Plot Synopsis

Featuring archival footage and photographs along with first-person interviews, each one-hour episode of DAYS THAT SHAPED AMERICA chronicles a different memorable day in the history of the United States. On Sunday, January 28, 2018 at 10pm ET/PT, the History channel premiered "Challenger Disaster," but the cable channel had no other episodes scheduled at that time. One of the most tragic and shocking images ever broadcast to the American people, the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion left the country in mourning. The loss of seven astronauts became more heartbreaking as people learned that the incident could have been avoided if protocols had been different. Hear the emotional recollections of the Challenger commander's wife, two astronauts who were involved in the launch preparation, an engineer for the rocket boosters that failed, and a reporter who thought this would be a routine workday, as they relive the controversial moments that lead to the most notorious day in NASA's history.
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On Monday, September 10, 2018 from 9-11pm ET/PT, History premiered "September 11th," a new episode of DAYS THAT SHAPED AMERICA. The largest terror attack in our nation's history left images seared into our conscience that will never be forgotten. But for those caught in the middle, the memories are as strong today as they were in 2001. Hear the harrowing experiences of a trader who worked in the World Trade Center, a firefighter, a Port Authority officer, an ER doctor, an NYPD rescue worker, and a news reporter who were at Ground Zero, as well as a Pentagon contractor, an Airfone operator communicating with Flight 93, and the head of FAA operations as they experienced the tragic unfolding of a day none had dreamed possible.