As the world marks the 40th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, former NASA astronaut and professor Terry J. Hart ’68, who directs Lehigh University’s MS-AERO program, has been featured in national and international media, offering firsthand insight into the tragedy and its lasting impact on spaceflight.
Hart flew aboard Challenger in 1984 (STS-41-C) and brings a rare perspective shaped by both personal experience and decades of work in aerospace education. In recent interviews, he reflects on the crew he counted as friends, the technical and organizational failures that led to the 1986 accident, and how those lessons continue to inform engineering practice today.
Recent Media Highlights
PEOPLE Magazine | Exclusive Interview
In an in-depth personal account, Hart describes a “close call” involving O-ring issues during his 1984 Challenger mission and recalls his final conversations with members of the 1986 crew just a day before launch.
“We look back now… and think about them and the commitments they had made and redouble our commitments.”
Read the full story at PEOPLE.com.
KHOU 11 Houston | Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster Remembered
Speaking with the CBS affiliate in Houston, Hart reflects on his close friendship with Mission Commander Dick Scobee and recounts traveling to Houston in the immediate aftermath of the disaster to support the astronauts’ families. He emphasizes the importance of remembering the human cost of exploration.
Watch the interview at KHOU.com.
Space Boffins Podcast | Emergencies, Unlucky Space Shuttles and Space 2026
Hart joined hosts Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham for a wide-ranging conversation about his career, from joining NASA’s 1978 astronaut class to performing the first in-orbit satellite repair. The discussion also touches on current aerospace work at Lehigh, including student-led efforts to detect ocean plastics from space.
Listen to the episode on thenakedscientists.com or via Apple Podcasts.
Earlier Coverage
MIT Technology Review
Hart previously examined the technical and communication failures surrounding the Challenger era, framing the disaster as a critical case study for engineers and decision-makers. Read More
Additional media appearances will be added as coverage continues throughout the anniversary period.
