January 29, 2026: The Challenger Disaster: Aftermaths

[Forty years ago this week, the Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart upon takeoff, instantly becoming one of the most visible and tragic American stories of the last half-century. So this week I’ll AmericanStudy that moment and a handful of contexts.] On a controversial investigation, a tragic follow-up, and a bigger question that remains. As would likely be the case with any federal disaster as…