Lessons From the Challenger Tragedy
Those who saw it never forgot: the Space Shuttle Challenger launched on January 28, 1986 only to break apart 73 seconds later, killing seven astronauts, including the first ”teacher in space” – Christa McAuliffe.
We revisit the tragic event – and the 2003 Columbia disaster – through interviews with key participants, and explores the forces that lead groups within large organizations to make dreadfully wrong decisions.
View full episodes at PBS.org/RetroReport.
Related:
Challenger, Columbia and the Nature of Calamity by Clyde Haberman
More Stories From Retro Report on PBS
A New Housing Program to Fight Poverty has an Unexpected History
Some cities are trying to help poor children succeed by having their families move to middle-income, so-called "opportunity areas" -- an idea that was once politically impossible.
Send In the Special Ops Forces
The rise of special operations units today can be traced to two historic military missions -- one a legendary success, the other a spectacular failure.
The Misunderstood McDonald's Hot Coffee Lawsuit
Stella Liebeck was vilified when she was awarded millions after spilling McDonald's coffee in her lap. Her complaint sounded frivolous. But the facts told another story.
Trump’s Immigration Rhetoric Echoes a Bitter Fight from the 90s
Today's immigration policies echo an anti-immigration movement 25 years ago in California.