Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space

by Adam Higginbotham

John Young believed that one plan was so perilous that for the crew to survive would require “ten consecutive miracles followed by an act of God.”

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds,—and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of—wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there, I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air.… Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace Where never lark nor ever eagle flew— And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

Yet the lack of spare parts for the fleet of four Space Shuttles meant that Challenger could only truly be made ready to launch once Columbia had returned from its five-day mission—and key components had been cannibalized from the older spacecraft for installation on its sister ship.

He told Maready that the weather at the Cape had been perfect for a launch all morning; he remained as frustrated as he had been when he awoke. “You know, Bill,” he said, “you’ve got people down here making decisions who’ve never even flown an airplane before.”

even America’s most despised enemy, Libyan despot Muammar Gaddafi, sent his own curdled message of sympathy. “Those who died were the victims of imperialist impatience,” he said.

He wasn't entirely wrong, although "imperialistic greed" would be nearer the mark

For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, Feynman wrote, for nature cannot be fooled.