The Challenger Disaster

The Challenger Disaster

Year: 2013

Runtime: 90 mins

Language: English

Director: James Hawes

ThrillerHistoryDrama

In 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after liftoff, a devastating event witnessed by millions and resulting in the loss of seven astronauts, including teacher Christa McAuliffe. The nation was stunned, and the cause of the tragedy initially seemed unclear. This film chronicles how physicist Richard Feynman played a crucial role in investigating the disaster and uncovering the engineering flaw that led to the catastrophe, offering insight into the aftermath and the search for answers.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – The Challenger Disaster (2013)

Trace every key event in The Challenger Disaster (2013) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Feynman delivers a guest lecture on science's power and limits

Feynman gives a guest lecture at Caltech, lamenting the power and limits of science. He argues that scientific truth can be compromised by politics and public perception. The talk sets up the ethical stakes for the Challenger inquiry that follows.

Before the Challenger disaster Caltech, Pasadena, CA
2

News of the Challenger explosion arrives

While driving home, Feynman hears on the radio that the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded on takeoff and that the astronauts likely perished. The shocking news shatters complacency and frames the investigation as a fight for truth. He feels personally compelled to uncover what really happened.

Day of the disaster On the road home
3

Approached to join the Presidential Commission

A former student phones to invite him to sit on the Presidential Commission investigating the crash. At first he hesitates, wary of political games overshadowing scientific truth. His wife Gwen urges him that a puzzle worth solving awaits him.

A few days after the disaster Feynman's home
4

Decision to participate in the inquiry

Feynman decides to participate in the inquiry after his wife's encouragement, recognizing the importance of uncovering the truth. He travels to Washington to begin the formal process. The case tests his resolve against bureaucratic pressures.

Start of the commission Washington, D.C.
5

Initial friction with the commission chairman

Feynman arrives in Washington and quickly senses that Commission Chairman William Rogers intends to protect NASA. He suspects the inquiry will be constrained by political considerations rather than in-depth truth-seeking. He resolves to pursue the evidence no matter the obstacles.

At the outset of the inquiry Washington, D.C.
6

The five-day recess and NASA tours

Unbeknownst to him, the commission will be in recess for five days before any official work begins. During this downtime he tours NASA production facilities to learn and attempt to determine the cause of the accident. He discovers a culture of fear that stifles open discussion of known issues.

Five days before official hearings NASA facilities
7

Uncovering known issues and a revealing note

While investigating, he uncovers several known issues within the shuttle program and locates a surreptitious note indicating that the loss of a shuttle was expected. The note deepens his conviction that warnings were known but ignored. He begins to connect these findings with the broader atmosphere at NASA.

During the investigation period NASA facilities
8

Kutyna becomes an ally and insider source emerges

General Donald J. Kutyna becomes Feynman's ally and helps share information from a secret NASA source who supposedly knows what really happened. The alliance strengthens Feynman's push to reveal the truth despite resistance within the commission. The secrecy highlights the tension between accountability and institutional protection.

During the inquiry Washington, D.C. / NASA
9

Feynman's health declines with cancer

As his investigation intensifies, Feynman's health deteriorates and he learns he has cancer. The disease intensifies the urgency to finish the inquiry and expose the truth before it is too late. He takes the illness as a personal reminder of reality's power over public relations.

Mid-story Feynman's life; location varies
10

Return to Washington to divulge findings

Realizing the need to present the truth, Feynman returns to Washington to divulge the reason for the shuttle's failure. He prepares to testify and share the hidden evidence with the commission. The moment marks a turning point in the investigation.

Before the hearing Washington, D.C.
11

O-ring demonstration during the hearing

During the televised commission hearing, Feynman demonstrates that the O-rings failed due to cold temperatures. He uses a simple experiment to illustrate how the material could not expand properly in cold conditions. The demonstration provides a stark, visual proof that complemented the commission's findings.

Televised hearing Washington, D.C.
12

The report to President Reagan

The commission issues its report to President Reagan, with an appendix containing Feynman's findings and the memorable line about reality taking precedence over public relations. The conclusion attributes the disaster to O-ring failure in cold conditions and blames organizational pressures for masking the risk. The report marks a formal acceptance of the truth Feynman fought to reveal.

After the hearing White House, Washington, D.C.
13

Closing montage of the investigation

The film closes with a montage celebrating the contributions of the investigators and their efforts to uncover the truth. It highlights the enduring message that reality must guide technology.

End credits

Last Updated: October 27, 2025 at 16:47

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These films share a specific blend of genre and tone: they are historical dramas with the tense, detail-oriented feel of a procedural. The similarity lies in their respectful, fact-based approach to difficult subject matter, their steady pacing, and their ultimately bittersweet emotional resonance.

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The Challenger Disaster Summary

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The Challenger Disaster Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Challenger Disaster

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Challenger Disaster

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