Here's an interesting thing about the Challenger (and Columbia) disaster: We find it to be particularly devastating, the same as a major natural disaster or ter

Here's an interesting thing about the Challenger (and Columbia) disaster: We find it to be particularly devastating, the same as a major natural disaster or terrorist attack. But on paper, they don't even compare. The explosion of the Challenger killed 7 people and cost NASA around $40 billion. The destruction of the world trade center killed over 2600 and the cost to the private insurers alone was over $40 billion. Hurricane Katrina killed over 1800 and cost at least $100 billion. Not even the same ballpark. So why the big emotional impact? Because they stood for something important.