Allan McDonald

Engineers, officials and the crew members' families provide their perspective on the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster and its aftermath.

When the space shuttle Challenger blew up in 1986, it was the most shocking event in the history of American spaceflight. The deaths of seven astronauts, including the first teacher in space Christa McAuliffe, were watched live on television by millions of viewers. But what was more shocking was that the cause of the disaster might never be uncovered. The Challenger is the story of how Richard Feynman, one of America's most famous scientists, helped to discover the cause of a tragedy that stunned America.

January 28, 1986, was a day that shook America to its core. WJXT marks the 30th anniversary of the disaster with Challenger: A Rush to Launch. The hour long documentary takes an investigative look into what brought the shuttle down through the voices of those directly affected by the tragedy then and now. This documentary produced by WJXT Films crew, aims to answer questions form 30 years ago that still remain on everyone’s mind.

Slow-motion, reverse-motion, and trick photography adds extra amusement to scenes of galloping horses, leaping dogs, and various rodeo acts.