Just The Gist of... The Challenger Disaster episode artwork

EPISODE · Nov 12, 2025 · 1H 17M

Just The Gist of... The Challenger Disaster

from Just The Gist

On January 28 1986, 'America's Favourite Teacher', 37-year-old Christa McAuliffe, boarded the Space Shuttle Challenger, after beating out 11,000 applicants to become the first regular civilian NASA would ever take to space. Satellites had been sent to schools around the country so children could watch the shuttle launch live from their classrooms. But just 73 seconds after launch, the Challenger exploded mid-air, resulting in millions of children witnessing the moment that Christa McAuliffe and 6 other Challenger crew members were tragically killed. The Challenger disaster turned what was supposed to be NASA's triumphant return to relevance through the "Teacher in Space" program into one of the most traumatic moments in US history, broadcast live into classrooms across the country.…We give you Just The Gist, but if you want more, there's Breakin' Nooz, JTG After Show AND Bonus eps! You can access them by joining the Gistener Club via the Just The Gist Patreon or Apple Premium Subscriptions.Watch Just The Gist episodes on Youtube @JustTheGistPodcastFollow Just The Gist on Instagram and TikTok @JustTheGistPodcastFollow Rosie in all the places at @RosieWaterlandWant to give us a SuGISTion? Tell Rosie to stop singing so much? Email us at [email protected] Just The Gist is a Just The Network production. Executive Producer and Host: Rosie Waterland | Senior Producer and Editor: James Joseph | Producer: Kate Leaver | Additional production support: Hayley Staveley | Acast Legends: Guy Scott-Wilson and Simon McDermott | Production Assistant: PocketDon't forget to follow and give us 5 stars, which means something apparently!Thank you, as always, for Gistening. Now go say something impressive at a dinner party.…Netflix doco series 'Challenger: The Final Flight' trailer (2020):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILAeVAgqFV4National Geographic doco 'Space Shuttle Challenger - 30 Years On' (2016):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DMmkp_F25YYou're Wrong About 'Challenger Disaster' podcast episode (2019):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8qUAhcBKu8Trusty old wikipedia page:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Challenger_disasterBritannica page: https://www.britannica.com/event/Challenger-disaster  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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