Any of You Remember the Challenger disaster?

[TarHeelMan]

It's been 20 years ago, today.... I just finished watching a documentary on it on National Geographic... It was very compelling to watch as it led up to that fateful morning... I didn't realize that the engineers had lobbied so hard to push back or cancel the launch altogether... I still felt a lump in my throat as I watched the footage of the launch, up until the moment where the shuttle was ripped apart.

[Lintyfresh85]

Re: Any of You Remember the Challenger disaster?

no I sure don't... I was less than a year old... but my mom said that her and I were sitting in front of the tv watching when it happened. RIP... I can't believe that happened 20 years ago.

[BatsareBugs]

Re: Any of You Remember the Challenger disaster?

I wasn't born yet.

[TarHeelMan]

Re: Any of You Remember the Challenger disaster?

Yikes, do I feel old... *takes out dentures for future washing*

I was in eighth grade at the time, and I had been a space travel buff before that... I remember staying up to watch the shuttle launches at like 3 or 4 in the morning, when they were still broadcast by the big three networks... I was home early from school that day, and I got back in time to see the aftermath... It was all very surreal.... I think at that point, the shuttle launches were becoming routine, and it was, ho-hum, another launch.... That tragedy probably reinforced the danger of everything in peoples' minds.

[Heelfan71]

Re: Any of You Remember the Challenger disaster?

I was at home watching tv (it was a teacher work day at school) when it happened. I remember running into my parents room to tell my mom. I was in 9th grade.

[mgoblue]

Re: Any of You Remember the Challenger disaster?

i don't remember it, but always being interested in space and whatnot (discovery and the science channels can have some pretty damn cool shows) I've seen that clip a lot, and various shows on the Challenger, and it always gets me when I see it. So sad, but it's what happens when we push the limits. Sadly innovation and safety usually come with a high price (see auto racing, after Earnhardt's death they've really kicked safety into another gear)

[nyisles16]

Re: Any of You Remember the Challenger disaster?

i remember being in the school cafeteria (was 12 at the time) when one of my friends came in saying the shuttle blew up.. i also remember doubting him at the time, & didnt hear anything more until i got home & saw it on TV...

[bkrich83]

Re: Any of You Remember the Challenger disaster?

It's been 20 years ago, today.... I just finished watching a documentary on it on National Geographic... It was very compelling to watch as it led up to that fateful morning... I didn't realize that the engineers had lobbied so hard to push back or cancel the launch altogether... I still felt a lump in my throat as I watched the footage of the launch, up until the moment where the shuttle was ripped apart.

I was a Freshman in HS. I remember it happened right as we were heading from a break in to my Earth Science class. We all went to the Library, and watched in horror on the TV in there. A day I will never forget.

[SlimKibbles]

Re: Any of You Remember the Challenger disaster?

I remember it. I was 9 and in 3rd grade. I don't recall watching it at school (I may have but it's hard to remember), but I do remember seeing it at home. It was almost like watching a movie in the sense that you feel like "is this real?" Being a kid and never seeing anything close to that, I really didn't know the magnitude of what happened until it was all over the news, in magazines, in newpapers, etc. I cringe every time I see the video.

[Psyblast]

Re: Any of You Remember the Challenger disaster?

I wasn't born yet, but the image of the two plumes of smoke and fire shooting off in opposite directions is extremely haunting and has to be one of the more memorable/frightening images in history.

[forensicd]

Re: Any of You Remember the Challenger disaster?

I remember wathing it in school live. It was very odd at the time, because the teacher just turned it off immediately after it initially happened. Soon, we will learn that un-manned space flight, like the one going to pluto now, is much more safer and really extends where man can go. I think gone are the days of it being more about the people (The Right Stuff) and more about the science and exploration.

[mgoblue]

Re: Any of You Remember the Challenger disaster?

I remember wathing it in school live. It was very odd at the time, because the teacher just turned it off immediately after it initially happened. Soon, we will learn that un-manned space flight, like the one going to pluto now, is much more safer and really extends where man can go. I think gone are the days of it being more about the people (The Right Stuff) and more about the science and exploration.

we keep getting closer to having the machines (rovers, satellites, whatever) to being able to do whatever a human would...unmanned stuff makes a lot more sense for the time being, great point

[cliburn]

Re: Any of You Remember the Challenger disaster?

I believe I've mentioned this before, but I was there. I lived in Melbourne, Florida at the time and my preschool class took a field trip to see it launch. We had been studying it a lot because of Christa McAuliffe. I was four years old. My mom said I came home sobbing and just kept repeating, "The teacher died, mommy; the teacher died." I have a picture that was taken of it by one of the parents with us somewhere in my parents' house.

[mjb2124]

Re: Any of You Remember the Challenger disaster?

Certainly remember it. I was in 5th grade and we were watching it on TV. Everyone was silent after it exploded. No one knew what to think at that time.