Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of SpaceChallenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space
What it's about
On January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger broke apart seventy-three seconds after launch, killing all seven crew, including Christa McAuliffe, a New Hampshire teacher chosen to be the first ordinary citizen in space. Adam Higginbotham tells the full story: the crew's lives, NASA's pressure to keep launching, and the engineers who warned the night before that the cold could cause the shuttle's O-ring seals to fail.
Why it's worth reading
It's gripping, heartbreaking and meticulously researched, the definitive account of a disaster that could have been prevented. It won the NBCC Award.
You'll love it if you liked
The Right Stuff
Fire Weather: A True Story From a Hotter World
The Making of the Atomic BombGood to know
It's long, over 550 pages, with a lot of engineering and bureaucratic detail before the launch. You know how it ends, and the dread builds powerfully.
By the numbers
- Readers96 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics54 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller30 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz51 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #25 of the 290 memoirs and biographies we rank
- #24 of the 481 new books we rank
- #130 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story, Adventurous
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Quick answers
Is Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space worth reading?
Yes. It's gripping, heartbreaking and meticulously researched, the definitive account of a disaster that could have been prevented. It ranks #130 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 85.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space about?
On January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger broke apart seventy-three seconds after launch, killing all seven crew, including Christa McAuliffe, a New Hampshire teacher chosen to be the first ordinary citizen in space. Adam Higginbotham tells the full story: the crew's lives, NASA's pressure to keep launching, and the engineers who warned the night before that the cold could cause the shuttle's O-ring seals to fail.
How long does it take to read Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space?
About 14 hours (576 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space won?
NBCC Award (Nonfiction) winner (2024).
What should I read after Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space?
If you liked it, try The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe, Fire Weather: A True Story From a Hotter World by John Vaillant or The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes.