Yesterday

Saladin at the Gates of Jerusalem

September 20, 1187. It’s daytime outside the walls of Jerusalem. Saladin, the Sultan of Egypt, ponders his next attack. His troops encircle and lay siege to the city. They vastly outnumber the Crusader knights inside, and Saladin is on the cusp of a victory he never dreamed possi ... Show More

28m 53s

Sep 11

Blindspot: The Road to 9/11

On the 25th anniversary of 9/11, we're bringing you Blindspot: The Road to 9/11 – a collaboration between the History Channel and WNYC Studios. This was adapted from the complete nine-part series, which you can find by searching for Blindspot: The Road to 9/11 wherever you get yo ... Show More

1h 45m

Sep 7

9/11: Rescue on the Water

September 11, 2001. On a clear and sunny day, Captain Richard Thornton is piloting his ferry boat back and forth between New Jersey and New York City. But when he hears an airplane flying too low to the ground, he knows something is wrong. After the World Trade Center’s North Tow ... Show More

26m 36s

Dec 2024

Challenger Disaster | Launch Day | 3

In the tense hours leading up to the Challenger launch, engineers and managers at NASA and its contractor Morton Thiokol heatedly argue over whether to move forward, despite freezing temperatures that threaten to compromise the rocket boosters’ O-Rings. Be the first to know about ... Show More

36m 55s

Dec 2024

Challenger Disaster | Bigger, Faster, Cheaper | 1

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 frequen ... Show More

37m 14s

Dec 2024

Challenger Disaster | Acceptable Risk | 2

As NASA struggles to keep its ambitious launch schedule on track, engineers at contractor Morton Thiokol raise concerns about a key component of the space shuttle’s rocket boosters: O-Rings, which are designed to prevent fuel leaks. Amid this tension, the Teacher in Space program ... Show More

36m 37s

Sep 2024

Chatter: The Inside Story of the Challenger Disaster with Adam Higginbotham

<p>The explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger in January 1986 riveted millions of Americans, who watched the horrific event live on television. What they didn’t know then was that the tragedy was largely preventable, a disastrous result of hubris and “magical thinking” as much ... Show More

1h 23m

Dec 2021

New Hampshire: From School Room to Space Shuttle with Dani Coke

In this episode, Sharon sits down with return guest Danielle Coke to learn about the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster of 1986. This history lesson is cast from the perspective of one of America’s most cherished ordinary heroes, Sharon Christa McAuliffe, a school teacher from New ... Show More

39m 15s

Aug 2021

Episode 45: μ: Was the Challenger an engineering failure?

<p>The Space Shuttle Challengers Explosion rocked America to its core. Was this issue actually caused by engineering or was it a management mistake. Delve into the story of the Rogers Commission and their findings on Morton Thiokols Solid Rocket Boosters and O-Ring.</p> <p>Articl ... Show More

20m 49s

Mar 2024

Back Down to Earth

In 2003, seven astronauts are killed instantly when their space shuttle, Columbia, disintegrates on re-entry into the earth’s atmosphere. The NASA shuttle program is grounded with immediate effect. On the International Space Station, three men - two astronauts and a cosmonaut - h ... Show More

50m 28s

Jan 2025

Challenger Disaster | What Really Happened | 4

Following the Challenger disaster, engineers grapple with guilt and the consequences of raising concerns about the space shuttle’s flaws. Amidst public outcry, the Rogers Commission’s inquiry, including Richard Feynman’s stark demonstration of the O-Rings' vulnerability, uncovers ... Show More

40m 34s

Could the Challenger Disaster Have Been ...