Review: 'Challenger Disaster: Lost Tapes'

With the 30th anniversary of the Challenger space shuttle disaster rapidly approaching, it's natural that there are to be some looks back at one of the pivotal events of the American space program. But how do you provide a fresh take on a moment that basically boils down to a few seconds of post-launch footage and the aftermath of the explosion?

National Geographic solves that problem quite nicely, with the new hour-long special CHALLENGER DISASTER: LOST TAPES. The special focuses on one member of the crew, Christa McAuliffe, the first private citizen to be launched into space. Her story is told without narration or interviews, instead weaving together previously unseen footage along with some subtitles into a unique take on the story of the Space Shuttle Challenger and its crew.

Producers lean heavily on footage from NASA, including segments of her initial interviews during the selection process. As a teacher, McAuliffe was expected to teach two lessons from space and there is a lot of footage from her course rehearsals and training leading up to the flight. The launch and resulting explosion are show using a combination of little-seen raw television footage mixed together with audio from a local radio station in McAuliffe's home town. Even after the passage of time, it's chilling to see the looks on the crowd at the launch and back at McAuliffe's school as they realize something has gone horribly wrong.

One of the really unique pieces of post-disaster video also comes from NASA. It's part of a private event in which then -Vice President George Bush and Senator (and former astronaut) John Glenn speak to the men and women of Mission control in the days following the explosion. The two men struggle to find the right tone between acknowledging the horrible loss of the Challenger and its crew, while reminding the NASA employees that space is inherently dangerous and the best way to honor the lost crew is to continue moving forward.

CHALLENGER DISASTER: LOST TAPES puts a nice, thoughtful spin on a familiar piece of American history. It's well-done, respectful and brings some new insight into an event which deserves to be remembered.