Challenger: The Final Flight Season 1 Episode 3

Ep 3. A Major Malfunction

  • September 16, 2020
  • 8.1  (371)

In season 1 episode 3 of "Challenger: The Final Flight" titled "A Major Malfunction," the focus shifts to the lead-up to the fateful launch of the Challenger. The episode examines the communication breakdowns that led to the disaster and the warnings that were ignored.

The episode begins by discussing the night before the launch, when the crew of the Challenger had dinner with their families. The episode uses footage from interviews with the crew's family members to show how excited they were for the launch and the pride they had in their loved ones. This serves as a contrast to the tragedy that was to follow.

The episode then introduces the issue with the O-ring seals, which were a critical component of the boosters. The seals were known to be faulty and their failures had led to previous close calls. However, despite several warnings and recommendations regarding these seals, they were not given the attention they deserved by the higher-ups at NASA.

The episode goes on to explain how the communication breakdowns between departments at NASA ultimately led to the disaster. The engineers who were responsible for the faulty seals were aware of the risks and wanted to delay the launch until a fix could be implemented. However, they failed to properly communicate their concerns to the decision-makers who were ultimately responsible for green-lighting the launch.

The episode also explores the cultural dynamics at NASA that contributed to the disaster. There was a culture of "go fever" that was prevalent at NASA, which placed undue pressure on employees to meet deadlines and push forward with projects. This culture of constant forward momentum overshadowed the engineers' concerns and ultimately led to the Challenger launch moving forward despite the risks.

Throughout the episode, there are interviews with various NASA employees and officials, as well as scientists who worked on the Challenger project. Their insight sheds light on the warning signs that were ignored in the lead-up to the launch and the communication breakdowns that contributed to the disaster.

The episode ends with the Challenger launch itself. Despite the risks and the warnings that were ignored, the launch itself is still an impressive and awe-inspiring feat of human ingenuity. The episode ends on a somber note as we are reminded of the tragedy that was to come.

Overall, "A Major Malfunction" is a thought-provoking and informative episode that sheds light on the communication breakdowns and cultural dynamics that led to the Challenger disaster. Through insightful interviews and archival footage, the episode tells a compelling story that emphasizes the importance of proper communication and passive safety measures in complex engineering projects.

Description
Watch Challenger: The Final Flight - A Major Malfunction (s1 e3) Online - Watch online anytime: Buy, Rent
Challenger: The Final Flight, Season 1 Episode 3, is available to watch and stream on Netflix. You can also buy, rent Challenger: The Final Flight on demand at Netflix online.
  • First Aired
    September 16, 2020
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    8.1  (371)