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.”

In the absence of an escape system to rescue the astronauts during the boosters’ two-minute burn, NASA managers had to reduce the risk of such a calamity as far as possible; the rockets would simply have to work perfectly every time.

cause potentially deadly damage to the shuttle’s heat-resistant tiles.

honestly shut the fuck UP about these tiles

Although he thought of himself as an introvert,

like every character they introduce they’re like okay how can we allude they were probably autistic

“We need to shut the back gate,” he shouted, “and stop sending this shit out of here!” His colleagues barely raised their heads from their desks. “Oh,” they said wearily, “that’s Bob.”

“You’ll probably make it. Five out of six times you do, playing Russian roulette.”