Finalist Next Generation Indie Book Awards – Best Book Current Events
Finalist Next Generation Indie Book Awards – Best Book Science/Nature/Environment
Winner The Great Northwest Book Festival – Best Nonfiction
Winner The Great Southwest Book Festival- Best Nonfiction
Winner The Great Southeast Book Festival- Best Nonfiction
Winner The Great Midwest Book Festival- Best Nonfiction
Runner Up Southern California Book Festival
Runner Up Los Angeles Book Festival – Best Nonfiction
Runner Up London Book Festival – Best Nonfiction
After the deaths of his friends and colleagues aboard Columbia, a disaster that could have been avoided, Astronaut Charlie Camarda and his fellow crewmates worked diligently through their grief and many stress-filled days to return the United States to space on the next shuttle flight. This allowed NASA to once more take on the prideful mantle of success but only after paying a very steep price, a price that seems at times to have been already forgotten but may have to be paid again unless there are changes within both the organizational structure and culture of the agency.
Astronaut Dr. Charles Camarda has uncovered a recurring cause of accidents that no one has articulated yet—loss of a research culture that places a premium on learning and the quest for knowledge and what that means. He shows how to develop high-performing teams and networks of such research teams to solve anomalies rapidly, which can help prevent catastrophes in complex high-risk/high-reliability organizations.
What People Say
“The book does a remarkable job of pulling together every possible relevant concept and evidence from organizational research to support the goal of helping organizations get better.”—DR. AMY EDMONDSON NOVARTIS, Professor of Leadership and Management, Harvard Business School, author of the Fearless Organization (Wiley 2019) and several case studies on Columbia, Challenger and safety cultures
“Dr. Camarda describes a near miss not as a success but a ‘system failure’—Many Fire_ghters would not have died or been seriously injured over my 32 year FDNY career if the ‘Cultures’ and ‘Biases’ he teaches us about in his book were understood.”—COMMISSIONER THOMAS VON ESSEN, Commissioner of FDNY during 9/11 Tragedy, author Strong of Heart, Harper Collins, 2002
“Charles Camarda has drawn on his rich personal experience at NASA and extensive research to describe how a high-risk organization can build an elective safety culture, as well as how such a culture can erode over time. Managers in any high-risk environment can learn from this book.” —PROF. MICHAEL ROBERTO, Bryant University, author, Unlocking Creativity, Assistant Professor Harvard Business School, and Visiting Assistant Professor at the NYU Stern School of Business
“As an educational leader dedicated to fostering a culture of learning and growth, I found Dr. Charles J. Camarda’s Mission Out of Control to be both deeply inspiring and highly relevant. Drawing on his extraordinary career at NASA, Dr. Camarda underscores the vital importance of cultivating a culture that prioritizes learning and innovation—principles that resonate profoundly in the field of education. Just as he identifies the systemic flaws that can lead to catastrophic failures in high-risk organizations, we, as educators, must similarly recognize and address cultural and structural barriers to ensure the success and safety of our students and staff. His insights into building high-performing teams and solving complex challenges offer a powerful framework that leaders in any field, including education, can adapt to create lasting positive change. This book is a call to action for all leaders committed to shaping resilient, forward-thinking organizations.”– Dr. Joe Famularo, Educational Leader, NYS Superintendent of the Year, best-selling author of IOU Life Leadership
Courtney Stadd, Aerospace Commercial Leader | Public Policy, Regulatory and Business Development –
Charles’ “Mission Out of Control” should be mandatory reading for all senior officials at NASA and especially the incoming team. It is an absolutely brilliant analysis of the agency’s serious challenges, as well as proposed fixes. I held it up at a recent Washington Space Business Roundtable and urged the audience to run, not walk, in securing a book.
Jeff Nosanov –
The general public rarely sees an engineer, astronaut, or even civil servant pour his heart out at a scale as large, and from a well so deep, as Dr. Charlie Camarda does in “Mission Out of Control.” The reader will follow the story of a kid from Queens, NY inspired by the Apollo program, through engineering education, a NASA research career, a rare journey as an astronaut himself, and ultimately a bitter betrayal by a cost- and schedule- obsessed NASA culture. We see a search for truth following a tragedy shockingly stymied at every turn by cultural issues incomprehensible to the small child in all of us that looks up at the stars, and to NASA, for leadership.
Anyone interested in the Artemis moon program or its predecessor, the Constellation program, or interested in American space and technology leadership in general, will find the book riveting. Charlie tells a history invoking the best of halcyon American leadership of almost a century ago, molded and shaped by geopolitical events leading up to transition from NACA to NASA and ultimately the Apollo program. The tale turns morose as a post-Nixon NASA, flush with Cold War success, empowers bureaucrats and bean-counters over engineers and subject matter experts, becoming a federal government space launch workhorse in an abusive relationship with the Space Shuttle program. Several errors from this time, many for the first time described herein, were baked in to the space shuttle, causing problems – known and otherwise – for over 130 missions.
Errors from that era compound to this day, despite several major tragedies that should have led to agency-wide soul searching and reform. Dr. Camarda recounts unbelievably petty leadership dynamics embedded in life-and-death situations as he attempts to demonstrate major safety issues threatening both his own mission – returning to flight after Columbia (!) – and the remaining space shuttle missions prior to the program’s cancellation.
Anyone aspiring to or engaged in leadership or management should read this book, as it clearly demonstrates the fine line between confidence and arrogance, the power of institutional perceptions of success and failure, and the deeply human dynamics that fundamentally motivate all of us. The book concludes with a hopeful call to action based on Charlie’s decade of research and practice in improving engineering communication – identifying current and novel challenges in training and education that any organization should be thinking about.
Mission Out of Control is ultimately a deeply human exploration about the largest challenges we undertake, and the ways we can get in, or get out of, our own way.
Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers’ Favorite –
In Mission Out of Control: An Astronaut’s Odyssey to Fix High-Risk Organizations and Prevent Tragedy, Charles Camarda explores the intricate connections between organizational culture and disaster in high-stakes environments like NASA. Camarda examines the cultural shifts from a robust research-driven ethos to a more bureaucratic, production-oriented mindset that culminated in the tragic accidents of Challenger and Columbia. He argues that technical failures did not solely cause these disasters but were deeply rooted in cultural deficiencies and organizational dysfunctions, including normalizing deviance, cognitive biases, and ineffective communication. The book offers a compelling analysis of how such a breakdown in culture can lead to catastrophic outcomes in complex organizations. It proposes a way to fix such dysfunction and effectively address problems that can have far-reaching implications in organizations.
Beyond its incisive analysis, the book shows Camarda’s journey from a research engineer to an astronaut who experienced firsthand the consequences of these organizational failings. His reflections on the tragedies he witnessed, including the emotional turmoil following the Columbia disaster, inject life into the book and give it an emotional underpinning. The book also emphasizes fostering a high-performance research culture, prioritizing physical and psychological safety, and open communication. Charles Camarda advocates for transforming organizational structures into networks of high-performing teams that prioritize rapid diagnosis and response to potential issues, thereby offering a roadmap for learning from past mistakes and preventing future tragedies. Mission Out of Control is a stark reminder of the consequences of allowing operational pressures to overshadow safety protocols. The author’s insights are critical for aerospace organizations and any high-risk environment where the cost of failure can be catastrophic. The book is essential reading for leaders, managers, and decision-makers in any field striving to cultivate a safety-oriented culture. It is well-researched, hugely informative, and expertly delivered.
Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers’ Favorite –
Mission Out of Control by Dr. Charles J. Camarda is a deeply personal and technically informed exposé of organizational failure within NASA, presented from the unique perspective of an astronaut, research engineer, and insider. The book focuses on the Columbia space shuttle disaster and analyzes how flawed cultural dynamics, more than mere technical oversights, can lead to catastrophic consequences in high-stakes environments. Dr. Camarda reflects on his long career with NASA, from his early research work to his time as an astronaut on STS-114, the first shuttle flight after Columbia. He identifies a systemic erosion of what he calls the “research culture” that once defined NASA’s success, particularly during its Apollo era. Instead, he describes a shift toward a “production culture,” where meeting schedules and managing appearances precede scientific inquiry and engineering integrity. This change, he argues, made the agency vulnerable to repeating the same mistakes that led to both the Challenger and Columbia tragedies.
Through candid anecdotes and extensive research, Dr. Charles J. Camarda presents a framework for revitalizing large, high-risk organizations. He calls for a return to the values of rigorous experimentation, transparent communication, and a genuine thirst for knowledge. He also outlines strategies for building resilient networks of research teams that can respond to anomalies swiftly and effectively. Mission Out of Control offers valuable insights for leaders across sectors, from aerospace to healthcare, who must navigate complexity and safeguard against failure. Dr. Camarda’s voice is clear, passionate, and informed by experience, making this a compelling and vital read for anyone interested in organizational excellence and the human cost of neglecting it. Charts and images enhance the text, making this an excellent resource for college courses in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, public administration, science and technology, history, and organizational psychology. It’s a fascinating and informative book that will appeal to all readers.
K.C. Finn, Readers’ Favorite –
Mission Out of Control by Dr. Charles J. Camarda is a powerful, eye-opening analysis of systemic failure in high-risk organizations, grounded in the author’s unique perspective as a former astronaut. Drawing from firsthand experience, Camarda identifies a hidden but recurring culprit in many catastrophic events: the erosion of a research-driven culture that values learning and innovation. With clarity and urgency, he outlines how high-performing teams can be structured to prioritize problem-solving, safety, and resilience, especially in complex, mission-critical environments. From the failures of large institutions to the untapped potential of adaptive team networks, Mission Out of Control offers a crucial blueprint for cultivating a culture that not only prevents disaster but fosters transformative progress. This book is an essential read for leaders, engineers, scientists, and anyone invested in organizational excellence and accountability.
Author Charles J. Camarda has a wealth of experience to bring to this interesting treatise, and the work he’s created is a compelling and necessary call to reimagine how organizations approach innovation and risk. In a world where ignorance is running rampant and misinformation and lack of fact-checking seem to be increasingly lauded, this is a powerful testament to positive progress that is desperately needed. Dr. Camarda writes with clarity, but also with clear warmth and enthusiasm for creating positive change, and he lends a huge amount of technical expertise and real-world insight to the examples he cites in a way few others can. The organization of the information also builds on ideas well and is structured for students of all kinds to refer back to crucial information easily, making this a groundbreaking guide for fostering agile, resilient, and learning-centered teams. Overall, Mission Out of Control is an essential read for leaders navigating complexity in science, business, and beyond, and I would highly recommend it.
Gaius Konstantine, Readers’ Favorite –
“The mistakes were just as important as the successes, as they sowed the seeds of future accomplishments.” While this statement seems straightforward, few institutions implement this common-sense approach. Most do not, leading to potentially catastrophic outcomes.
Triggered by the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster on February 1, 2003, Mission Out Of Control: An Astronaut’s Odyssey to Fix High-Risk Organizations and Prevent Tragedy by Dr. Charles J. Camarda offers an insider’s perspective on what went wrong that day and what might have gone wrong in subsequent launches before the program was ultimately retired. The book addresses not just the technical causes of failure, which are indeed important, but more importantly, it explores the fundamental issue: an organizational shift from a research-focused culture to one centered on production. In this transformation, the organization prioritized justifying decisions rather than identifying the correct ones.
Mission Out of Control by Dr. Charles J. Camarda is more than just a book about business and finance; it is a cautionary tale and offers solutions for any social structure facing decline due to cultural and philosophical deterioration. While the narrative centers on the challenges encountered by a space agency attempting to send a delicate vehicle into low Earth orbit (LEO), the underlying issues and their solutions are relevant to large corporations, small businesses, individual households, and societies of millions. At times, the book can be technical and challenging for a layperson, as Dr. Camarda holds a doctorate in aerospace engineering and presents material that may be unfamiliar. However, he also discusses several fundamental concepts that are crucial for the success of various endeavors and everyday challenges. Overall, Mission Out of Control thoroughly examines what occurs when rigid mindsets take hold and reminds us that while failure may not be an option, it’s always a possibility.
Eric Ferrar, Readers’ Favorite –
Mission Out of Control by Dr. Charles J. Camarda offers an in-depth glimpse at how toxic work cultures and impaired decision-making can adversely influence high-stakes work environments. He uses NASA as a prime example and casts light on the disintegration of the Columbia space shuttle to drive his point home. Dr. Camarda indicates that technical issues were not the only cause of this heartrending disaster, which took the lives of his colleagues and friends. Instead, organizational dysfunction and cultural deficiencies also bear the brunt of the blame. As such, this book underscores cultivating a high-performance research culture, accountability, safety, and effective communication in organizational environments to help optimize the functionality of those workspaces. Dr. Camarda’s discernment regarding organizational decision-making and leadership does not apply to NASA alone—his suggestions can be utilized by any workspace striving for growth while possessing a firm moral framework.
Mission Out of Control is an informative inquiry into the quest for ideal performance in the pivotal field of space travel and research. With the keen insight of a NASA veteran and an experienced astronaut, Dr. Charles J. Camarda imparts essential knowledge on the dangers of dogmatic organizational thinking, poor leadership, and ineffective risk management. His ideas about developing an efficient research culture in workspaces will help readers to explore new creative ways of making organizational environments more favorable for learning, identifying problems, and addressing those concerns. Dr. Camarda’s skill at fusing personal anecdotes with technical knowledge makes the content accessible to an eclectic range of readers. His book is a heartfelt ode to the extraordinary people who devote their careers to furthering space research and organizational progress. For persons interested in learning about organizational transformation, leadership in high-stakes workspaces, or space exploration, this book is the ideal read for you!
Reviewed by Leonard Smuts for Readers’ Favorite –
Why do large and successful organizations lose their way? Failure to adapt, complacency, and entrenched attitudes embedded in the corporate psyche play a role. Reform can be disruptive. One such organization is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Dr. Charles J. Camarda served for 46 years at NASA from 1974 as a research engineer, astronaut, and senior executive. He describes his ongoing clashes with authority in Mission Out of Control: An Astronaut’s Odyssey to Fix High-Risk Organization and Prevent Tragedy. The author and his colleagues were deeply affected by the fatal disaster that befell the Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003, an event that should have been avoided. The Challenger accident of 1986 and some near misses are also covered. More recently, similar situations prevailed at Boeing and various nuclear and chemical production facilities. It is a challenge to restore an organization to its former status. Poor decision-making was the result of a deteriorating corporate culture, centered on meeting targets and budgets. Space is an unforgiving environment, and engineers must allow for all eventualities that involve new and often unproven technologies. The many components on the space vehicles concerned are subjected to extremes of temperature and physical stress, but are not indestructible. There is no margin for error. In retrospect, was the Shuttle program too ambitious, or let down by a lack of critical thinking, poor engineering, and risk assessment? It begs the question as to what constitutes an acceptable risk.
Mission Out of Control is not just about accidents. It is a deep look into the systemic causes of failure in an organization, including research culture, decision-making, political meddling, corruption, and cover-ups. Known safety hazards were ignored, as the focus moved to a production culture. The technical complexity of the space program necessitated the use of outside contractors, which added a new dynamic. Dr. Charles J. Camarda provides an exhaustive analysis of the Challenger and Columbia disasters, which are highly technical. The dynamics of the teams involved are dissected in detail. He uncovers a maze of interconnected departments and reporting structures, each seemingly working in isolation. Dissenting voices were not tolerated. The author presents substantial photographic and engineering evidence to support his assertions. The fact remains that two Space Shuttles were lost due to component failures. That risks were taken seems beyond question. This book is about vindication and seeking remedies. It is divided into two parts. The first is the NASA saga, while the second aims to create an ethos of high performance in a corporate context. The characteristics of a High Reliability Organization (HRO) are described. The importance of the High Performance Team is stressed, and its attributes are explained. The principles that the author has described so clearly are universal in application. The technical nature of this publication may place it beyond the average reader, but it will appeal to space watchers, engineers, sociologists, and corporate strategists alike.