Miniseries · Netflix
Challenger: The Final Flight
Who's in it
Cast
The principal ensemble across the run of the series.
Peter Billingsley
Self - Spokesperson, Young Astronaut Program
3 eps
June Scobee Rodgers
Self - Wife of Francis "Dick" Scobee
4 eps
William Harwood
Self - Cape Canaveral Bureau Chief, UPI (1984-1992)
4 eps
Frederick Gregory
Self - Astronaut, NASA (1978-1993)
4 eps
John Zarrella
Self - Correspondent, CNN (1983-2014)
4 eps
Richard O. Covey
Self - Astronaut, NASA (1978-1994)
4 eps
Steve Nesbitt
Self - Public Affairs Officer, NASA (1980-2010)
4 eps
Allan McDonald
Self - Director, Solid Rocket Booster Program (1984-1989), Morton Thiokol Corp.
4 eps
Barbara Morgan
Self - Teacher
3 eps
Lisa Bristol
Self - Sister of Christa McAuliffe
3 eps
Marcia Jarvis
Self - Wife of Gregory Jarvis
3 eps
Richard Cook
Self - Resource Analyst, NASA (1985-1996)
3 eps
Brian Russell
Self - Engineer, Solid Rocket Booster Program (1977-2015), Morton Thiokol Corp.
3 eps
Jane Smith-Wolcott
Self - Wife of Michael J. Smith
3 eps
Arnold Aldrich
Self - Manager, NASA Shuttle Program (1985-1986)
3 eps
William Lucas
Self - Director, NASA (1974-1986), Marshall Space Flight Center
3 eps
Robert Crippen
Self - Astronaut, NASA (1969-1986)
3 eps
Joseph Kilminster
Self - Vice President, Solid Rocket Booster Program (1983-1986), Morton Thiokol Corp.
3 eps
Lawrence Mulloy
Self - Manager, NASA (1982-1986), Marshall Space Flight Center
3 eps
Alison Smith Balch
Self - Daughter of Michael J. Smith
2 eps
Cheryl McNair
Self - Astronaut, NASA (1978-1997)
2 eps
Kris Jacques
Self - Student of Christa McAuliffe
2 eps
Richard Truly
Self - Astronaut, NASA (1969-1983)
2 eps
Rhea Seddon
Self - Astronaut, NASA (1978-1997)
2 eps
Scott Smith
Self - Son of Michael J. Smith
1 eps
David E. Sanger
Self - Journalist, New York Times
1 eps
Alton Keel
Self - Executive Director, Rogers Commission
1 eps
Donald Kutyna
Self - Member, Rogers Commission
1 eps
Phillip Boffey
Self - Journalist, New York Times (1977-2016)
1 eps
Kent Shocknek
Self (archive footage)
1 eps
Roy Rogers
Self (archive footage)
1 eps
Steven Spielberg
Self - Director "Close Encounters" (archive footage)
1 eps
Alan Lovelace
Self - NASA Acting Administrator (archive footage)
1 eps
Myron Malkin
Self - Shuttle Program Director (archive footage)
1 eps
Nichelle Nichols
Self (archive footage)
1 eps
Walter Cronkite
Self (archive footage)
1 eps
Deke Slayton
Self - Former astronaut (archive footage)
2 eps
Guion Bluford
Self (archive footage)
1 eps
Gloria Steinem
Self (archive footage)
1 eps
Leslie Serna
Self - Senior Publications Coordinator (1983-1990), Morton Thiokol Corp.
4 eps
The Nutevio profile
TV DNA
How Challenger: The Final Flight actually feels to watch, measured on the traits our editors track across every series.
Signature profile
Challenger: The Final Flight reads strongest on Bingeability, Character Depth and Serialized.
How hard it is to stop after one episode.
How fully written and psychologically layered the ensemble is.
How much each hour depends on the one before it.
How much the series is designed to affect you.
How often an episode ends on a hook you can't ignore.
The sustained pressure the series keeps you under.
The scale, internal logic and texture of the world.
How often the series is genuinely funny, by design.
Visual ambition — scale, craft and set-piece filmmaking.
The story
What it's about
Engineers, officials and the crew members' families provide their perspective on the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster and its aftermath.
Where the series peaks
Best Episodes
The hours that define the show, ranked by audience response and editorial signal.
S01E04
Nothing Ends Here
Challenger's shocking explosion devastates the families of the crew as well as millions watching live, and an investigation puts NASA on the defensive.
- Directed by Daniel Junge, Steven Leckart
S01E03
A Major Malfunction
After several delays, the crew prepares for launch as engineers and NASA officials tensely discuss concerns about the O-rings and a cold weather launch.
- Directed by Daniel Junge, Steven Leckart
S01E02
HELP!
To revive public interest, NASA chooses teacher Christa McAuliffe to be the first civilian on the Shuttle. Issues with the solid rocket boosters linger.
- Directed by Daniel Junge, Steven Leckart
S01E01
Space for Everyone
The new Space Shuttle program captivates America and draws a diverse, determined crop of astronauts. But safety issues arise out of public view.
- Directed by Daniel Junge, Steven Leckart
Behind the series
Created by
Showrunners, creators, executive producers and the writers who set the voice of the series.
The craft
Key Crew
Directing, writing, production, camera, music and editing.
Executive production
- Daniel JungeProducer
- Sean M. StuartExecutive Producer
- Steven LeckartProducer
- Ben StephensonExecutive Producer
- Rachel Rusch RichExecutive Producer
- Glen ZipperExecutive Producer
Direction
- Daniel JungeDirector
- Steven LeckartDirector
Cinematography
- Graham WilloughbyDirector of Photography
Music
- Jeff BealOriginal Music Composer
Where to watch
Streaming
Availability verified against regional listings.
- NetflixStreaming
- Netflix Standard with AdsStreaming
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