Challenger

Why do you think the author chose to focus first on the Apollo I disaster before excavating the lead-up to and aftermath of the Challenger explosion, for which this book is named?

Each member of the Challenger crew is depicted as an individual with a history, likes, dislikes, relationships, etc. Did you feel a sense of emotional intimacy with any of the crewmembers while reading and, if so, how does your new familiarity with the crewmembers lives and relationships affect your interpretation of the Challenger explosion?

Reading about a past occurrence, you already know what is going to happen. However, Higginbotham writes in such a way that keeps the readers on their toes, hopeful that just maybe the January 28, 1986 flight of Challenger would be successful. What about Higginbotham's writing develops this sense of suspense and hope?

The Teacher in Space program is one of many initiatives the U.S. government took in the twentieth century to diversify the space program, though many astronauts were appalled to know that civilians would be sent into space without the same level of training they'd receive themselves. Are there any more recent programs or initiatives that you believe prize diversity and inclusion and have good intentions but perhaps neglect to acknowledge great risk?

While you read Challenger, did you feel compelled to consume any other media about the passengers and the disaster (articles, YouTube videos, etc.)?

Many engineers at Morton Thiokol, including Bob Ebeling and Robert Boisjoly, tried to prevent Challenger from launching in freezing weather on January 28, 1986. What was your response, as a group, when you discovered that many experts had tried, but failed, to stop the launch?

In the Epilogue, Higginbotham shares what life looked like after Challenger for the family members of the Challenger passengers, as well as the lives of various people involved in the production and launch of Challenger. Why do you think the author chose to share these details? Did this effect any final feelings you had about Challenger, NASA, even bureaucracy, as you finished the book?

If a friend saw you reading this and asked what it's about, would you say it's about the space shuttle Challenger, about the multiple mishaps faced in the effort to put Americans in space during the twentieth century, about the politics of the Space Race, or something else altogether?

Do you think the fate of Challenger would have been different if the ship's January 1984 launch had been postponed?

Were you ever surprised by how intimately and thoughtfully such a technical story (or a story with many technical details) was relayed? Were there any specific moments that solicited an unexpected emotional response from you?

From the Publisher