The Challenger Disaster

In a Caltech guest lecture, Feynman reflects on the power and limits of science. He argues that scientific achievement must be grounded in truth, not public relations or politics. The talk sets a tonal frame for his later pursuit of honest answers about the shuttle disaster.

While driving home, he hears on the radio that the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded on takeoff, and that the astronauts likely perished. The shocking news heightens the sense of responsibility to uncover what really happened. The accident becomes a catalyst for his involvement in the inquiry.

Weeks after the disaster, a former student phones him and asks him to join the Presidential Commission investigating the accident. Feynman is skeptical of political games, but the challenge of a real puzzle appeals to his instinct for truth. He begins to consider participating despite his reservations.

His wife Gwen encourages him not to pass up the opportunity to seek the truth. She reminds him that this is a real puzzle that must be solved. Her support helps him decide to accept the commission assignment.

Feynman arrives in Washington and immediately senses that Chairman William Rogers wants to shield NASA rather than uncover the real cause. He realizes the inquiry may be more about appearances than engineering truth. This early dynamic sets up the conflict between candid analysis and political protection.

During the five-day recess before official work begins, Feynman visits NASA production facilities on his own. He encounters a culture where workers fear speaking openly about known issues. His independent reconnaissance begins to reveal troubling patterns the official process glosses over.

Through private investigation, he uncovers multiple known issues and learns that the loss of a shuttle had been anticipated. A surreptitious note hints that the disaster was considered likely. The combination of fear and foreknowledge drives his determination to bring truth to light.

General Donald J. Kutyna becomes Feynman's ally inside the commission, attempting to leak information and relying on a secret NASA source. Their collaboration intensifies as the investigation progresses. This alliance represents the push toward exposing the hidden realities behind the accident.

Feynman's health deteriorates as he discovers he has cancer. The diagnosis adds urgency to his pursuit of truth, underscoring the personal costs of the inquiry. He continues to push forward despite his illness.

Back in Washington, he prepares to divulge the core reason for the shuttle’s failure. He confronts the commission with evidence hinting at engineering flaws and broken seals under stress. His findings threaten NASA's narrative and demand a candid accounting.

In a televised commission hearing, Feynman demonstrates that cold temperatures can prevent O-rings from sealing properly. He uses simple, visible experiments to illustrate the engineering flaw behind the disaster. The demonstration provides a stark, undeniable counterpoint to official assurances.

The commission issues its report to President Reagan, including an appendix with Feynman's findings and his famous line about reality taking precedence over public relations. The document consolidates the truth the inquiry uncovered. The phrase becomes a defining reminder of the film's message about accountability.

The film closes with a montage highlighting the key figures and their contributions to uncovering the truth. It emphasizes the enduring importance of truth, integrity, and accountability in science and public service. The montage reinforces the film's central theme that reality must guide technology.