Truth, Lies, and O-Rings

Inside the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster

By: Allan J. McDonald, James R. Hansen - contributor

Narrated by: Jonathan Yen

On a cold January morning in 1986, NASA launched the Space Shuttle Challenger, despite warnings against doing so by many individuals including Allan McDonald. The fiery destruction of Challenger on live television moments after launch remains an indelible image in the nation's collective memory.

In Truth, Lies, and O-Rings, McDonald, a skilled engineer and executive, relives the tragedy from where he stood at Launch Control Center. As he fought to draw attention to the real reasons behind the disaster, he was the only one targeted for retribution by both NASA and his employer, Morton Thiokol, Inc., makers of the shuttle's solid rocket boosters.

In this whistle-blowing yet rigorous and fair-minded book, McDonald, with the assistance of internationally distinguished aerospace historian James R. Hansen, addresses all of the factors that led to the accident, some of which were never included in NASA's Failure Team report submitted to the Presidential Commission.

Truth, Lies, and O-Rings is the first look at the Challenger tragedy and its aftermath from someone who was on the inside, recognized the potential disaster, and tried to prevent it. It also addresses the early warnings of very severe debris issues from the first two post-Challenger flights, which ultimately resulted in the loss of Columbia some 15 years later.

©2009 Allan J. McDonald (P)2018 Tantor

Heavy Detail Order with Kindle Edition

Lots of technical details. Lots of company and governmental politics. Order with Kindle Edition.

Interesting, but VERY long

This book was very interesting and caused me to research more about the Challenger accident and watch lots of videos. The story is very compelling, although the author has a “holier than thou” approach to the tale. It’s hard to know if that’s the *real* story or the author’s slant. Nonetheless, his story is pretty amazing.

So many acronyms so little time

I’ve always wanted to read a good book about the Challenger disaster and this is one I’d put in that category. But good lord there are so many acronyms you get lost somewhere between KSC and SRB. It’s a bit distracting and somewhat takes away from the enjoyment of the book. There’s a lot of technical talk but if you can get past that it’s worth the listen. There are times where McDonald seems to be indulging in a bit of grandstanding but within the context of the subject it’s forgivable.

Amazing book, terrible narrator

The book is incredible in it's detail and honesty. It's a fascinating look behind the scenes of a disaster so many of us remember. But the narrator is atrocious. It takes the first 5 chapters to just get past his obnoxious style of reading.

Tons of details.

Great story, tons of details- sometimes too much detail, but the behind the scenes story or the blatant cover up is compelling.