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

Winner of the 2024 Kirkus Nonfiction Prize • Shortlisted for the 2025 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction • Finalist for the 2024 National Book Critics Circle Award in Nonfiction • A New York Times Notable Book of 2024

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

“Stunning… A heart-pounding thriller… Challenger is a remarkable book.” —The Atlantic
“Devastating… A universal story that transcends time.” —The New York Times
“Dramatic… A moving narrative.” —The Wall Street Journal

From the bestselling author of Midnight in Chernobyl comes the definitive, compelling, and meticulously researched (The Washington Post) minute-by-minute account of the Challenger disaster—an astonishing work of history that reads like a thriller.

On January 28, 1986, just seventy-three seconds after liftoff, the space shuttle Challenger disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean, killing all seven crew members—including New Hampshire schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe—before the eyes of millions of stunned Americans. Like the assassination of JFK, the tragedy became a defining moment in 20th-century history, forever altering the nation’s sense of progress and optimism. Yet, the full story of what led to the disaster—and the systemic failures that made it inevitable—has never been fully told.

Drawing on extensive archival research and groundbreaking original reporting, Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space follows the key figures at the heart of the tragedy, from the doomed crew to the engineers, whistleblowers, and investigators who fought to expose the truth. It is a gripping tale of ambition and ingenuity undermined by political pressure, cost-cutting, and a relentless drive to maintain national prestige—where warning signs were seen, ignored, and later concealed.

Higginbotham also uncovers the overlooked history of the shuttle program, shedding light on the designers, engineers, and test pilots who struggled against the odds to send America’s first reusable spacecraft into orbit. A masterful blend of human drama and cutting-edge science, Challenger captures a pivotal moment in history—revealing a far more complex and astonishing story than we remember.