logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2024
37m 14s

Challenger Disaster | Bigger, Faster, Ch...

Wondery
About this episode

In January 1986, the Challenger Space Shuttle was poised to make history, carrying seven astronauts, including Christa McAuliffe, the first teacher and civilian selected for space travel. The launch was part of a decade-long effort by NASA to make flights cheaper and more frequent with the use of a reusable space shuttle. But years of budget cuts and risky design choices set the stage for disaster. 

Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter

Listen to American Scandal on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial today by visiting wondery.com/links/american-scandal/ now.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Oct 7
The Plague of San Francisco | The Golden City | 4
Dr. Rupert Blue battles public apathy and political resistance to rally San Francisco behind his rat eradication campaign—only to see the city destroyed by a devastating natural disasterBe the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign ... Show More
37m 34s
Sep 30
The Plague of San Francisco | Duty and Truth | 3
The sharks are circling for Joseph Kinyoun. After trying and failing to convince San Francisco to take the plague seriously, his sole objective is now to defend himself and save his career. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! S ... Show More
36m 13s
Sep 23
The Plague of San Francisco | The Wolf Doctor | 2
With plague spreading in San Francisco, Dr. Joseph Kinyoun faces fierce resistance from a city and state desperate to protect its image. Unwilling to back down, Kinyoun's (KIHN-yuunz) relentless efforts to contain the plague put him at odds with powerful opponents determined to s ... Show More
39m 30s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2025
The Unraveling of Boeing | The Crash | 1
It’s 2019 and after another deadly plane crash, Boeing finds its reputation and business in free fall. Its best-selling passenger jet, the 737 Max, is forced out of the skies and the company is forced to reckon with its mistakes.  Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podca ... Show More
34m 9s
Feb 2025
TikTok vs the U.S.A. | Trending Upwards | 1
In 2018, Chinese tech company ByteDance launched TikTok in the United States, determined to make the app one of the top entertainment platforms in the country. And by spring 2020, ByteDance achieved its goal, thanks, in part, to a global pandemic that sees people spending more ti ... Show More
32m 1s
Jan 2025
The Unraveling of Boeing | Jedi Mind Tricks | 3
Boeing scrambles to improve its bestseller, the 737, as its competitor Airbus brings an upgraded rival plane to market. To create the 737 MAX, Boeing has to figure out a way to fit modern jet engines onto the 737’s aging airframe. When the MAX encounters problems, Boeing then cre ... Show More
35m 15s
Jan 2025
The Unraveling of Boeing | Blow Out | 4
With losses from the 737 Max scandal spiraling into the billions, Boeing’s new CEO Dave Calhoun is looking to bring the crisis to a swift end. But he’s about to face major headwinds. Headwinds that threaten to destroy the entire company.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest ... Show More
35m 3s
Oct 2024
History Daily: Breaking the Sound Barrier
October 14, 1947. US Air Force Captain Chuck Yeager becomes the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound, a feat many aviators previously believed impossible.You can listen ad-free in the Wondery or Amazon Music app. Or for all that and more, go to IntoHistory.comHistor ... Show More
16m 21s
Feb 2025
Nome Serum Run: Race Against Death | Togo’s Descendants | 4
In honor of the 100-year anniversary of the Nome Serum Run, Maine musher Jonathan Nathaniel Hayes is recreating the run. And he’s doing it with a team descended directly from Leonhard Seppala’s original dogs. Today, Hayes joins host Mike Corey to talk about the inspiration and pr ... Show More
36 m
Jan 2025
The Wright Brothers | Fliers or Liars | 2
By 1903, inventors and adventurers in Britain and France were launching their own experimental aircraft skyward. In the U.S., crowds gathered outside Washington, D.C. to see Samuel Langley of the Smithsonian Institution test his highly-anticipated “aerodrome”, only to watch the m ... Show More
40m 28s
Aug 14
Howard Hughes Blows Up Hollywood | Selling Scandal | 3
After spending big to buy RKO Pictures, Howard Hughes clashes with studio veterans and exploits his own stars. But he soon finds that remaking a major Hollywood studio in his own image comes at a steep cost.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendat ... Show More
34m 47s
Aug 28
FAN FAVORITE: Trapped on Mt. Hood | Discovery | 4
As the search for the missing climbers enters its second day, rescuers redouble their efforts to find the lost students and their adult guides. But the vastness of the search area presents major challenges. Rescue workers and parents face the awful reality that the missing climbe ... Show More
44m 20s
Mar 2025
Making the News - Ted Turner and CNN | Two Giant Egos | 1
Media mogul Ted Turner shakes up the television industry with the launch of a 24-hour channel dedicated solely to breaking news.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to Bu ... Show More
33m 26s