NASA scientists and engineers were distraught in the lead-up to the Challenger explosion in January 1986.

Its launch had been delayed several times already, and they new they had a serious problem on their hands with what were called the “O rings” (seals on the main solid rocket boosters that were sensitive to temperature changes).

The delays were conscientious and totally prudent. But they had become a political embarassment for president Ronald Reagan’s White House, which finally overrode the scientists’ and engineers’ concerns, and ordered the ill-fated launch for purely political reasons and “optics”.

We all know what happened. The world watched in horror as that mission exploded 73 seconds after launch.

A poignant incident you won’t find in any history books or official records was related to me by a chief NASA engineer who was there.

Because of the politics involved, and the unique circumstances surrounding the launch, minutes after the explosion, NASA’s chief astronaut hopped into a fighter aircraft at Mission Control in Houston.

He flew himself to the Cape, where he landed on a runway adjacent to the launch site.

He hopped out of his fighter jet (where he was confronted and challenged by armed soldiers guarding the site).

He proceeded with wrench in hand to walk to a high-speed telescopic camera installation which was mounted in a corner of the launch area (which would have captured the disaster in minute detail) and unbolted the camera box.

To the complete dismay of the armed soldiers who were flanking his every move, but who he seriously outranked, he walked back to his jet and threw the assembly in the rear cockpit. He then took off back to Houston with his “explosive” cargo.

Under the charged political circumstances, Mission Control was paranoid the film would disappear.

The White House (specifically president Reagan) never did accept responsibility for the disaster.

You don’t need to be a “rocket scientist” to see that new U.S. President Donald Trump and his White House are dangerous as well.

About 20 U.S. military veterans commit suicide each day.

Tens of thousands of Americans die from gun violence each year.

Since 9/11 (excluding those deaths) approximately 30 American civilians have died each year from terrorism (that’s 30).

Out of 750,000 refugees admitted into their country so far, not one act of terrorism has been attributed to any of them.

America loves having an “enemy” though.

After only a brief time in office, filled with “slash and burn” executive tactics designed to create that enemy, President Trump may have created (as well) what has taken only one or two other presidents years in office to achieve ... a full-blown constitutional crisis!

How America deals with this situation, with this reckless president and his reckless administration, will determine not only its own future, but the future of the world.

It’s a “future” which is seriously compromised right now. Climate scientists around the world are screaming in unanimity, trying to alert us to the real threat we face, the real enemy.

The Paris Climate Accord was the last and final “wake-up” call for humanity. It told us that we still have a “window” to fix the problem of climate change, but it’s closing fast.

Along with the “sane” elements left in America, our own prime minister (who needs to seriously reconsider certain of his own ideas) and leaders of other countries, like Germany, Britain, China, France, (Russia is no longer a leader amongst nations) must stand up, and speak loudly and clearly, and honestly, to this threat.

Our planet’s “O rings” are seriously degraded.

We haven’t a lot of time left. President Trump is starting his countdown.

America needs to “abort” this mission, this “launch” right now, until they figure out, in Trump’s own words, “what the hell is going on.”

Ten, nine, eight, seven ....

The writer is a longtime Whitehorse resident.

By ANDREW MACDONALD