Review: Remembering the Columbia Disaster (CNN Documentary Series)

REVIEW: REMEMBERING THE COLUMBIA DISASTER (CNN DOCUMENTARY SERIES)

It’s an embarrassing confession, but I don’t remember much about the NASA Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003. Conversely, I can recall nearly everything from 17 years earlier. I have vivid recollections of the precise moment of the Challenger explosion in 1986 and how everyone around me reacted to the shock and pain. But the Columbia tragedy, which was every bit as distressing, is a vague memory that’s faded and has been lost over time.

For this reason, watching CNN’s debut of “Space Shuttle Columbia: The Final Flight” was like exploring a little-known mystery. Ultimately — as the namesake of the original mission foretold — that journey ends with discovery. It wasn’t about space or technology or any of the presumed fail-safe operations that somehow went grotesquely wrong, but rather about all the incredible things that went right for so long just to get to the point of another takeoff and expedition into the skies. The far deeper and more meaningful discovery from the space shuttle disaster may turn out to be what we’ve learned about ourselves. This includes the peculiar ways we interact with each other, and the imperfections of optimization, even when best minds and people are in charge.

Told in four parts, this original CNN documentary series that debuted Sunday night (Apr. 7) with Episodes 1 and 2 is the story of the disaster from multiple perspectives and contrasting angles. Parts 3 and 4 will be shown next Sunday night (Apr. 14). It’s exceptionally well told, never dumbing down the occasionally complicated subject matter for the audience, respecting us enough to expect that we can keep up with the story, even though most of us aren’t astrophysicists or rocket scientists. Then there’s the human frailty. We learn the stories of those we lost, told by the surviving family members.

That said, what I found most fascinating were the stories of individuals forced into impossible decisions with ambiguous channels of concern against the backdrop of a much larger bureaucracy that always demanded rigid conformity, and punished dissent. NASA scientists who knew something was very wrong early in the mission faced excruciating career choices. It’s easy to see now that many were at fault and should have done more, or at least spoken out louder and behaved differently. But caught up in pride pressured by the strictest mission objectives, it didn’t seem worth it to raise hell and warn everyone that the space shuttle may have been doomed just 80 seconds into takeoff. “NASA culture didn’t provide channels for those of us knew what might happen,” said one engineer. “It was a tightly regimented system and you never questioned authority.”

Seven brave space shuttle astronauts and their families paid the ultimate price for those mistakes and failures. They were the victims of flawed executive management, unnecessary delays, misinformation, and a colossal breakdown of responsibility and trust.

Now 20 years later, there’s still lots of finger pointing about what went wrong. Some of those who were there have looked deeply into the mirror at themselves. Others have not. Perhaps what they ponder behind the faces looking back is just too painful. Fortunately, the CNN documentary provides a wide cross section of those who were there (and bear responsibility). Some are remarkably candid, and therefore sympathetic. Others seem to be in an ongoing state of denial. Then there’s much maligned Linda Ham (the NASA executive in charge as flight director at the time) who likely bears ultimate responsibility who refused to appear on the program. One can only imagine the demons rattling around in her conscience.

Now halfway through the series, we’re left on a cliffhanger. The space shuttle is about to return to earth. Aside from a few NASA scientists, no one else knows something serious is wrong and disaster is just hours away. Parts 3 and 4 will reveal that final story. If it’s anything like the first parts, we’re in for another descent into unchartered territory, both the scientific and the human.

This program is a must-see, especially for those who face life and death decisions or work in large organizations and must make important decisions. Traversing the skies and reaching towards the stars is a monumentally difficult task. But navigating among people might even be the tougher challenge.

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Note: The series (Parts 1 and 2) will be rebroadcast throughout the week. If you miss it, watch the final rerun which airs next Sunday prior to Parts 3 and 4.