Challenger (1990 film)

Challenger (film)

Company type	Television film
Industry	Film and television
Founded	1990
Founder	Glenn Jordan (director), George Englund (writer and producer)
Products	Television drama film

Challenger is a 1990 American television drama centered on the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. The film's production was met with controversy due to objections from several astronaut families regarding its depiction. A prologue notes that the project was "researched with the consultation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration" and that portions were filmed at NASA's Johnson Space Center located in Houston, Texas.

Under the direction of Glenn Jordan and written by George Englund, who also took on producing duties, the cast includes Karen Allen, Barry Bostwick, and Angela Bassett. The film premiered on ABC on February 25, 1990, running for 135 minutes. Production was handled by King Phoenix Entertainment alongside The IndieProd Company.

Plot

The storyline centers on safety evaluations and disputes concerning the O-ring components, which were ultimately identified as responsible for the Challenger's catastrophic explosion. It emphasizes the humanity of the seven crew members, while honoring the commitment of NASA staff and the broader Space Shuttle program, yet it offers criticism toward NASA’s management practices.

Commencing on the night before the launch, the narrative employs flashbacks starting from July 19, 1985, when Christa McAuliffe was selected as the first educator to travel into space. The film culminates with the shuttle's launch on January 28, 1986, featuring a poignant scene in which each astronaut recites "High Flight", a poem by John Gillespie Magee Jr.. This poem was later cited by U.S. President Ronald Reagan in a speech composed by Peggy Noonan following the tragedy, paying tribute to the crew members who lost their lives.

Cast

Karen Allen assumes the role of Christa McAuliffe, accompanied by Kristin Bond portraying McAuliffe’s daughter Caroline and Kale Browne as her husband Steven; notably, Allen and Browne were married off-screen.

Peter Boyle depicts Roger Boisjoly, an engineer from Thiokol who cautioned against launching under cold conditions due to potential O-ring failures.

The film also delves into the personal experiences of other astronauts: Barry Bostwick as Commander Dick Scobee, Brian Kerwin portraying Pilot Michael Smith, Joe Morton as Dr. Ronald McNair, Keone Young playing Lt. Col. Ellison Onizuka, Richard Jenkins as Gregory B. Jarvis, and Julie Fulton as Dr. Judith Resnik. Their family members are represented by actors including Angela Bassett, Elizabeth Kemp, Jeanne Mori, Debbie Boily, Melinda Ann Austin, Melissa Chan, Gavin Luckett, Naoka Nakagawa, and Thomas Allen Jr., illustrating their lives prior to boarding Challenger.

Emmy award

At the September 1990 ceremony for the 42nd Primetime Emmy Awards, Challenger received the award for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Miniseries or a Special.

See also

• The Challenger Disaster, a film released in 2013
• Challenger: The Final Flight, a documentary miniseries from 2020