Nat Geo Slates Challenger Doc on Eve of Tragedy’s 30th Anniversary

PASADENA: To mark the 30th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, National Geographic Channel has slated for January 25 a documentary reconstructing the event through NASA footage and news reports.

Titled Challenger Disaster: Lost Tapes, the one-hour special will use long-forgotten news footage, radio reports, audio recordings and rarely seen NASA footage to retell the events leading up to, during and immediately after that day. The documentary will also air on National Geographic Channels in 171 countries in 45 languages, and in Spanish on Nat Geo Mundo.

“Thirty years later, it’s still difficult to watch footage of the Challenger,” said Barbara Morgan, the backup to Teacher in Space Christa McAuliffe, who died in the space shuttle explosion. “However, the National Geographic Channel special is very compelling and respectful.”