0:00:06 > 0:00:10RADIO TRAFFIC
0:00:10 > 0:00:13- TV:- 'Tonight's space shuttle Challenger on launch pad 39B,
0:00:13 > 0:00:15'as the mammoth spacecraft...'
0:00:17 > 0:00:19'The countdown continues for tomorrow's launch
0:00:19 > 0:00:22'of the Space Shuttle Challenger, with its crew of seven
0:00:22 > 0:00:25'including New Hampshire schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe.
0:00:25 > 0:00:27'But a cloudy and...'
0:00:27 > 0:00:29'As NASA ground crews prepare the ship....'
0:00:29 > 0:00:31'..officials believe it will be a go...'
0:00:31 > 0:00:34RADIO TRAFFIC
0:00:36 > 0:00:38'The Challenger mission L51 has been...'
0:00:38 > 0:00:42'The 51L mission, ready to go.'
0:00:42 > 0:00:44'At seven o'clock, the Challenger crew met
0:00:44 > 0:00:47'for their traditional pre-flight breakfast...'
0:00:48 > 0:00:50RADIO TRAFFIC
0:01:01 > 0:01:06Ladies and gentlemen of the faculty, students, quiet, please.
0:01:06 > 0:01:10Please welcome our esteemed guest lecturer,
0:01:10 > 0:01:13winner of the Einstein Award,
0:01:13 > 0:01:17one of the ten most significant physicists of all time,
0:01:17 > 0:01:23winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics, Dr Richard Feynman.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:01:38 > 0:01:40I bribed him to say all that nice stuff,
0:01:40 > 0:01:42clearly I just escaped from jail.
0:01:42 > 0:01:44LAUGHTER
0:01:46 > 0:01:50Energy, from potential to kinetic,
0:01:50 > 0:01:51gives you...
0:01:52 > 0:01:54You see that?
0:01:54 > 0:01:56No, don't write it down.
0:02:01 > 0:02:02Not till you know what it means.
0:02:12 > 0:02:14This will not hurt you.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16It might hurt me.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30APPLAUSE
0:02:32 > 0:02:34Why didn't I have you write down the equation?
0:02:37 > 0:02:38You'd write it out.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41La-di-la-di-la, you'd feel pretty smart, right?
0:02:42 > 0:02:44But now you understand it.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47- Mom! Hurry Up!- I'm coming.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50TV: ..'about three minutes, and they think they can do it.'
0:02:50 > 0:02:52'They are counting, the ice is cleared away,
0:02:52 > 0:02:55'and Challenger should be going away very soon.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57'Let's go down to the Kennedy Space Center
0:02:57 > 0:02:59'and take a look at Challenger sitting on the pad
0:02:59 > 0:03:01'as they continue the countdown.'
0:03:01 > 0:03:04'Challenger's launch will be the 25th space shuttle mission.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07'It's estimated over 30,000 people have been involved...'
0:03:07 > 0:03:09- Dale, you want some coffee? - Not now, Larry.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12'..at a total cost of nearly 40 million...'
0:03:15 > 0:03:16PHONE RINGS
0:03:16 > 0:03:19'There goes Christa McAuliffe, first teacher in space.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23'During the mission, McAuliffe will be conducting scientific experiments
0:03:23 > 0:03:25'which will be beamed live to children
0:03:25 > 0:03:26'in schoolrooms across America.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29'The New Hampshire teacher has described Challenger
0:03:29 > 0:03:30'as the ultimate field trip.'
0:03:30 > 0:03:32What is science?
0:03:32 > 0:03:39Science is a way to teach how some thing gets to be known.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46In as much as anything can be known.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49Because nothing is known absolutely.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53It's how to handle doubt
0:03:53 > 0:03:54and uncertainty.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56RADIO TRAFFIC
0:03:56 > 0:04:01'Ten, nine, eight, seven, six...
0:04:01 > 0:04:02'we have main engine start.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06'Four, three, two, one...
0:04:06 > 0:04:10'Lift-off of the 25th space shuttle mission,
0:04:10 > 0:04:13'and it has cleared the tower.'
0:04:13 > 0:04:14Yay!
0:04:23 > 0:04:26'Roger roll, Challenger.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29'Challenger, go with throttle.'
0:04:29 > 0:04:33Science teaches us what the rules of evidence are.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37We mess with that at our peril.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44'One minute, 15 seconds.
0:04:49 > 0:04:53'We'll report more as we have information available.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58'Checking with the recovery forces.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05'Obviously a major malfunction.
0:05:07 > 0:05:08'We have no downlink.'
0:05:26 > 0:05:29RADIO: 'The space agency NASA has not yet confirmed the deaths
0:05:29 > 0:05:32'of the schoolteacher and six other astronauts
0:05:32 > 0:05:34'who were on board the shuttle Challenger when it exploded
0:05:34 > 0:05:36'on take-off this morning in Florida.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39'But there seems little doubt that there were any survivors.
0:05:39 > 0:05:43'NASA is conducting a news conference at this moment.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45'Challenger exploded into a fireball
0:05:45 > 0:05:48'and pieces came down in the Atlantic Ocean...'
0:05:48 > 0:05:52- TV:- 'Never in 25 launches of the space shuttle had a life been lost.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55'Today, that record went down in flames.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58'Tonight the search for survivors turned up none.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01'The search for answers is just starting.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03'Bruce Hall begins our coverage
0:06:03 > 0:06:06'of a spaceship that became a fireball and a national tragedy.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08'Ready for launch.
0:06:08 > 0:06:09'And lift-off.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12'And listen to the cheers of the young students
0:06:12 > 0:06:14'of the first ever US teacher-astronaut.'
0:06:14 > 0:06:17'Moments later, a massive explosion.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20'The cheering stops.'
0:06:20 > 0:06:22I'm sorry, I can't watch this stuff.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29'Seven Americans with the highest hopes.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32'A billion dollars worth of the highest technology.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35'Gone in seconds.
0:06:35 > 0:06:37'The worst disaster in the US Space Program ever.'
0:06:47 > 0:06:48PHONE RINGS
0:06:48 > 0:06:50JAZZ MUSIC PLAYS
0:06:50 > 0:06:52Hello. Er, hold on, hold on. No...
0:06:52 > 0:06:53Wait!
0:06:55 > 0:06:57DOG BARKS
0:06:58 > 0:07:00Feynman menagerie.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04Sorry, who is it? Hold on, hold on.
0:07:07 > 0:07:08TURNS MUSIC DOWN
0:07:08 > 0:07:09Who's this?
0:07:10 > 0:07:11Bill. Bill who?
0:07:13 > 0:07:14Bill Graham?
0:07:16 > 0:07:18I've got 15,000 former students.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21Listen, pal, how did you get a hold of my home number?
0:07:23 > 0:07:25You're head of what?
0:07:27 > 0:07:28NASA?
0:07:40 > 0:07:41HE SIGHS
0:07:48 > 0:07:50You got your results back yet?
0:07:50 > 0:07:52Nope.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57HE GROANS
0:07:57 > 0:07:58What's bugging you?
0:07:58 > 0:08:00Had a phone call this morning.
0:08:03 > 0:08:04They want me to go to Washington
0:08:04 > 0:08:09and sit on a presidential inquiry thing.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11What?
0:08:11 > 0:08:13Find out why the shuttle exploded.
0:08:13 > 0:08:15Did you say yes?
0:08:15 > 0:08:17I'm not even that into the space programme.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21I know people died and I'm very sorry about that, but...
0:08:22 > 0:08:24Gwen...
0:08:24 > 0:08:28I do my work, my teaching, you guys.
0:08:28 > 0:08:34They just want to say that they bagged the famous physicist guy.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36They're a bunch of bureaucrats and generals
0:08:36 > 0:08:39with pokers up their asses, you know?
0:08:42 > 0:08:43What?
0:08:43 > 0:08:45You just said it.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48They wouldn't know where to look. You would.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51You can't pass up a puzzle, not as important as this.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00I'm sorry, love, you're right.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02I wasn't thinking.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06Write and explain that you're not fit enough.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08I'm fit. I'm fit.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10Who are you kidding? I'm fit as a fiddle.
0:09:10 > 0:09:14What do you Yorkshire folks say? "I'm fit as a flea."
0:09:14 > 0:09:16You want the proof?
0:09:16 > 0:09:17Not especially.
0:09:17 > 0:09:19Ohh...you smell so good.
0:09:20 > 0:09:22OK, but...
0:09:23 > 0:09:24Then you'd have no excuse.
0:09:27 > 0:09:28SHE SIGHS
0:09:28 > 0:09:29Damn you, woman.
0:09:29 > 0:09:30SHE CHUCKLES
0:09:34 > 0:09:36I'll have to wear a tie.
0:09:38 > 0:09:39SHE LAUGHS
0:09:40 > 0:09:43'The Captain has turned on the no smoking signs.
0:09:43 > 0:09:47'At this time, please extinguish all smoking materials.'
0:09:56 > 0:09:58Taxi!
0:10:06 > 0:10:07It's cold.
0:10:08 > 0:10:10NASA headquarters.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12NASA, you got it.
0:10:12 > 0:10:13Cold!
0:10:17 > 0:10:19- RADIO:- 'With America still in shock
0:10:19 > 0:10:20'after the world's worst space disaster,
0:10:20 > 0:10:22'the address given by President Reagan
0:10:22 > 0:10:24'in the hours following the accident
0:10:24 > 0:10:26'now seems to have captured the mood of a nation.'
0:10:26 > 0:10:28- REAGAN:- 'We mourn seven heroes.
0:10:28 > 0:10:30'We mourn their loss as a nation together...'
0:10:30 > 0:10:33So, sir, are you something to do with the enquiry there?
0:10:33 > 0:10:35Yeah, I'm on the presidential commission.
0:10:35 > 0:10:36Ah.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39Alongside some super-important people.
0:10:39 > 0:10:44'..slipped the surly bonds of Earth to touch the face of God.'
0:10:44 > 0:10:46'Focus now turns to the cause of the tragedy,
0:10:46 > 0:10:48'as the Presidential Commission...'
0:10:48 > 0:10:50They gotta get back up there.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52Something went really wrong.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58CAR HORNS HONK
0:11:09 > 0:11:11- Keep that.- Thank you.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13Sir...
0:11:13 > 0:11:15Can I trouble you for an autograph?
0:11:15 > 0:11:17Sure.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20Who would I make it out to?
0:11:20 > 0:11:21Oh...
0:11:21 > 0:11:24Not you, sir. I meant Mr Neil Armstrong.
0:11:24 > 0:11:25First man on the moon.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27You could mail it.
0:11:27 > 0:11:29That's my driver number, at that address.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31OK.
0:11:31 > 0:11:33- I promise.- Thank you.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35Thank you.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38So what do you expect to find?
0:11:38 > 0:11:40Mr Feynman, what do you expect to find?
0:11:45 > 0:11:46Pardon me.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49- Mr Armstrong, I think we met... - Excuse me.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52I'm Bill Rogers. I'm chairman of the Commission.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55We're very fortunate to have you with us.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58Hey, I've got somebody who wants to meet you.
0:11:58 > 0:12:00Dr Sally Ride.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03- Oh...- Our first woman in space. - Well...
0:12:03 > 0:12:04Nice to meet you.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06- You too.- Mmm.
0:12:06 > 0:12:08Good journey?
0:12:08 > 0:12:10I took the red-eye from LA.
0:12:10 > 0:12:11Don't ever do it.
0:12:11 > 0:12:15Dr Alton Keel, our executive director.
0:12:15 > 0:12:17Nobel laureate, Richard Feynman.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20Your name I recognise too. Fellow physicist.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23- Formerly. I've been in Washington several years.- Oh.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25HE CHUCKLES
0:12:25 > 0:12:26How's your integrity?
0:12:29 > 0:12:30- That's just insulting.- No!
0:12:30 > 0:12:32Don't take me seriously.
0:12:37 > 0:12:39Commissioners.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43I appreciate you all coming together at short notice.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46We have a huge, vital task ahead of us,
0:12:46 > 0:12:48upon which might depend the future
0:12:48 > 0:12:50of manned space flight in this country.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53Now, I intend for this investigation
0:12:53 > 0:12:57to follow an orderly and proper procedure.
0:12:57 > 0:13:01We are not going to conduct it in a manner that is in any way
0:13:01 > 0:13:03unfairly critical of NASA.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06Because we believe, and certainly I believe,
0:13:06 > 0:13:08that NASA has done an excellent job.
0:13:08 > 0:13:12And I believe that the American people think so too.
0:13:12 > 0:13:14Anyone?
0:13:14 > 0:13:18We have to accept the fact that this shuttle
0:13:18 > 0:13:20is the most complex machine that's ever been built.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23I understand it has more than two and a half million parts.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26It may be, after due consideration,
0:13:26 > 0:13:29it's just not possible to identify the cause.
0:13:29 > 0:13:30Now...
0:13:30 > 0:13:32- In terms of scheduling... - That's nothing.
0:13:34 > 0:13:35I'm sorry, Dr Feynman?
0:13:35 > 0:13:37Two and a half million - small potatoes.
0:13:39 > 0:13:43No, really look - I don't know much about space rockets,
0:13:43 > 0:13:46but I know a little something about probability.
0:13:46 > 0:13:50Something I developed called, um... path integral formulation.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56It's quantum mechanics, yuck, yuck. But, um...
0:13:56 > 0:14:02Basically, what it means is that you can figure out the probability
0:14:02 > 0:14:04of something occurring,
0:14:04 > 0:14:08not just when you get two and a half million events,
0:14:08 > 0:14:13but an infinity of possibilities.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16However large the number of causal paths
0:14:16 > 0:14:19for whatever happened to Challenger,
0:14:19 > 0:14:21an explanation can be found.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26What are we doing here if we don't think it's possible?
0:14:27 > 0:14:29Right?
0:14:31 > 0:14:35Er...Chairman Rogers, I headed an investigation
0:14:35 > 0:14:37into the failure of a Titan rocket,
0:14:37 > 0:14:40and I suggest I outline the procedure we used there.
0:14:40 > 0:14:42I appreciate the offer, General Kutyna,
0:14:42 > 0:14:46but I think in this case there's far less collectable evidence.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49I don't like to contradict you, sir, but in the case of the shuttle,
0:14:49 > 0:14:51as there are human beings aboard,
0:14:51 > 0:14:53it generates far more database material.
0:14:53 > 0:14:55Mr Rogers, what the general said is the case.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58There are external cameras, there are black box recordings,
0:14:58 > 0:15:01there are telemetry sensors, there's a great deal of information.
0:15:01 > 0:15:02Thank you, General Kutyna.
0:15:02 > 0:15:04And Mr Armstrong.
0:15:04 > 0:15:06I'm certain we can get back to this.
0:15:06 > 0:15:07Please, anyone.
0:15:07 > 0:15:08- Chairman.- Yes.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11I don't know about anyone else, but, um...
0:15:11 > 0:15:14Coming in, I got some major press attention.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17I'd like to know what we're to say.
0:15:17 > 0:15:19For the sake of the astronaut families,
0:15:19 > 0:15:22what are we saying at this point?
0:15:22 > 0:15:23This is very important.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25Any and all enquiries from the press
0:15:25 > 0:15:28are to be directed to Chairman Rogers's office.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32So, the plan is...
0:15:32 > 0:15:34lady and gentlemen...
0:15:34 > 0:15:37we will reconvene in five days' time.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40But for the present, enjoy your stay in Washington.
0:15:41 > 0:15:42What?
0:15:43 > 0:15:45- We're not going to..?- That's it.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48Keel. We don't start right away?
0:16:04 > 0:16:05(Great.)
0:16:09 > 0:16:10Dr Feynman.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12Bill Graham, head of NASA.
0:16:12 > 0:16:13Thank you.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16You're the guy that got me into this.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18Well, I took your physics lectures way back, never forgotten.
0:16:18 > 0:16:22I think you're going to bring something unique to the Commission.
0:16:22 > 0:16:26I abandoned my teaching and a lot of important consulting to come here,
0:16:26 > 0:16:29didn't imagine I was going to be told to sit on my tush for a week.
0:16:32 > 0:16:34So, here's what I'm going to need.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37I'm going to need a crash course in shuttle design.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39I need to know everything on how this thing was put together,
0:16:39 > 0:16:43so if you can start supplying me with the technical manuals and so forth,
0:16:43 > 0:16:46and most of all, you gotta get me straight on the factory floor.
0:16:46 > 0:16:47Pretty new to NASA myself -
0:16:47 > 0:16:49I actually only took over two months ago.
0:16:49 > 0:16:51That's bad timing.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53We're based here in Washington,
0:16:53 > 0:16:54but the shuttle engines and systems
0:16:54 > 0:16:56are all out of the Marshall Space Flight Center.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58It pretty much takes care of itself.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00You're the head of the whole shmeer,
0:17:00 > 0:17:01I mean, you can get me in this Marshall place,
0:17:01 > 0:17:03otherwise I'm a busy fella.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06I'll do my best. I'll get on it right away.
0:17:06 > 0:17:07Right, thanks.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14I like that you didn't let up there on the mighty chairman.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19You take it. I don't care for limousines.
0:17:19 > 0:17:20Well, neither do I -
0:17:20 > 0:17:23I'm just a two-star general, don't get assigned a limousine.
0:17:23 > 0:17:24Take the subway.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26Hmm.
0:17:26 > 0:17:28- Pleasure.- You too.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33Taxi!
0:17:36 > 0:17:39Oh, and there was a phone call for you, sir.
0:17:39 > 0:17:40Please call your doctor.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46Dr...Weiss?
0:17:47 > 0:17:49The elevator's just to your right, sir.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19'..to begin what may be a lengthy process.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22'Millions of Americans who watched our heroes perish
0:18:22 > 0:18:25'only 73 seconds after take-off on that cold January morning
0:18:25 > 0:18:27'are waiting for answers.'
0:18:27 > 0:18:29'Nancy and I are pained to the core about the tragedy
0:18:29 > 0:18:31- of the shuttle Challenger...' - PHONE RINGS
0:18:31 > 0:18:33Hello.
0:18:34 > 0:18:35Graham.
0:18:37 > 0:18:38You got me in, great.
0:18:38 > 0:18:42I'll take a plane down in the morning.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44Thanks.
0:18:44 > 0:18:45Alpha plus.
0:18:47 > 0:18:51'I've always had great faith in and respect for our space programme.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53'We don't hide our space programme.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56'We don't keep secrets and cover things up.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59'We do it all upfront and in public.
0:18:59 > 0:19:03'That's the way freedom is and we wouldn't change it for a minute.'
0:19:14 > 0:19:16Wow, it's immense.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18This is an identical craft?
0:19:18 > 0:19:19No, it's a training simulator.
0:19:19 > 0:19:24but for your purposes, the flight deck systems, the payload bay, etc,
0:19:24 > 0:19:26virtually identical.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35Want to see the flight deck?
0:19:57 > 0:20:00You have four human beings jammed in this space?
0:20:00 > 0:20:01Can I sit here?
0:20:01 > 0:20:02Yeah.
0:20:05 > 0:20:06Wow.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10OK. So...
0:20:10 > 0:20:13they got S-Band communication links...
0:20:13 > 0:20:15environmental control systems...
0:20:15 > 0:20:17cabin pressure gauges...
0:20:18 > 0:20:20- What is that?- Emergency oxygen.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23Don't touch things.
0:20:26 > 0:20:27Hmm.
0:20:31 > 0:20:33Come on.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41Dick Feynman. I'm on the Commission.
0:20:41 > 0:20:43I got nothing to hide.
0:20:48 > 0:20:49If I was to ask you engineers,
0:20:49 > 0:20:52never mind what the managers say, but you guys...
0:20:52 > 0:20:54Given all your experience,
0:20:54 > 0:20:58what you thought the probability was of an accident on any single launch,
0:20:58 > 0:20:59what would you say?
0:21:06 > 0:21:08I mean, if you don't want to say out loud,
0:21:08 > 0:21:10perhaps you could write it down on a piece of paper.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28So you're looking at the solid rocket boosters.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30OK, so...
0:21:30 > 0:21:32They're not made here.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36No - they're made by contractors, Morton Thiokol in Utah.
0:21:36 > 0:21:37Railroaded into Kennedy in sections.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40That's a pretty standard tang and clevis joint.
0:21:40 > 0:21:43Look, there's no ways it was the solid rocket boosters.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46- How so certain?- Because they don't fly with holes in them.
0:21:46 > 0:21:50If it was the SRB, it would have exploded on the launch pad.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52These kept on flying, you see it in the footage.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55You watched the footage. Tell me what you saw.
0:21:55 > 0:21:57What went through your mind?
0:21:57 > 0:21:58What did you think it was?
0:21:58 > 0:22:00I thought it was the main engines.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03OK. Why? Why the main engines?
0:22:03 > 0:22:04Because of the complexity.
0:22:04 > 0:22:08They're working at the outer edge of any experience base.
0:22:08 > 0:22:09In the blade technology?
0:22:09 > 0:22:11No, no, no, it's more than the blades, it's...
0:22:12 > 0:22:13Hey...
0:22:13 > 0:22:17There is no ways that I'm ratting out my co-workers here.
0:22:17 > 0:22:18Look, pal...
0:22:18 > 0:22:20If we're not allowed to find out what went wrong,
0:22:20 > 0:22:22there will be no more co-workers.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25All these jobs will be gone, kaput.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29Won't be another shuttle launch.
0:22:32 > 0:22:34- TV:- 'Of the events on the morning of the 28th of January,
0:22:34 > 0:22:38'the Presidential Commission investigating the accident,
0:22:38 > 0:22:40'headed by former Secretary of State William Rogers,
0:22:40 > 0:22:42'has met mostly behind closed doors.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47'So far, it's given no hints about what it believes
0:22:47 > 0:22:48'may have been the cause.
0:22:51 > 0:22:53'Meanwhile, off the coast of Florida,
0:22:53 > 0:22:55'the hunt for Challenger wreckage continues.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58'The combined NASA, naval and coastguard operation
0:22:58 > 0:23:01'involving 14 ships, four submarines and 11 aircraft
0:23:01 > 0:23:04'is combing hundreds of square miles of ocean.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07'Although NASA today released pictures showing recovered debris,
0:23:07 > 0:23:10'they've been unable to confirm that they've found the crew compartment.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12'In the absence of detailed information
0:23:12 > 0:23:14'about what happened to Challenger,
0:23:14 > 0:23:16'speculation about the cause of the accident continues to grow.
0:23:16 > 0:23:20'Recent theories include everything from a computer programming error
0:23:20 > 0:23:21'to unusually strong winds.'
0:23:59 > 0:24:00Chairman Rogers...
0:24:01 > 0:24:04The boats just pulled in the crew compartment.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10Can you tell me, was the oxygen activated?
0:24:13 > 0:24:15Yes, Dr Ride.
0:24:15 > 0:24:16It was.
0:24:17 > 0:24:18We...
0:24:18 > 0:24:21maybe won't make that public straight away.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24Excuse me.
0:24:40 > 0:24:42Dr Feynman.
0:24:43 > 0:24:48It's very important that this team stays together all the time.
0:24:48 > 0:24:49Why?
0:24:50 > 0:24:53It's been reported to me that you spent some time at Marshall.
0:24:53 > 0:24:55Alone.
0:24:55 > 0:24:57That's not very helpful.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00Oh, Mr Rogers, I don't find it helpful to stand around.
0:25:01 > 0:25:05The other commissioners are just being respectful.
0:25:05 > 0:25:07And you're saying I'm not?
0:25:09 > 0:25:13You understand the implications of the oxygen being activated?
0:25:13 > 0:25:15I do.
0:25:15 > 0:25:17The astronauts had to do that themselves.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20Which means that they were alive
0:25:20 > 0:25:25for at least some of those two minutes and 36 seconds
0:25:25 > 0:25:27before they slammed into the ocean.
0:25:27 > 0:25:28Mr Rogers, I'm an atheist.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31I personally doubt that they're touching the face of God,
0:25:31 > 0:25:32so I prefer to show my respect
0:25:32 > 0:25:34by finding the cause of their appalling deaths
0:25:34 > 0:25:36and not stand around looking sad.
0:25:38 > 0:25:41You know, I didn't even want to be on this commission
0:25:41 > 0:25:42but now that I'm on it,
0:25:42 > 0:25:45I've got every intention of finding out what went wrong.
0:25:45 > 0:25:51You know, I don't know that NASA did an excellent job.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03The group will be leaving in 30 minutes.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06Except for General Kutyna, who's made his own arrangements.
0:26:06 > 0:26:08I also may have my own arrangements.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13I can't force you to go.
0:26:13 > 0:26:14Nope.
0:26:33 > 0:26:34Are you going to work all night?
0:26:38 > 0:26:42Er...if necessary. I don't know.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44How do you plan to get back to Washington?
0:26:44 > 0:26:46Er...I got myself in kind of a pickle.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49I want to go back to Marshall.
0:26:49 > 0:26:53Guess I'll hire a car, but it's hundreds of miles.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55I can give you a lift. I'll drop you in Alabama.
0:26:55 > 0:26:57Oh. HE CHUCKLES
0:26:57 > 0:26:58Thank you.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00Here. 0600?
0:27:01 > 0:27:02OK.
0:27:06 > 0:27:07HE CHUCKLES
0:27:13 > 0:27:14I may not get a limo,
0:27:14 > 0:27:17but occasionally I get the use of a government jet.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21- No..!- You imagined I was going to drive you 400 miles?
0:27:21 > 0:27:23This is tremendous.
0:27:25 > 0:27:27New for you?
0:27:27 > 0:27:29You serious? No!
0:27:30 > 0:27:33Whoa-ho-ho-ho!
0:27:33 > 0:27:35Oh!
0:27:36 > 0:27:37It's OK.
0:27:44 > 0:27:46You know, what you have to realise
0:27:46 > 0:27:48is that you are uniquely independent.
0:27:50 > 0:27:51Yeah, how's that?
0:27:51 > 0:27:52Well...
0:27:52 > 0:27:55everyone on the commission has strong associations.
0:27:57 > 0:28:00- To whom? - Well, to NASA - Armstrong, Ride...
0:28:00 > 0:28:03The government - Keel - Rogers was Secretary of State.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07And Bill Graham's even a personal friend of President Reagan's.
0:28:07 > 0:28:09And you?
0:28:09 > 0:28:10Me, the Air Force.
0:28:10 > 0:28:11BLEEPING
0:28:11 > 0:28:14- How does the Air Force... - Air Force three niner two six five.
0:28:14 > 0:28:16- INDISTINCT REPLY ON RADIO - Low on four three zero.
0:28:16 > 0:28:17Heading three two zero.
0:28:19 > 0:28:20Two six five.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25- How does the Air Force... - You're the only independent.
0:28:25 > 0:28:27I'm independent.
0:28:27 > 0:28:28I'm invincible.
0:28:28 > 0:28:30Yeah...
0:28:30 > 0:28:31but check six.
0:28:31 > 0:28:33- What check six?- That's, um...
0:28:33 > 0:28:35That's a fighter pilot's expression.
0:28:35 > 0:28:37Six o'clock.
0:28:37 > 0:28:39The blind spot. Directly behind you.
0:28:39 > 0:28:40Uh-huh.
0:28:42 > 0:28:44Watch my ass.
0:28:44 > 0:28:46THEY LAUGH
0:28:48 > 0:28:49OK, watch your ass here.
0:28:49 > 0:28:51- What?- It's a little steep.
0:29:04 > 0:29:07ENGINE ROARS
0:29:15 > 0:29:17That's what we call the diamond.
0:29:17 > 0:29:20Wow, now that is very beautiful.
0:29:24 > 0:29:26RATTLING
0:29:26 > 0:29:28What the hell?
0:29:28 > 0:29:31You happy with that, with that vibration?
0:29:31 > 0:29:34Don't worry, it steadies again after 65%.
0:29:36 > 0:29:40But to get to 65%, you gotta go through that?
0:29:40 > 0:29:42Sometimes, yeah.
0:29:47 > 0:29:50Can I see components, the blades?
0:29:59 > 0:30:00Oh, what is that?
0:30:02 > 0:30:04It's a crack...in this blade.
0:30:06 > 0:30:07There's an obvious crack.
0:30:16 > 0:30:18Yeah.
0:30:18 > 0:30:20The blades often get those after a flight,
0:30:20 > 0:30:23but that's not a flight safety problem.
0:30:23 > 0:30:26- Well, what is it, then? - We were told to log it as a maintenance problem.
0:30:26 > 0:30:30Only if it develops into a full fracture, THAT would be a failure.
0:30:30 > 0:30:33So a failure only happens if it actually shears off?
0:30:33 > 0:30:34Uh-huh.
0:30:35 > 0:30:39Bull! The failure is the crack.
0:30:39 > 0:30:40Well, you could argue that...
0:30:40 > 0:30:44The failure is the crack - I mean, because it's not in the design.
0:30:44 > 0:30:46You know and I know it's not supposed to crack.
0:30:51 > 0:30:52Who has the rest of the test data?
0:30:56 > 0:30:57Is that it?
0:31:56 > 0:32:01I think we should start this discussion on the step-by-step process, so...
0:32:01 > 0:32:05Concentrate the investigation on the main engines.
0:32:05 > 0:32:08There are cracked turbine blades.
0:32:08 > 0:32:12As early as 1,375 seconds, equivalent to full power level.
0:32:12 > 0:32:15Also, at 4,000 hertz, there are some nasty vibrations.
0:32:15 > 0:32:18So you think the cause lies within the engines?
0:32:18 > 0:32:21I'd bet my last dime on it. I just got back from Marshall.
0:32:21 > 0:32:25I just heard an interesting new definition of the word "failure".
0:32:25 > 0:32:27Well, it's interesting that you should say that, Doctor.
0:32:27 > 0:32:32We've just received the telemetry data from NASA,
0:32:32 > 0:32:34and the sensors on the engines
0:32:34 > 0:32:38show that they performed absolutely perfectly.
0:32:38 > 0:32:40Get out of here!
0:32:40 > 0:32:45The engines began to shut down as fuel pressure decreased,
0:32:45 > 0:32:46exactly as designed.
0:32:47 > 0:32:52That's extremely lucky, because I'm telling you, those engines have profound problems.
0:32:52 > 0:32:57Now there is a step-by-step process for us all to follow,
0:32:57 > 0:33:03and I respectfully request that from now on, you abide by it.
0:33:03 > 0:33:06We're all trying to find the answer.
0:33:08 > 0:33:11All right, we begin.
0:33:14 > 0:33:16Step by step.
0:33:17 > 0:33:19Crap.
0:33:24 > 0:33:25Prof...
0:33:28 > 0:33:30Don't let the chairman put you off.
0:33:32 > 0:33:36Look, you should come by the house some night for a bite, if that appeals.
0:33:36 > 0:33:39Yeah? OK, good. Excuse me for a second.
0:33:39 > 0:33:41(Listen...)
0:33:41 > 0:33:45Graham, why didn't I know that we had the results from the sensors on the engines?
0:33:46 > 0:33:49Is NASA drip-feeding us information to suit itself?
0:33:49 > 0:33:53- I hear you.- I'm doing this with one hand tied behind my back.
0:33:53 > 0:33:56- I hear you, but... - RICHARD GROANS
0:33:56 > 0:33:59- Richard...? - RICHARD EXHALES LOUDLY
0:34:02 > 0:34:03You OK?
0:34:10 > 0:34:12I'll see you tomorrow.
0:34:25 > 0:34:30I goofed. I thought I had the answer. I was way off.
0:34:30 > 0:34:35'So what are you going to do? Are you going to stick with it?'
0:34:35 > 0:34:36I don't know.
0:34:36 > 0:34:38KNOCKING
0:34:38 > 0:34:42- Listen, there's a knock on the door. I'll call you later.- 'All right.'
0:35:12 > 0:35:16I'm not sure why they chose to just lay them in this order.
0:35:16 > 0:35:18It's difficult to tell,
0:35:18 > 0:35:21but this is...this is half that...
0:35:22 > 0:35:23Chairman Rogers...
0:35:25 > 0:35:30NASA's Failure Analysis team supplied a still from camera E207,
0:35:30 > 0:35:32trained on-flight.
0:35:36 > 0:35:39It looks like it took a long time for this photograph to appear.
0:35:39 > 0:35:42- Well, it's here now. - What is that?
0:35:45 > 0:35:47A flame?
0:35:47 > 0:35:50Coming from a position on the side of the solid rocket booster?
0:35:50 > 0:35:53Did we know that? Did we know that already?
0:35:58 > 0:36:02Did we get stills from other angles? Am I right?
0:36:02 > 0:36:05- They had cameras all around? - Yeah.- Yes.
0:36:05 > 0:36:08Some of the cameras that were looking directly at the area
0:36:08 > 0:36:11were not working on the day, I'm told.
0:36:17 > 0:36:20- Well, that's unfortunate.- Hm.
0:36:24 > 0:36:26- May I have that, please?- Of course.
0:36:41 > 0:36:43DOORBELL RINGS
0:36:43 > 0:36:46Am I super-late? I had to pick this up at the lab.
0:36:46 > 0:36:49- No, no, it's not a problem. - Nice car.
0:36:49 > 0:36:51- You like it?- Like it? I LOVE it.
0:36:53 > 0:36:56I don't know if that enlargement's going to tell us anything.
0:36:56 > 0:36:59Let's see.
0:36:59 > 0:37:02- Well, it's somewhat clearer, no? - No, that just makes the whole thing wider open.
0:37:02 > 0:37:05- But the flamer is sharper.- But that flame, where is it originating?
0:37:05 > 0:37:07Perhaps what we're seeing is the tip of a larger flame
0:37:07 > 0:37:10on the other side where there's no damned camera.
0:37:11 > 0:37:15A flame is not a cause. A flame is an effect, it's a symptom.
0:37:15 > 0:37:19That doesn't tell us which component split,
0:37:19 > 0:37:22sheared off, cracked. It shows us nothing.
0:37:24 > 0:37:25It takes us nowhere.
0:37:27 > 0:37:29I want to show you something.
0:37:29 > 0:37:31Multiple successful launches, identical components
0:37:31 > 0:37:35and launch locations, so what made that day special?
0:37:35 > 0:37:37What were the variables?
0:37:37 > 0:37:38Take a break, Prof.
0:37:47 > 0:37:49Oh!
0:37:52 > 0:37:54You lucky fella!
0:37:54 > 0:37:58Yeah, I'd be luckier if I could get it running. It's out of commission.
0:37:58 > 0:38:00The carburettors seize in this weather.
0:38:05 > 0:38:06This must be how you stay calm.
0:38:08 > 0:38:12Roger The Dodger's got me going crazy with that process of his.
0:38:14 > 0:38:17He's a lawyer. He's working it through the way he knows.
0:38:17 > 0:38:21Yeah, well, maybe some others are kind of working it through the way they know.
0:38:21 > 0:38:24What? You think somebody's working it for themselves?
0:38:24 > 0:38:28- Do you?- It's Washington, after all.
0:38:28 > 0:38:33I can't believe I got myself back in this world - government, politics...
0:38:33 > 0:38:36And military guys like me.
0:38:36 > 0:38:38You're surprisingly OK.
0:38:40 > 0:38:43I guess you had your fill of military personnel through the '40s.
0:38:49 > 0:38:50What was your role back then?
0:38:53 > 0:38:56- When? - During the war, with the A-bomb.
0:39:01 > 0:39:06I did the theoretical figuring. It was the math.
0:39:07 > 0:39:12I calculated how much fissionable material would be necessary to make an effective weapon.
0:39:16 > 0:39:18It's not a good use of science.
0:39:25 > 0:39:27You helped end the war.
0:39:27 > 0:39:29RICHARD LAUGHS
0:39:31 > 0:39:33Wow, this is beautiful!
0:39:35 > 0:39:37Shall we try that Bordeaux?
0:39:37 > 0:39:40You go ahead. I no longer drink. If I drink, I can't think.
0:39:51 > 0:39:54Oh, sir, we had maintenance look at your heating.
0:39:54 > 0:39:57- Oh, thank you.- Let me know if you still feel chilly.
0:40:06 > 0:40:10Could you help me find the number of the National Weather Service?
0:40:15 > 0:40:17There you go.
0:40:17 > 0:40:19- Can I borrow this?- Sure.
0:40:20 > 0:40:23Yeah, please. Not a forecast.
0:40:23 > 0:40:27The temperature at Cape Canaveral. Nearby?
0:40:27 > 0:40:32Yeah, Jacksonville, Florida, on the morning of the 28th of January.
0:40:39 > 0:40:40Thank you.
0:40:51 > 0:40:53That's the variable.
0:40:56 > 0:40:57I got the variable.
0:40:57 > 0:41:00It was freezing cold on the morning of the launch. We need to focus
0:41:00 > 0:41:04our questioning of the NASA managers on stuff to do with temperature.
0:41:04 > 0:41:06Temperature? You're talking about ice?
0:41:06 > 0:41:09I don't know. Perhaps added weight of ice, perhaps some metal component
0:41:09 > 0:41:12becoming brittle. I don't know which component.
0:41:12 > 0:41:14There are only two and a half million possibilities(!)
0:41:14 > 0:41:16I'm pretty certain.
0:41:16 > 0:41:18As certain as you were about the engines(?)
0:41:26 > 0:41:30- Anything from NASA Failure Analysis? - Due this afternoon.
0:41:33 > 0:41:35Dr Feynman's becoming a real pain in the ass. >
0:41:37 > 0:41:38Well, yeah.
0:41:42 > 0:41:43You betcha.
0:41:52 > 0:41:54MUTED DISCUSSION
0:42:30 > 0:42:32- Dr Weiss?- Dick.
0:42:35 > 0:42:37What are you doing here?
0:42:38 > 0:42:40Well, if the mountain won't go to Muhammad...
0:42:40 > 0:42:42You didn't answer my calls.
0:42:42 > 0:42:44So you tracked me down all the way across the country?!
0:42:44 > 0:42:47Nah, nah, nah. I'm at Washington Hospital Center for a conference.
0:42:47 > 0:42:50You got an hour to come over there?
0:42:50 > 0:42:53- Now?- Yeah.
0:42:54 > 0:42:56Sure. Hold on.
0:42:57 > 0:43:03Um...I need to get this delivered to Dr Keel, Presidential Commission -
0:43:03 > 0:43:05this address.
0:43:05 > 0:43:07It's extremely important that it gets there.
0:43:07 > 0:43:08- Yes, sir.- Thank you.
0:43:12 > 0:43:13Good to see you!
0:43:27 > 0:43:30- With a vengeance?- Mm-hm.
0:43:30 > 0:43:32It's compromising your remaining kidney.
0:43:36 > 0:43:38- Show me the cells.- It's here.
0:43:48 > 0:43:50RICHARD SNORTS
0:43:50 > 0:43:53OK. That is not so pretty.
0:43:54 > 0:43:57I read up on my chances if my sarcoma recurred.
0:43:58 > 0:44:01What's the deal if we add in this lymphoma?
0:44:01 > 0:44:03It's pretty difficult to calculate the combined...
0:44:03 > 0:44:06Don't weasel it, Doc. It's math.
0:44:06 > 0:44:08Look, Dick, it's not something we see.
0:44:08 > 0:44:11The particular cancers you have, they're...
0:44:11 > 0:44:16they're extremely rare. The chance of having them in conjunction...
0:44:16 > 0:44:18Well, given what you were doing during the war...
0:44:18 > 0:44:20If it even matters.
0:44:23 > 0:44:27- What do you think? - Well, the radiation - what safety precautions were there?
0:44:27 > 0:44:29For the test, I...
0:44:30 > 0:44:33For the test I had a pair of dark glasses, which I never put on.
0:44:34 > 0:44:37Jeez, they were... they were crazy days.
0:44:39 > 0:44:41We never slept.
0:44:41 > 0:44:45We were on fire, you know, getting the theory and the math
0:44:45 > 0:44:49and the physics. It was a race. We thought we were saving civilisation,
0:44:49 > 0:44:53but then we found out the Germans didn't have nuclear capability
0:44:53 > 0:44:56and we kept on. The science was...so exciting.
0:45:05 > 0:45:06Should have stopped.
0:45:08 > 0:45:12We threw a party. While people struggled and died, we threw a party.
0:45:13 > 0:45:16Hey, you were young.
0:45:16 > 0:45:17I wasn't a child.
0:45:18 > 0:45:19Yeah.
0:45:24 > 0:45:25OK.
0:45:31 > 0:45:34- I guess we'll talk on the phone. - Sure.
0:45:36 > 0:45:39I think there are probably worse ways to go.
0:45:41 > 0:45:43Hey, your hands are cold.
0:45:43 > 0:45:44All the time. What is that?
0:45:46 > 0:45:48It's possibly lymphoma.
0:45:49 > 0:45:52The blood gets gummy. Capillaries lose their flexibility -
0:45:52 > 0:45:53they can't expand.
0:45:55 > 0:45:56Thanks.
0:46:00 > 0:46:03Yeah, just talk to me about components that are flexible.
0:46:04 > 0:46:06What about a solid rocket booster?
0:46:09 > 0:46:10Go ahead.
0:46:15 > 0:46:17Thank you, Louis.
0:46:17 > 0:46:20Hey, I thought this might be helpful.
0:46:20 > 0:46:22It's a section model of the SRB joint.
0:46:24 > 0:46:27I don't want to see a model. I want to see the real thing.
0:46:37 > 0:46:39So there are two O-rings
0:46:39 > 0:46:41and they squidge in here?
0:46:41 > 0:46:43Correct.
0:46:43 > 0:46:46Has there ever been a history of problems with them?
0:46:46 > 0:46:50Well, there has been some erosion, even some blow-by.
0:46:50 > 0:46:51"Blow-by" is what?
0:46:51 > 0:46:53Soot getting past the first O-ring.
0:46:53 > 0:46:56That would mean that the seal is incomplete?
0:46:56 > 0:46:59- Right, but the manufacturer said that...- Morton Thiokol?
0:46:59 > 0:47:03Right, Thiokol said that the blow-by never got past the second O-ring, never.
0:47:03 > 0:47:07But if something prevented the O-ring from doing its job...
0:47:09 > 0:47:14..if it became rigid because, for example, it was cold...?
0:47:25 > 0:47:28I think what we're looking at is the O-rings
0:47:28 > 0:47:30within the seal of the SRB.
0:47:30 > 0:47:33Lower temperatures would diminish the flexibility.
0:47:33 > 0:47:36Rubber would get harder, less malleable.
0:47:36 > 0:47:39At a certain point it would be too rigid to move into the gap.
0:47:41 > 0:47:42Bill...
0:47:42 > 0:47:47I need any data NASA have on the timings of spring-back.
0:47:47 > 0:47:53Resilience of the SRB O-rings in response to temperature.
0:47:53 > 0:47:55Ladies and gentlemen, good morning.
0:47:55 > 0:47:58Just a reminder that we have many witnesses today
0:47:58 > 0:48:00and the press will be in the room.
0:48:02 > 0:48:05Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to call the commission to order,
0:48:05 > 0:48:10so please take your seats, make yourselves comfortable.
0:48:12 > 0:48:14Pilot to co-pilot, fix your hair.
0:48:16 > 0:48:18Our first witness is Mr Mulloy.
0:48:18 > 0:48:23Mr Mulloy, would you come forward and identify yourself, please?
0:48:23 > 0:48:24I am Lawrence Mulloy.
0:48:24 > 0:48:27Solid rocket booster project manager for NASA
0:48:27 > 0:48:29at the Marshall Space Flight Center.
0:48:29 > 0:48:32All right. Commissioners? Anyone?
0:48:35 > 0:48:37Dr Ride?
0:48:38 > 0:48:40Mr Mulloy...
0:48:40 > 0:48:44in your position at the Marshall Space Flight Center,
0:48:44 > 0:48:47you'd be aware of correspondence, memos, etc?
0:48:50 > 0:48:53I guess I'm wondering whether memos exist relating
0:48:53 > 0:48:58to problems of launching with O-rings at low temperatures.
0:48:58 > 0:49:02I understand the morning of the launch was exceptionally cold.
0:49:02 > 0:49:04I'm not aware of such documents at Marshall.
0:49:07 > 0:49:10It's not correspondence, but on the evening before the launch,
0:49:10 > 0:49:15as a matter of routine, those of us from NASA asked our technical people
0:49:15 > 0:49:20and our contractors if there were any concerns about low temperature.
0:49:22 > 0:49:25Morton Thiokol, who make the solid rocket boosters, presented us
0:49:25 > 0:49:27with the fact that the lowest temperature
0:49:27 > 0:49:31we had ever flown an O-ring was 53 degrees,
0:49:31 > 0:49:37and they wanted to point out that we would be outside of that experience base.
0:49:37 > 0:49:41But having heard the discussion, we...we all concluded that there
0:49:41 > 0:49:45was no problem with the predicted temperatures, and I have
0:49:45 > 0:49:48a document from the management of Morton Thiokol to that effect.
0:49:49 > 0:49:51Thank you. Thank you, Mr Mulloy.
0:49:51 > 0:49:53You may stand down, for the time being.
0:49:53 > 0:49:57There's some guy in the back who wants to say something.
0:49:57 > 0:49:59I have something to add.
0:49:59 > 0:50:02- I beg your pardon?- I...I need to add to what he said, please.
0:50:02 > 0:50:05All right, sir. Please, step forward, step forward. Identify yourself.
0:50:14 > 0:50:18My name is Allan McDonald. I work for Morton Thiokol.
0:50:18 > 0:50:21I'm the director of the solid rocket motors project,
0:50:21 > 0:50:25so I was at the launch at Kennedy.
0:50:25 > 0:50:27I'd like to say something about the meeting
0:50:27 > 0:50:30the night before the launch that Mr Mulloy talked about.
0:50:32 > 0:50:36Our Thiokol engineers...warned NASA.
0:50:39 > 0:50:43They recommended NASA not to launch below 53 degrees
0:50:43 > 0:50:44and I agreed with them.
0:50:44 > 0:50:47That was the coldest that we knew was safe.
0:50:47 > 0:50:52So you said not to launch below 53 degrees?
0:50:52 > 0:50:54And what was the actual temperature that morning?
0:50:56 > 0:51:00We believed that, at launch, it was going to be much colder.
0:51:00 > 0:51:03Below 32 degrees, below freezing.
0:51:06 > 0:51:07NASA wasn't happy with that.
0:51:07 > 0:51:12Larry Mulloy said, "My God, Thiokol!
0:51:12 > 0:51:14"When do we launch? April?!"
0:51:16 > 0:51:18Let me understand this -
0:51:18 > 0:51:24now...are you saying that NASA applied pressure
0:51:24 > 0:51:27to change the launch recommendation?
0:51:28 > 0:51:32Yes, sir, there was pressure. They said, "Go review the data."
0:51:32 > 0:51:36Our people in Utah came back, and recommended to NASA to launch.
0:51:37 > 0:51:39I refused to sign.
0:51:44 > 0:51:46It is important that NASA be given
0:51:46 > 0:51:50the-the opportunity to respond to what's just been alleged.
0:51:50 > 0:51:51We must allow...
0:51:51 > 0:51:53What the hell is going on here?
0:52:00 > 0:52:02Some people say McDonald's doing a CYA.
0:52:02 > 0:52:05- "CYA". What is that? - That stands for "cover your ass".
0:52:05 > 0:52:08- But if they were warned... - The astronauts sure weren't.
0:52:08 > 0:52:11I want to know what's happening right here between NASA
0:52:11 > 0:52:13and the contractors. We need to talk more to HIM.
0:52:13 > 0:52:16Richard. Richard, the data you wanted
0:52:16 > 0:52:18on the resistance timings of the O-rings...
0:52:18 > 0:52:22OK, thanks. We need to hear more from him. Can you stop Mr McDonald from...?
0:52:24 > 0:52:25Damn.
0:53:00 > 0:53:05Hi. I need to contact Allan McDonald with NASA's Challenger Failure Analysis team.
0:53:05 > 0:53:10I phoned, but I was told he's no longer in Washington.
0:53:10 > 0:53:11That information is restricted.
0:53:14 > 0:53:16He was on the team but he's been removed?
0:53:16 > 0:53:18I can't answer that, sir.
0:53:24 > 0:53:28Look, all I want to do is speak to Allan McDonald. What?!
0:53:28 > 0:53:33So there's no-one I can talk to in the whole entirety of Morton Thiokol?
0:53:33 > 0:53:36There's no-one who can answer my question?
0:53:38 > 0:53:39Well, have a nice day(!)
0:54:18 > 0:54:21General...
0:54:21 > 0:54:24I tried to find McDonald.
0:54:24 > 0:54:28No luck, and it's clear why his bosses wanted to please NASA -
0:54:28 > 0:54:30very big money at stake.
0:54:30 > 0:54:32I'll catch you later.
0:54:42 > 0:54:44Hey, Graham.
0:54:44 > 0:54:48That spring-back on the O-ring was measured over two hours.
0:54:48 > 0:54:50It's useless information.
0:54:50 > 0:54:53I'm really sorry. That's what I got from Marshall.
0:54:53 > 0:54:56Remember what it was to be a scientist before government got to you?
0:54:56 > 0:54:59You don't think I gave you...? On purpose...?
0:55:00 > 0:55:01No.
0:55:01 > 0:55:05Look, I have this grand title.
0:55:05 > 0:55:08The NASA old guard, they handed me a list of who should be on the commission.
0:55:08 > 0:55:11It was tough to persuade them to take you.
0:55:12 > 0:55:15I'm sorry to have gotten you into this.
0:55:15 > 0:55:21Well, when you read my notes that I sent, you'll see the crap that goes down at Marshall.
0:55:21 > 0:55:25- Notes?- My write-ups.
0:55:25 > 0:55:28Those analyses and my examination of the crazy engineering.
0:55:36 > 0:55:37Richard. Richard...
0:55:41 > 0:55:46Sally, did you get a set of notes, my observations?
0:55:48 > 0:55:50No, I haven't had anything.
0:56:02 > 0:56:04What the hell happened to my notes?
0:56:05 > 0:56:08Sally Ride says she didn't get them. Did the others?
0:56:13 > 0:56:17OK. I had sent over from my hotel
0:56:17 > 0:56:20a stack of typed-up notes, wrapped in brown paper,
0:56:20 > 0:56:23proper analyses of all my observations of the engineering so far,
0:56:23 > 0:56:27- with a request for you to have copies made for each commissioner. - I have no knowledge of this.
0:56:27 > 0:56:30No such notes ever arrived on this desk. Perhaps you can have them redone?
0:56:30 > 0:56:32I don't have time for this!
0:56:32 > 0:56:35You trusted your hotel to deliver something so important?
0:56:36 > 0:56:39Yeah.
0:56:39 > 0:56:41Dr Feynman, please, as you can see,
0:56:41 > 0:56:46NASA is now co-operating fully with all of our requests for information.
0:56:55 > 0:56:57Well, then, have copies made of everything
0:56:57 > 0:56:59and have it sent over to my hotel.
0:57:06 > 0:57:08I don't know what's going on, honey.
0:57:08 > 0:57:11I landed myself right back in a load of political crap.
0:57:13 > 0:57:16- People seem to know a lot more than what they're saying.- 'Yeah?'
0:57:18 > 0:57:21And I finally got a ton of stuff from NASA.
0:57:22 > 0:57:26It's full of anomalies. How can that be critical one moment
0:57:26 > 0:57:28and safe to operate the next?
0:57:31 > 0:57:34Honey, I'm sorry. It's best for me to call you later.
0:57:36 > 0:57:38- 'Are you all right?'- I'm fine.
0:57:38 > 0:57:41'Honestly?'
0:57:41 > 0:57:43No, I feel very well.
0:57:43 > 0:57:46'Oh, all right. Speak tomorrow.'
0:57:46 > 0:57:48Yeah.
0:57:57 > 0:57:59"Ivory soap."
0:58:01 > 0:58:03"Ivory soap."
0:58:37 > 0:58:39PHONE RINGS
0:58:39 > 0:58:41General.
0:58:41 > 0:58:45OK, look, this is driving me crazy. I got a room full of NASA bullshit
0:58:45 > 0:58:48that just makes me more sure certain what caused the explosion.
0:58:48 > 0:58:52The cold, OK? We've got a guy who agrees with us.
0:58:52 > 0:58:53He gets shoved off the enquiry.
0:58:53 > 0:58:56We both know why, but none of it answers.
0:58:57 > 0:58:59There's a logic thing here that I'm just not getting.
0:58:59 > 0:59:03It's about what is at the heart of this thing.
0:59:03 > 0:59:07Why did NASA need to launch so bad?
0:59:07 > 0:59:09OK, stop, Prof, I can't answer this here.
0:59:11 > 0:59:15Erm... I'll pick you up in the morning. 8:15.
0:59:15 > 0:59:19And bring full ID. OK?
0:59:19 > 0:59:21- Goodnight.- Goodnight.
0:59:26 > 0:59:27Where are we going?
0:59:43 > 0:59:45We're going to the Pentagon?
0:59:53 > 0:59:54ID, please.
0:59:57 > 0:59:59Sir.
1:00:24 > 1:00:27Thank you, sergeant. Stand by outside.
1:00:27 > 1:00:31Prof, why don't you grab a seat down here?
1:00:32 > 1:00:33Right there.
1:00:40 > 1:00:43NASA. The agency of the United States Government
1:00:43 > 1:00:46responsible for the nation's civilian space programme
1:00:46 > 1:00:49and for aeronautics and aerospace research.
1:00:49 > 1:00:53Note the word "civilian" in there.
1:00:53 > 1:00:57The project cost in US dollars of running the space programme...
1:00:57 > 1:00:58The actual cost, I get it.
1:00:58 > 1:01:03And knowing this is unsustainable, NASA needs to prove itself,
1:01:03 > 1:01:04needs to bolster its purpose,
1:01:04 > 1:01:08over and above civilian scientific research and discovery, OK.
1:01:08 > 1:01:09So park that for a moment.
1:01:11 > 1:01:15The Air Force, meanwhile, wants to upgrade Titan.
1:01:15 > 1:01:19An efficient fleet of unmanned rockets to deploy spy satellites into space.
1:01:19 > 1:01:21- Paranoia.- OK.
1:01:21 > 1:01:24Whatever you civilians are told, we are still deep in the Cold War.
1:01:24 > 1:01:26What's it got to do with NASA?
1:01:26 > 1:01:28NASA approaches Congress with a deal.
1:01:28 > 1:01:30That seems to make great economic sense,
1:01:30 > 1:01:34the government can stop funding Titan and instead divert
1:01:34 > 1:01:38the money to NASA, and the Shuttle becomes sole access into space.
1:01:38 > 1:01:42NASA knocks out the Air Force and gets a funding boost.
1:01:42 > 1:01:43Exactly. Yeah.
1:01:44 > 1:01:47And the Shuttle secures its raison d'etre.
1:01:47 > 1:01:49Carrying spy satellites?
1:01:49 > 1:01:52And NASA convinced Congress
1:01:52 > 1:01:57that by 1986 they'd be able to launch twice a month, every month,
1:01:57 > 1:02:00and on each of these flights,
1:02:00 > 1:02:03payload will be made available to the Department of Defense.
1:02:07 > 1:02:09Titan was my project.
1:02:09 > 1:02:13But NASA reneges on its obligation
1:02:13 > 1:02:17and instead of giving DoD priority, they started taking Senators
1:02:17 > 1:02:21up there, in...just PR stunt after PR stunt.
1:02:21 > 1:02:24And then, launches start getting cancelled.
1:02:24 > 1:02:25The press is beginning to notice...
1:02:25 > 1:02:27Congress is getting jumpy.
1:02:27 > 1:02:30Yeah, yeah, and the administration is asking questions.
1:02:30 > 1:02:34And then last December, the launch is delayed six times,
1:02:34 > 1:02:37and remember NASA had promised Congress launch at any time,
1:02:37 > 1:02:40under any conditions, and then January 28th...
1:02:43 > 1:02:45January 28th launch, it's cold...
1:02:47 > 1:02:49It's very cold...
1:02:50 > 1:02:53..and NASA feels under extreme pressure.
1:02:55 > 1:02:56And took the risk.
1:02:58 > 1:02:59They took the risk.
1:03:02 > 1:03:04Why did you tell me all this?
1:03:06 > 1:03:09Do you wish you didn't know?
1:03:09 > 1:03:12Downstairs, you made me sign the classified information thing.
1:03:12 > 1:03:13That's right.
1:03:15 > 1:03:18So what's going on, Kutyna?
1:03:18 > 1:03:20I mean, you got me trapped,
1:03:20 > 1:03:22I can't spill any of this crap.
1:03:23 > 1:03:26It would jeopardise national security, the Soviets would know.
1:03:26 > 1:03:29You guys can't launch a damned thing in cold weather.
1:03:33 > 1:03:36You've been playing me the whole time. From the beginning.
1:03:36 > 1:03:38That weird thing in the garage.
1:03:38 > 1:03:43With the carburettor, the carburettor and the cold,
1:03:43 > 1:03:46I was supposed to take a hint. What is this, some kind of game to you?
1:03:46 > 1:03:48No, but it was a nudge.
1:03:48 > 1:03:51I heard about the O-ring via an astronaut friend of mine
1:03:51 > 1:03:54who was tipped off, in secret, by a NASA engineer.
1:03:54 > 1:03:57This astronaut's career has to be protected.
1:03:57 > 1:03:59I had to let you get there on your own, Prof.
1:03:59 > 1:04:03Prof. Don't Prof me, you don't play me, you don't screw around with me.
1:04:03 > 1:04:06Listen to me and you'll understand why I'm telling you this.
1:04:06 > 1:04:09I can't do anything with it! That's the point!
1:04:09 > 1:04:12Don't ever tell me anything I can't open my mouth
1:04:12 > 1:04:13and blab to the whole world!
1:04:16 > 1:04:19I got to... I gotta get out of here.
1:04:19 > 1:04:21Listen...
1:04:25 > 1:04:27Richard...
1:04:27 > 1:04:30No-one plays me. What is this, check six?
1:04:30 > 1:04:34Remember, I told you that only you are independent on this commission.
1:04:34 > 1:04:36Do others on the commission...
1:04:38 > 1:04:39Do they know stuff?
1:04:39 > 1:04:41Everyone knows some, or all,
1:04:41 > 1:04:44but they're all bound. This is Washington.
1:04:44 > 1:04:47What can be acknowledged, how, by whom....
1:04:47 > 1:04:48You go drag me into this?
1:04:48 > 1:04:52No, it's absolutely not, you're coming at it completely differently.
1:04:52 > 1:04:54I told you, because I believe
1:04:54 > 1:04:57that you, and only you, can use what you have,
1:04:57 > 1:05:01you can use the science to cut through the bullshit,
1:05:01 > 1:05:05to ensure that the real reason for those deaths gets out.
1:05:05 > 1:05:08That it's made completely clear to the public.
1:05:08 > 1:05:11NASA's forced to admit it, and has to reform.
1:05:13 > 1:05:14I wish.
1:05:15 > 1:05:19Why can't people just say things the way they are?
1:05:19 > 1:05:23Cos it's politics, it's dirty, but you can, you can drive through that.
1:05:23 > 1:05:25You can... What's the, what's the...
1:05:25 > 1:05:27Can I have your arm, please?
1:05:29 > 1:05:30What's going on?
1:05:30 > 1:05:32HE GROANS
1:05:32 > 1:05:34No...
1:05:38 > 1:05:40Not now. Not yet.
1:05:40 > 1:05:42HE GASPS IN PAIN
1:05:46 > 1:05:49- Let's get a medic. You get a medic right now.- Yes, sir.
1:06:48 > 1:06:50- '80-yard touchdown!' - SWITCHES TV CHANNEL
1:06:50 > 1:06:52'America is many things to many people.
1:06:52 > 1:06:56'To a 17-year-old kid, it's the malt shop on the corner,
1:06:56 > 1:07:00'to Grandpa, it's the front porch in the Blue Mountains.
1:07:00 > 1:07:03'To the mother and her family, it's church....
1:07:03 > 1:07:07'I'd Like to make it clear that all procedures were proper.
1:07:07 > 1:07:11'This is the same process that was used in 24 successful shuttle launches
1:07:11 > 1:07:13'as well as previous moon landings.'
1:07:13 > 1:07:14- 'I know that...'- Bunch of crap.
1:07:14 > 1:07:17'..based on the data up to January 27,
1:07:17 > 1:07:20'right through the launch countdown until the lift-off,
1:07:20 > 1:07:22'all those actions were proper.'
1:07:22 > 1:07:25'Do you believe you exercised good judgement on the evening
1:07:25 > 1:07:28- 'before the launch, regarding the temperature?- Absolutely.'
1:07:28 > 1:07:32I thought I'd drop these to the cleaners in the morning.
1:07:34 > 1:07:40"Use Ivory Soap. 99.4% pure."
1:07:40 > 1:07:42What? What did you say?
1:07:42 > 1:07:45I was just, that old Ivory Soap ad.
1:07:45 > 1:07:50"Use Ivory Soap, 99.4% pure."
1:07:50 > 1:07:51Forget about the cleaners,
1:07:51 > 1:07:54I got, I got notes and stuff in the pockets, so...
1:07:54 > 1:07:56- You sure?- Yeah.
1:07:56 > 1:07:59'Perhaps it's time to revisit the possibility
1:07:59 > 1:08:03'that the Shuttle was a victim of an act of sabotage or terrorism.
1:08:03 > 1:08:06- 'NASA will present at Wednesday's televised...'- Jeez!
1:08:06 > 1:08:09'..along with members from Morton Thiokol.
1:08:09 > 1:08:11'Both parties will detail...'
1:08:11 > 1:08:14Only 99.4%, you bastards!
1:08:14 > 1:08:16'..by the commission, is unclear
1:08:16 > 1:08:19'whether we will ever have answers as to what caused this disaster...'
1:08:19 > 1:08:21Gwen!
1:08:22 > 1:08:24Gweneth!
1:08:24 > 1:08:25What's the matter?
1:08:26 > 1:08:29- Papa, what's wrong?- What?
1:08:29 > 1:08:31I have to go back to Washington.
1:08:35 > 1:08:36Michelle, go back to bed, go on.
1:08:36 > 1:08:38Go on, back to bed, it's all right.
1:08:40 > 1:08:42You need to be here.
1:08:42 > 1:08:44You need to be taken care of.
1:08:44 > 1:08:48We can't come to Washington with you. She has school.
1:08:48 > 1:08:50She has no idea how seriously ill you are.
1:08:50 > 1:08:51I have to.
1:08:53 > 1:08:55People died.
1:08:55 > 1:08:58It will happen again. If I don't, what have the weeks been for?
1:08:58 > 1:09:00I mean, you're the one who persuaded me.
1:09:00 > 1:09:02And you said it yourself -
1:09:02 > 1:09:04let someone else do it.
1:09:04 > 1:09:06You can't, you don't have to carry on now.
1:09:08 > 1:09:10Nobody's got the right to ask that of you.
1:09:10 > 1:09:12I'm the one asking me.
1:09:12 > 1:09:14I'm the one asking.
1:09:22 > 1:09:23OK.
1:09:26 > 1:09:28OK.
1:09:28 > 1:09:33I just wanted to have you to myself for as long as possible.
1:09:41 > 1:09:43Honey, will you help me?
1:09:47 > 1:09:50I got to get it all down.
1:09:50 > 1:09:52My notes, everything I found out.
1:09:54 > 1:09:55Got to be one hell of a paper.
1:10:03 > 1:10:09The original tang and clevis seal design failed to anticipate
1:10:09 > 1:10:14the enormous pressure, caused by the burning propellant,
1:10:14 > 1:10:17would cause the walls to bow outward,
1:10:17 > 1:10:21a phenomenon known as joint rotation.
1:10:21 > 1:10:25- OK?- Swell. My blood is freshly laundered.
1:10:25 > 1:10:28Dick, you know the affects of the dialysis are only temporary.
1:10:30 > 1:10:31Life is pretty temporary.
1:10:50 > 1:10:53'You're listening to drive time on WTBX with Steve O'Brian.
1:10:57 > 1:10:59'Power one-o-three on WTBX.
1:10:59 > 1:11:02'We are definitely addicted to our ten-in-a-row power play for all
1:11:02 > 1:11:06'you folks in Washington, coming up next, Miami Sound Machine...'
1:11:12 > 1:11:16Dr Feynman, can you comment on the progress of the commission?
1:11:16 > 1:11:19What's your take on the sabotage theory?
1:11:19 > 1:11:21I'm not at liberty to speak.
1:11:31 > 1:11:32The commission?
1:11:32 > 1:11:33Through there, sir.
1:11:36 > 1:11:38I'm sorry, sir. You can't go in there.
1:11:38 > 1:11:39Who says so?
1:11:39 > 1:11:41Not without a tie, sir.
1:11:41 > 1:11:44Give me strength.
1:11:54 > 1:11:57I'm sure this is going to look a lot more dainty.
1:12:00 > 1:12:01Good evening, gentlemen.
1:12:04 > 1:12:08My findings, developed, processed, distilled,
1:12:08 > 1:12:10I've saved you the trouble of running them off
1:12:10 > 1:12:12in case the copy machine's broken.
1:12:15 > 1:12:17- Hey, Bill. Will you do the honours? - Sure.
1:12:17 > 1:12:21It's all here. Hi, Neil. Would you?
1:12:21 > 1:12:24Design flaws in the boosters.
1:12:24 > 1:12:26Management failure.
1:12:28 > 1:12:31- A cold day.- You OK?
1:12:31 > 1:12:33I had the flu, but now it's flown.
1:12:33 > 1:12:35Why don't you just take this chair?
1:12:45 > 1:12:47Thank you.
1:12:47 > 1:12:50And thank you.
1:12:50 > 1:12:55For your fine, patient, methodical work over the last weeks.
1:12:55 > 1:12:57It's been a difficult period.
1:12:57 > 1:13:00Especially for Dr Feynman.
1:13:00 > 1:13:02Welcome back, Doctor.
1:13:02 > 1:13:06And Doctor, I'm sure that we'll want to include some of your new material
1:13:06 > 1:13:07in our final report.
1:13:08 > 1:13:11Please remember this is a very important hearing.
1:13:11 > 1:13:14We're expecting a lot of press.
1:13:14 > 1:13:17And it will be televised, so please do be prompt. Thank you.
1:13:30 > 1:13:32Prof.
1:13:32 > 1:13:35It's happening again, Rogers is going to bury my work.
1:13:35 > 1:13:39Yeah, and I just got cornered outside by the press.
1:13:39 > 1:13:40Me too.
1:13:40 > 1:13:43I think they're ready to go with "unproven".
1:13:44 > 1:13:46Yep, or a sniper on the grassy knoll.
1:13:49 > 1:13:51I eat a lot of pickled beets.
1:13:53 > 1:13:56General, I haven't a damned clue what we're going to do.
1:13:58 > 1:14:02Despite what you may think, I am pleased to see you back.
1:14:05 > 1:14:07- General.- Chairman.
1:14:07 > 1:14:11We have a major difficulty.
1:14:11 > 1:14:15The people who best understand the Shuttle are the people giving evidence
1:14:15 > 1:14:18but they have the most to lose by explaining it clearly.
1:14:20 > 1:14:23The public is simply mystified.
1:14:23 > 1:14:27Somehow, we need to penetrate the fog.
1:14:29 > 1:14:30Welcome back.
1:14:35 > 1:14:37We know what Marshall's strategy's going to be.
1:14:37 > 1:14:41Smokescreen. Manipulate the science.
1:14:41 > 1:14:43Yeah, they'll make it into a fuzz dazzle.
1:14:45 > 1:14:46That kills me.
1:15:04 > 1:15:05I have to go.
1:15:07 > 1:15:09- You OK?- I am fine.
1:15:13 > 1:15:14Neil.
1:15:16 > 1:15:18I've been meaning to ask you.
1:15:18 > 1:15:19Yes, Richard.
1:15:19 > 1:15:24This is for a friend. An admirer.
1:15:24 > 1:15:26Right. Of course.
1:15:27 > 1:15:29Thanks so much, Neil.
1:15:29 > 1:15:31Sorry, embarrassing but...
1:15:31 > 1:15:34- Anything for you, Richard. - Goodnight.
1:15:34 > 1:15:35Take care of yourself.
1:15:36 > 1:15:40You asked me for something, now I'm going to ask you for something.
1:15:40 > 1:15:43No, you picked me up a couple of weeks ago.
1:15:46 > 1:15:50- Morning.- Morning.
1:15:50 > 1:15:52There's my end of the deal.
1:15:52 > 1:15:53All right.
1:15:53 > 1:15:55Here's what I need from you.
1:15:55 > 1:15:57A hardware store.
1:15:57 > 1:16:00A hardware store. Why would a super important person want...
1:16:00 > 1:16:03- Do you know a hardware store that opens early?- I know a place.
1:16:13 > 1:16:15Come on. Get out of bed.
1:16:24 > 1:16:26The astronauts' families will be seeking clarity
1:16:26 > 1:16:30on what precisely caused the deaths of their loved ones.
1:16:30 > 1:16:33NASA witnesses will be answering those questions...
1:16:33 > 1:16:37Graham, make sure you have a section model of a SRB joint.
1:16:38 > 1:16:41- Are we late?- We're good for time.
1:16:46 > 1:16:49- Hey.- Morning, General. I guess this is it.
1:16:50 > 1:16:51Good luck.
1:17:23 > 1:17:26Would the witnesses please rise?
1:17:30 > 1:17:33Do you swear that the testimony you will give before this commission
1:17:33 > 1:17:35will be the truth, the whole truth
1:17:35 > 1:17:38and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
1:17:38 > 1:17:39- I do.- I do.
1:17:44 > 1:17:46Mr Mulloy, did you have any apprehension
1:17:46 > 1:17:51that a delay in launch would reflect badly on you or NASA Marshall?
1:17:51 > 1:17:53No, not at all.
1:17:53 > 1:17:55My decision to proceed with the launch as recommended
1:17:55 > 1:17:58by the Thiokol official was based solely on the data
1:17:58 > 1:18:02- presented by Thiokol Engineering. - Here comes the smoke.
1:18:02 > 1:18:04This is shot right about August 19th,
1:18:04 > 1:18:08and the thing of interest here is what we have seen in the O-rings.
1:18:08 > 1:18:11See, the fact is, before Challenger, we had seen
1:18:11 > 1:18:15no anomalous O-ring erosion for about a year.
1:18:21 > 1:18:25Mr McDonald stated that he thought that what had been said was
1:18:25 > 1:18:30very important - that the secondary O-ring was in a position to sealed
1:18:30 > 1:18:32during the time of blow-by.
1:18:32 > 1:18:34So you interpreted Mr McDonald's comment
1:18:34 > 1:18:38as a statement in favour of proceeding to launch?
1:18:38 > 1:18:41Yes, I certainly did because Mr McDonald was seated close by,
1:18:41 > 1:18:44and it was clearly a supportive comment.
1:18:44 > 1:18:45I have a question.
1:18:45 > 1:18:50Can you remind me what NASA calculates the probability
1:18:50 > 1:18:53of shuttle failure to be?
1:18:54 > 1:18:58Failure meaning the loss of the vehicle,
1:18:58 > 1:19:00and the deaths of the entire crew.
1:19:01 > 1:19:03Dr Lovingood.
1:19:03 > 1:19:06Certainly. That would be...
1:19:08 > 1:19:11..one in ten to the power of five.
1:19:11 > 1:19:12Really?
1:19:13 > 1:19:15Would you explain that?
1:19:15 > 1:19:20Yes, that the probability of mission success is 100%.
1:19:20 > 1:19:21Minus Epsilon.
1:19:21 > 1:19:24Epsilon. That's a pretty fancy word.
1:19:24 > 1:19:28Well, let's put all that you've said there into English.
1:19:28 > 1:19:33So that's, that's one failure in every 100,000 flights.
1:19:33 > 1:19:37So you claim that the Shuttle would fly every day for 300 years
1:19:37 > 1:19:39before there would be a single failure.
1:19:39 > 1:19:42That's crazy, I mean, how would you ever even test that?
1:19:44 > 1:19:47NASA arrived at that figure because it was a manned flight.
1:19:47 > 1:19:48Because there are people on board
1:19:48 > 1:19:53but that's not a scientific calculation, that's...that's a wish.
1:19:53 > 1:19:54And interesting.
1:19:54 > 1:19:58But the figure is very different from that of NASA's own engineers.
1:19:58 > 1:20:01Based on their direct experience,
1:20:01 > 1:20:04and observation of many known component problems,
1:20:04 > 1:20:10some of NASA's engineers calculate the probability of success
1:20:10 > 1:20:11as only 99.4%.
1:20:11 > 1:20:17In other words, that's roughly one flight in every 200 will fail.
1:20:18 > 1:20:21AUDIENCE MURMURS
1:20:24 > 1:20:26Rogers, time out.
1:20:27 > 1:20:30I think this would be an appropriate time to take a break.
1:20:39 > 1:20:40One in 200!
1:20:40 > 1:20:44Wow. That's not what the astronauts were aware of.
1:20:44 > 1:20:46Potential disaster every three and half years.
1:20:46 > 1:20:49It won't convince anybody, there's no proof,
1:20:49 > 1:20:51people don't get probability, it's math.
1:20:51 > 1:20:53But maybe...
1:21:37 > 1:21:39The segment joint test we did, the development
1:21:39 > 1:21:44and qualification motor test we did, as a basis for understanding
1:21:44 > 1:21:47what we could expect to happen on the joints.
1:21:47 > 1:21:49- Mr Hardy.- Certainly.
1:21:49 > 1:21:54As we see, the temperature at which the O-rings would lose their integrity
1:21:54 > 1:21:57would be in the minus 40 to 50 degree range.
1:21:57 > 1:22:00Minus 40 to 50 degrees.
1:22:01 > 1:22:03- Fahrenheit?- Sir.
1:22:03 > 1:22:06So they'd maintain their integrity
1:22:06 > 1:22:09- down to 80 degrees below freezing? - That is correct.
1:22:13 > 1:22:15- Mr Rogers?- Oh, yes.- Thank you.
1:22:21 > 1:22:27These O-rings are supposed to expand to make a seal,
1:22:27 > 1:22:29- is that correct?- Yes, sir.
1:22:29 > 1:22:32So, for the people to understand,
1:22:32 > 1:22:36what if we take the O-rings out?
1:22:36 > 1:22:38Not have them.
1:22:38 > 1:22:41Well, then hot gas would expand through the joint.
1:22:41 > 1:22:48For the seal to work correctly, the O-ring has to be made of rubber,
1:22:48 > 1:22:53not something like lead, which when you...when you squash it, it stays?
1:22:54 > 1:22:56Yes, sir.
1:22:56 > 1:23:01Now if the O-ring weren't resilient for a second or two,
1:23:01 > 1:23:05that would be enough for a very dangerous situation
1:23:05 > 1:23:07and that could likely occur at low temperatures.
1:23:07 > 1:23:10No, as Mr Hardy has shown,
1:23:10 > 1:23:15they are effective down to minus 40 to 50 degrees.
1:23:15 > 1:23:19Well, then I just have one comment for the gentlemen,
1:23:19 > 1:23:23that I have always believed that any scientific concept
1:23:23 > 1:23:26can be demonstrated to ordinary people,
1:23:26 > 1:23:31people with no specialist knowledge or even much scientific education.
1:23:31 > 1:23:34- Co-pilot to pilot, not yet, just wait.- What?
1:23:35 > 1:23:37- HE WHISPERS:- All right. OK, go.
1:23:37 > 1:23:44See. I took some of...of this...
1:23:44 > 1:23:47stuff from your seal.
1:23:49 > 1:23:54And I put it in nothing more than ice water.
1:23:57 > 1:23:59And I discover...
1:24:03 > 1:24:06..that if you put it under pressure...
1:24:07 > 1:24:13..for a while, and then undo it...
1:24:19 > 1:24:21..it doesn't stretch back.
1:24:22 > 1:24:26It stops. At the same dimension.
1:24:26 > 1:24:30In other words, for a second or two, at least,
1:24:30 > 1:24:32and more seconds than that,
1:24:32 > 1:24:36there is no resilience in this particular material
1:24:36 > 1:24:40at the temperature of 32 degrees Fahrenheit,
1:24:40 > 1:24:42the temperature of a cold soda.
1:24:45 > 1:24:48I think that has some significance for our problem.
1:24:51 > 1:24:54AUDIENCE CHATTERS
1:25:07 > 1:25:08REPORTERS JOSTLE AND SHOUT
1:25:08 > 1:25:11Whatever the eventual Commission Report, I will be writing
1:25:11 > 1:25:15up my own independent appendix with all my findings, all the design,
1:25:15 > 1:25:18the engineering and the management problems,
1:25:18 > 1:25:21which I will be handing to the President myself.
1:25:22 > 1:25:26How much did NASA know about the effect of cold, Dr Feynman?
1:25:26 > 1:25:28Look. Ask him.
1:25:30 > 1:25:33Let us make recommendations
1:25:33 > 1:25:36to ensure that NASA officials
1:25:36 > 1:25:38deal in a world of reality.
1:25:40 > 1:25:43Understanding technological weakness and imperfections
1:25:43 > 1:25:47well enough to be actively trying to eliminate them.
1:25:49 > 1:25:53NASA owes it to the citizens from whom it asks support
1:25:53 > 1:25:56to be frank, honest and informative.
1:25:56 > 1:25:58For a successful technology,
1:25:58 > 1:26:02reality must take precedence over public relations,
1:26:02 > 1:26:04for nature cannot be fooled.
1:26:04 > 1:26:07APPLAUSE
1:26:07 > 1:26:09Dr Keel, please.
1:26:12 > 1:26:16And Mr President, this appendix has been prepared by Professor Feynman.
1:26:25 > 1:26:28And by the way, I think I've figured out who was your source.
1:26:29 > 1:26:32You said, "This astronaut, this astronaut."
1:26:32 > 1:26:35If it was a guy, you would have said "he."
1:26:37 > 1:26:40It's OK. I can keep shtoom.
1:26:45 > 1:26:49If you ever fancy a ride in that old Buick...
1:26:49 > 1:26:51Yeah. If the weather's warm.
1:26:52 > 1:26:54It would have to happen pretty soon.
1:26:58 > 1:27:01I'm sorry this is taking your time.
1:27:01 > 1:27:03I'm not sorry.
1:27:03 > 1:27:05I would have been tremendously sorry if we'd lost
1:27:05 > 1:27:06but as it is, it was...
1:27:08 > 1:27:09Not a good use of science.
1:27:09 > 1:27:13It's a good use of science.
1:27:13 > 1:27:14I'm OK.
1:27:15 > 1:27:17I'm OK with it.
1:27:17 > 1:27:20I guess there is a kind of afterlife.
1:27:20 > 1:27:24The few bits and pieces that we do might get remembered.
1:27:26 > 1:27:27General...
1:27:30 > 1:27:31..fix your hair.
1:28:32 > 1:28:34How would you react to the kind of ethical
1:28:34 > 1:28:37and political dilemmas portrayed in this film?
1:28:37 > 1:28:40Find out with the Open University's online quiz.
1:28:40 > 1:28:44Go to bbc.co.uk/challenger
1:28:44 > 1:28:46and follow links to the OU.
1:29:00 > 1:29:03Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd