Prime Video’s NASA Limited Series ‘The Challenger’ Adds 11 To Cast
Prime Video has added 11 recurring cast members to *The Challenger*, a limited series about the events leading up to the 1986 space shuttle disaster. The series will also cover the investigation that followed and astronaut Sally Ride’s path as the first American woman in space.
Kristen Stewart stars as Ride and Will Arnett as NASA official George Abbey. The new cast includes Daisuke Tsuji as Ellison Onizuka, Ned Vaughn as Neil Armstrong and Jamie Lee Dunn as teacher Christa McAuliffe. The shuttle broke apart 73 seconds after launching from Florida on 28 January 1986, killing all seven crew members; the series is inspired by Meredith E. Bagby’s 2023 book *The New Guys*.
- Prime Video added 11 recurring cast members to *The Challenger*.
- Kristen Stewart plays astronaut Sally Ride.
- The series covers the 1986 disaster and its aftermath.
New here? Start with this
The space shuttle Challenger was part of NASA’s programme of reusable spacecraft, which carried crews and equipment into orbit. On 28 January 1986, it broke apart shortly after launch from Florida, killing all seven people aboard, including teacher Christa McAuliffe, who was due to teach lessons from space.
The disaster led to an investigation into how the shuttle was approved to fly and how concerns were handled. Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, served on the presidential commission that examined the accident; NASA official George Abbey and astronauts including Ellison Onizuka were also part of the wider story.