Gene Thomas was a principal participant in the events surrounding the Shuttle Challenger tragedy in January, 1986. As NASA's Launch Director at the Kennedy Space Center, Thomas gave the final "Go" to launch Challenger on that cold Florida morning. As a Christian, he felt the grace of God's abiding love as his faith was tested on that fateful day. He expresses, through this candid close-up account, the events and political environment leading to the Challenger accident. He gives an insider's view of how the amazing Shuttle is launched and the bravery of the men and women who fly it. With humor, candor, and personal experiences, he relates the real story behind America's first major space tragedy.

JAMES A. (GENE) THOMAS retired in 1997 as Deputy Director of the Kennedy Space Center after a NASA career spanning 35 years. Born in Meridian, MS, Thomas received his B. S. Degree in Electrical Engineering from Mississippi State University in 1962 and earned a Master's Degree in Technical Management from Florida State University in 1973. Joining NASA at the KSC in 1962, Thomas held several responsible positions with NASA, including Communications Systems Engineer on the Apollo moon landing missions, Orbiter Project Engineer, and Shuttle Project Engineer from June 1983 through August 1985. He then became Director of Launch and Landing Operations, concurrently holding the position of Shuttle Launch Director for six Shuttle launches, including the Challenger launch in January 1986.