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The Burning Blue
The Burning Blue: The Untold Story of Christa McAuliffe and NASA's Challenger Disaster | Kevin Cook
10 posts | 8 read | 26 to read
The untold story of a national traumaNASAs Challenger explosionand what really happened to Americas Teacher in Space, illuminating the tragic cost of humanity setting its sight on the stars Youve seen the pictures. You think you know what happened. You do not. On the morning of January 28, 1986, NASAs space shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after blasting off from Cape Canaveral. Christa McAuliffe, Americas Teacher in Space, was instantly killed, along with the other six members of the mission. Right? Wrong. Thirty-five years after NASAs revitalization program literally went up in smoke, Kevin Cook uncovers the untold story of the disastrous order to launch on an ice-cold Florida day. For the first time, he takes readers inside the shuttle for those agonizing two minutes and forty-five seconds after the fire which, yes, some of the astronauts survived. But this is more than a simple corrective to a now-dimming memory. Centering on McAuliffe, a charmingly ordinary civilian on the cusp of history, The Burning Blue animates the missions colorful cast of characters, which featured the second female astronaut (who was also the first Jewish astronaut), the second Black one, and the first Asian-American and Buddhist in space. Drawing intimate portraits of the people wearing the spacesuits and detailing how they earned the right to suit up, Cook makes readers temporarily forget the tragedy toward which the tale is hurtling. Infused with drama, immediacy, and compelling characters, The Burning Blue reveals the human price paid for politics and capital-P Progress on that ill-fated, unforgettable morning.
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Amiable
Amiable
The Burning Blue: The Untold Story of Christa McAuliffe and NASA's Challenger Disaster | Kevin Cook
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Excellent nonfiction account of the 1986 Challenger disaster is my #LetterB entry for the #AlphabetGame

Thanks for the tag, @GinaKButler !

Tagging @Ddzmini @marleed @DogMomIrene

GinaKButler Ohhh…I‘ve been dying to read this one! 2y
kspenmoll Sounds really good! 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks This broke my heart 💔 2y
See All 6 Comments
Amiable @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I know! You just wanted to reach into the pages and yell at the astronauts to not get on the shuttle. 😕 2y
DogMomIrene This one sounds really good. I learned a lot from the Netflix docuseries, but this account sounds even more horrifying. 2y
Amiable @DogMomIrene It definitely had some of the same information that was in the Netflix series, and extra stuff as well. Very well written. 2y
58 likes2 stack adds6 comments
review
Bookwormjillk
Bookwormjillk
The Burning Blue: The Untold Story of Christa McAuliffe and NASA's Challenger Disaster | Kevin Cook
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Pickpick

A comprehensive but sad book about the Challenger disaster. You just want to yell into the book and tell them not to get on that shuttle.

57 likes
blurb
Kerrbearlib
Kerrbearlib
The Burning Blue: The Untold Story of Christa McAuliffe and NASA's Challenger Disaster | Kevin Cook
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Current audiobook. I am excited about this one. I love reading books about the Challenger.

Where were you, if you were alive in 1986, on the day of the Challenger Disaster?

Amiable I was watching the launch on TV from my college freshman dorm in Boston. 2y
Amiable Also—this is a really good book! 2y
DrexEdit I had just gotten home from some college class. I remember it was one of the coldest days in January that year. 2y
Susanita I was at a (Wang) computer class for work and found out about it at lunchtime. 2y
11 likes4 comments
review
Singout
Singout
The Burning Blue: The Untold Story of Christa McAuliffe and NASA's Challenger Disaster | Kevin Cook
Pickpick

Thanks to @Amiable for another topic I wouldn‘t have chosen, but was fascinating: the Challenger disaster that took place when I was 15. The specific focus was on the dedicated woman teacher “passenger,” (although she got trained.) He does a great job of sharing her background and entry into the program, how the actual crisis unfolded, and the aftermath, both personal and political.
#Nonfiction2022 #Disaster
#NYWD
#Booked2022 #Exploration

tagged users iconRiveted_Reader_Melissa, monalyisha
Amiable I‘m so glad you liked it! I was a freshman in college and was watching the launch for my astronomy class. It‘s one of those “where were you when history happened?” kind of moments. (edited) 3y
Singout Wow, that‘s incredible. I have a hazy memory of it being in the news but that‘s all. 3y
10 likes2 comments
review
BarbaraTheBibliophage
BarbaraTheBibliophage
The Burning Blue: The Untold Story of Christa McAuliffe and NASA's Challenger Disaster | Kevin Cook
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Pickpick

My second-favorite narrative nonfiction of the year - 5/5 stars! This is the perfect blend of biography, science, space, and analysis of the biggest non-war-related tragedy of my life so far. I know just where I was when this happened. But I didn‘t know much detail of how and why. Cooks clears up all the questions. Beyond excellent!

Full review https://www.TheBibliophage.com
#thebibliophage2021 #nonfictionnerds

kspenmoll Wonderful review! This is not a book I would choose to read(intimidated by the science) but now I want to read it!!! 3y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @kspenmoll Thank you! It‘s as much about the people as the science. And he makes it accessible - you‘ll do fine! 🤓 (edited) 3y
MallenNC This is another one that is on my TBR bc of your posts! 3y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @MallenNC Aww. That makes me feel good! And I‘m excited to hear what you think—whenever you get to it. 3y
74 likes7 stack adds4 comments
review
Amiable
Amiable
The Burning Blue: The Untold Story of Christa McAuliffe and NASA's Challenger Disaster | Kevin Cook
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Pickpick

Detailed account of the Challenger shuttle tragedy, with a heavy dive into the personal lives of the 7 who were lost (6 astronauts and Christa McAuliffe, the first Teacher in Space). Learning so much about them adds to the tension that builds as the launch date approaches—you want to reach into the pages and yell “don‘t get on that shuttle!” I vividly remember watching the launch and explosion live on TV, and this brought it all back.

8little_paws Omg this must feel so tense to read! 3y
MallenNC Oh my goodness. I don‘t know if I could read this, but I want to try. I remember the Challenger so vividly. I was in the fifth grade and was home from school on a snow day so I watched it happen. I was too young to realize at first something horrible had gone wrong. 3y
Amiable @MallenNC I was a freshman in college and was watching TV as I was getting ready for a class (ironically, an astronomy class). I remember leaving my dorm in a daze, still not believing what I‘d just seen. 3y
See All 6 Comments
BarbaraTheBibliophage I‘m just starting this. I suspect I‘ll finish it quickly! It‘s so good. 3y
Amiable @BarbaraTheBibliophage You will! I started it yesterday and finished it today. It‘s mesmerizing. 3y
Megabooks Stacking this!! 3y
65 likes6 stack adds6 comments
blurb
Reviewsbylola
Reviewsbylola
The Burning Blue: The Untold Story of Christa McAuliffe and NASA's Challenger Disaster | Kevin Cook
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There is nothing better than choosing a book you can‘t put down when you‘re stuck in the car on a road trip. The Burning Blue has sucked me in and I cannot put it down. Which is good because our hot spot is not strong enough to stream 90 Day Fiancé. ?

I was only 2 when the Challenger exploded, so I have no memory of it, but I plan to pass this on to brian when I‘m done, since he has regaled me with the story of watching it live on TV.

Tamra Best way to spend drive time! 3y
Megabooks I have been watching 90D The Single Life and can‘t believe I‘m so late to such a hilarious party!! 3y
Reviewsbylola I‘m almost caught up with Before the 90 Days. I‘ll have to watch that next! @Megabooks 3y
See All 6 Comments
Megabooks Before is my fav! Possibly because it started right around when I started watching 90 Day. 3y
ncsufoxes I was in 4th grade when the Challenger exploded. We were supposed to watch it on tv but our teacher had a hard time getting it hooked up. So I was fortunate not to watch it live but I remember the aftermath but also the excitement leading up to that day. 3y
vivastory I remember the Challenger explosion. I recall discussing it at school & my mom being very upset about it. 3y
78 likes4 stack adds6 comments
review
MonicaLoves2Read
MonicaLoves2Read
The Burning Blue: The Untold Story of Christa McAuliffe and NASA's Challenger Disaster | Kevin Cook
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Pickpick

I was in the 7th grade watching the Challenger lift of in January 1986, and then it exploded. It's something I think I will always remember. This book looked at the Teacher in Space Program and all the things we as the public never knew. @TheAromaofBooks on my bingo board and Book Spin

#henryholtbooks

TheAromaofBooks It's amazing how certain events like that can become so imprinted on our lives! 3y
16 likes1 stack add1 comment