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Challenger Investigation #548457

NBC Evening News for Thursday, Feb 20, 1986
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(Studio: Tom Brokaw) Report introduced.

(DC: Robert Hager) Refusal of Morton Thiokol engineer Allan McDonald to appear in person before Senate committee investigating destruction of space shuttle Challenger examined; McDonald's opposition to shuttle's launch and NASA's go- ahead reviewed. Morton Thiokol vice president Joe Kilminster, who overruled McDonald and told NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) to launch, noted accompanying him to DC. [Senator Ernest HOLLINGS - claims McDonald told him of indications of problems during January 1985 shuttle launch.] National Public Radio's account of NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) launch executive Lawrence Mulloy's alleged comment on proposal to delay liftoff quoted on screen. Former astronaut Richard Truly reported named as new launch director and head of NASA's internal investigation of Challenger explosion. [TRULY - will review system.] Former shuttle chief Jesse Moore said moving to Johnson Space Center [MOORE - cites witch-hunt atmosphere.] President commission member Neil Armstrong said at Alabama center while astronaut Sally Ride and commission member Robert Hotz are continuing investigation.

(Studio: Tom Brokaw) Report introduced.

(Cape Canaveral, Florida: Jay Barbree) Astronauts' own investigation into Challenger disaster, headed by Captain Robert Crippen and Colonel Bob Overmeyer, examined; scenes shown. Info. gathered by group said funneled directly to astronaut Sally Ride, member of president commission

Reporter(s):
Barbree, Jay;
Brokaw, Tom;
Hager, Robert
Duration:
00:04:00

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