Yes, this IS rocket science
As I recall, the loss of the Challenger was some combination of engineering failures, hubris, and politics.
The engineering failures are well documented, as is the hubris (we got lucky before, we'll get lucky again).
As for the politics, recall that this was the flight of the "Teacher in Space1" and the launch was to roughly coincide with Ronald Reagan's 1986 State of the Union address2 later that same day. Whether anyone would admit it or not, there was a lot of pressure to get that spacecraft into orbit.
I recall driving in to work that morning, while listening to the radio3 coverage, thinking "they're trying awfully hard4 to get this thing off the ground" and that something's going to go badly wrong. About the time I got to my office with my first cup of coffee, they certainly had.
Note that I'm not particularly blaming the Reagan Administration for the pressure. It's just human nature to want to impress (or curry favor with) the boss, make the boss happy, and allow theboss to point with pride at accomplishments of subordinates. It just shows what happens whey you let that impulse take over.
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1 Teacher in Space Project
2 1986 State of the Union Address
3 Ask your grandparents.
4 "My God, Thiokol," he said. "When do you want me to launch — next April?"