In this episode, we revisit the devastating Challenger space shuttle disaster of 1986, examining the critical decisions and organizational pressures that led to the catastrophe. We explore how a system rewarded confidence and forward motion over the quiet expertise of engineers, ultimately forcing reasonable decisions to drift into tragedy. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Challenger Disaster 00:46 The O-Ring Dilemma 02:32 Engineers vs. Managers 05:09 The Fateful Launch 07:26 Organizational Failure