anyone know you're here?

I don't think anyone knows
anyone is here.

Is there any internal
correspondence

on potential concern

over the operation
of the O-rings or the joints?

We can ask Jim who works
for the contractor that built

the Solid Rocket Boosters,
if they have anything.

I believe there's some test data
in progress now.

Some from before,

that, uh, speaks to
the resiliency of the O-rings.

There were some discussions

the night before the launch,
correct?

Between you and the people
at contractors company?

Yes, sir.

As a matter of routine,

we ask our technical people,
contractors,

if there are any concerns.

And the only concerns
that they pointed out

were the recovery battery,
um, temperatures.

And those are located
on the forward end...

No!

...of the Solid Rocket Boosters.

Did you discuss anything with
the contractors or engineers?

They presented to us the fact
that the lowest temperature

that we had flown an O-ring
or a case joint was 53 degrees,

and they wanted to point out

that we would be outside
our experience base.

Okay.

I'm asking because we read
in the New York Times

about memos to NASA

expressing concern
about erosion of the O-rings.

Are there any documents
expressing concern

about the temperature
that morning?

I'm not aware
of any such documents.

I will go back and...
and look, go to my files

to see if there are any.

Seriously?

Guys.

Liars!

Shh!

I can't believe this.

Someone has to say something.

Please, the media is here.

So what?

What are you doing?

Please put your hand down.

I can't let it
go down like this.

That's not working.

Shh.

- There you go.
- Shh!

Oh, stop it, you.
Go interrupt them.

...now, we don't know
if he did anything about this.

- I'm not doing this.
- Go!

We... we are all seeing this
really for the first time.

I guess we saw it
in the newspaper...

I'd like to say about the
meeting you're talking about...

earlier.

Am I correct
in assuming that, uh,

what you described that in
the normal chain of authority,

neither Mr. Cook
nor Mr. Mann....

I'd like to say something
about the meeting

you were talking about.

Hey, hey,
hold on a second, um...

I believe Jim Whitt
will have something to add.

Yes, I'd like to say
about the meeting...

Excuse me, excuse me.

Can... can you say that
a little louder

where everyone can hear you?

I'd like to say
about the meeting

you were talking about earlier.

The meeting was called by us,
the engineers.

And we tied in Marshal Space
Flight Center

in Huntsville, Alabama,

and Kennedy Space Center
in Cape Canaveral, Florida,

to let them know our concerns
about the colder temperatures,

and that our recommendation
was not to launch.

If what I'm hearing is true

this could be in litigation
for years.

We initially told them
not to launch below 53 degrees.

We were convinced the seals
were compromised

the lower the temperature got.

We were moving away
from the direction of goodness.

You never changed your minds
about launching?

No, sir.

I was in Kennedy,

and after Adam and Bill
expressed their concerns,

our company in Utah
had a private caucus

and changed their minds.

You work for that company?

Yes, sir.

So you had data and concerns,

then changed your mind
based on what?

You'd have to ask them in Utah,

I was not a part
of the private meeting

to reevaluate the data.

Were you gentlemen there
in Utah?

- Yes, sir.
- Yes, sir.

Did the reevaluation of the data
factor into proceeding to fly?

Yes, sir.

Why did you decide to fly?

- We didn't decide to fly.
- We didn't decide to fly.

Well, someone did.

The gentlemen just said
that the private meeting

resulted in changing
the recommendation to launch.

And now you're saying
you did not?

Nelson, did their company
recommend a launch?

Yes, sir.

So who changed their mind?

Bill and I are O-ring experts
and the recommendation

to launch win
against our recommendation.

We faxed over a lot of documents

and our official engineering
perspective to not launch.

NASA put pressure
on our leadership,

our boss conveyed a meeting
with everyone in Utah,

and they decided to launch.

Did you change your mind?

No, sir. Never.

How about you?

No, sir.

And you?

No. In fact, they faxed over
a document

and tried to get me to sign it,

recommending we fly
and I refused.

What were your initial findings?

When we tested
at the lower temperatures,

we... we saw that it took...

Can you quantify how poorly
this is going for you?

Not as poorly as it's gonna go
for the guy

who throws his own company
under the bus.

Maybe you ought to get
a handle on that.

Mr. Nelson?

I'd like to see
the signed document

that recommends to launch.

Yes, sir.
I have the signed document

from the contracting company
that recommends to launch.

What did we all
talked about earlier?

If you're asked a question,
you say what?

Yes, no, and what?

And what did I hear?

We're the company guys,
we're going to work tomorrow.

I just wanted you to know,

what you men did in there today
was incredibly brave.

Thank you.

I hope you know
that there are laws

to protect you
against any retaliation

for what you have said
here today.

We'll see.

Is anything gonna happen
to these guys?

We are here to learn
and to make recommendations

to the President
and then he will decide.

I think the best thing to do

is to simply keep telling
the truth.

Yes, ma'am.

I'm not hungry anymore.

He'll come around.

No, he won't.

- Adam.
- Yeah.

I just wanted to ask you,
um, we have no proof.

You don't have any money
to afford a team like this.

And I can already see
it's an unwinnable case.

So what's the real reason
you wanna do this?

No one was prosecuted.

No one lost their jobs
except for the people

who were trying to do
the right thing.

And now, seven
of society's finest are dead.

And they're gonna stay dead.

Don't you think we need
to try something?

I do.

But it's just going to wind up
being a stunt

to try the case in public,

and give them a black eye
in the news

for a couple of days.

I can live with that.

You do know beating up
the bully won't bring you peace.

Maybe it'll bring justice.

Have you ever gotten
either one that way?

I don't care
what you have to say.

I am an O-ring expert.

I worked for the company
that built

the Solid Rocket Boosters

for the Space Shuttle
Challenger.

And the decision to launch
went against our recommendation.

But I guess you knew
that already, huh?

I wanna ask you, how many of you
are planning to be engineers?

Everyone. Okay.

That's great.

Really, that is...
that is great.

You know, what... what I think

I want to talk to you
about today

is about the value
of the human life.

Because all of you
are gonna go on to build roads,

bridges, toys, cars, rockets,
homes, whatever.

Whatever it is, an engineer
thinks it and makes it.

- Hi, dad.
- Hey, kids. Hi, girls.

- Hey. We'll be back later.
- Hi.

But I just want you to remember

to see the people
on the other side

of whatever it is that you make.

And also remember
the people you made it with.

Yeah?

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