Challenger: 25 yrs ago a still painful memory

copperkid3 · #1 01/28/11, 09:37 AM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_sci_ch...hhbGxlbmdlcjI1

Shygal · #2 01/28/11, 10:54 AM

Yesterday was the 44th anniversary of the Apollo 1 fire, as well. More people remember Challenger than remember Columbia breaking up in the atmosphere. I couldnt even tell you when the Columbia happened.

copperkid3 · #3 01/28/11, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shygal

Yesterday was the 44th anniversary of the Apollo 1 fire, as well. More people remember Challenger than remember Columbia breaking up in the atmosphere. I couldnt even tell you when the Columbia happened.

************************************************** *********
coming up in another 4 days!!!
The Space Shuttle Columbia disaster occurred on February 1, 2003,
when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas and into parts
of Louisiana during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, resulting in the
death of all seven crew members, shortly before it was scheduled to conclude
its 28th mission.

Interesting to note, that ALL the major U.S. space disasters have occurred within
LESS that a week of each other during the winter. Perhaps NASA should refrain
from having ANY launches during the cold months when even in Florida, it apparently
is too cold for those inspectors to do the job that we the taxpayers, expected of them
and those brave astronauts, bet their lives on....

Ken Scharabok · #4 01/28/11, 03:41 PM

I remember both. At the time of the fire on the cockpit I was on an aircaft carrier in the pick up zone. I remember the captain coming on the intra-ship announcement with what had happened. On the Challenger I was at work and people walked by my cubical and I ask somewhat what was wrong. They said the Space Shuttle had blown up at launge. Fortunate the barber shop in the building had a TV and it has been placed at the window so everyone could see it. I remember this sort of shock to my body the first time I watched the tape of it happening. Some memories are just burned into your mind.

Callieslamb · #5 01/28/11, 04:03 PM

I can't believe it's been that long! I thought it might have been 5 years!

pcwerk · #6 01/29/11, 06:51 AM

yea, its very sad...i heard a recording of Christa talking to the media and
laughing...she was a special person...

Tricky Grama · #7 01/29/11, 07:13 AM

I remember, so tragic.

Ode · #8 01/29/11, 10:25 AM

I can definitely remember where I was when the Columbia fell apart. My husband and I were getting ready for our martial arts class, and we almost didn't go when we saw what was happening. We did go, making it to class a little late, and told the class what was happening. No one there knew. We had a moment of silence out of respect for the dead.

When the Challenger blew up, I watched it on the television with my son, who wasn't in school yet. My youngest was a baby, she was taking her morning nap. My son knew right away that something was strange, asking me 'what was that mom? is it blown up?' I can only imagine the grief the families of the astronauts were feeling, watching it all happen right in front of them. All excited and happy one moment, then confusion, followed by knowing their loved ones had just died in front of their very eyes.

Apollo...I was 6 years old at the time, and while I do remember seeing the news story it is part of my life that is a bit blurry. I think it was Walter Cronkite? And I might have also seen it on the Huntle-Brinkley report. My parents watched both of those shows back then, so I can't be sure. My interest in the space program really happened as I got older, and at this time it wasn't a thing that really stuck out in my memory. But I very much remember seeing news footage of Kennedy's funeral procession even though I was very young at the time. I remember seeing the coffin on the carriage, and everyone in the house crying, which is probably the only reason why I remember it. If my family hadn't been so upset it would never have been a memory at all for me.

plowjockey · #9 01/29/11, 11:25 AM

I have nearly no connection to the disaster.

That day was the first day, of my U.S. Air Force basic training, at Lackland AFB Texas.

After an enchanting evening of TI's screaming, yelling at everyone, "rainbows" trying on field jackets, eating a 9 minute dinner, etc. about midnight, the TI walked into the training room and calmly stated - "oh, by the way, the space shuttle blew up today, and killed everybody on board", then walked out of the room.

I saw about 30 seconds of TV, during the next six weeks. I did not waste money buying a newspaper, as there was no time to read it.

lhspirited · #10 01/31/11, 12:51 PM

They were flying for me, they were flying for everyone.
They were trying to see a brighter day for each and every one.
They gave us their light, they gave us their spirit and all they could be,
they were flying for me, they were flying for me.

And I wanted to wish on the Milky Way and dance upon a falling star.
I wanted to give myself and free myself and join myself with it all.

Given the chance to dream, it can be done, the promise of tomorrow is real.
Children of spaceship Earth, the future belongs to us all.

She was flying for me, she was flying for everyone.
She was trying to see a brighter day for each and every one.
She gave us her light, she gave us her spirit, and all she can be, she was flying for me.

John Denver

EDDIE BUCK · #11 01/31/11, 01:37 PM

I remember it,and I remember the news kept showing over and over,,Christa McAuliffe's mom and dad as they watched in horrow.I felt like choking the camera person.No respect what so ever..

farmmom · #12 01/31/11, 01:55 PM

I'll never forget it. We were watching it live at school. I was in middle school at the time.

I watched a short documentary on it that indicated that the astronauts didn't die in the explosion, but lived through the fall and died on impact with the water. I'm trying to figure out how they could tell. I guess on autopsy?

I agree Eddie. The media has no respect for anyone if they can get a story out of it.

SteveD(TX) · #13 01/31/11, 03:34 PM

I'll never forget what I was doing when the Challenger blew up. I was in the waiting room of my cardiologist's office for a stress test (EKG). Wonder if it impacted my readings.

When the Columbia blew up over Texas, we heard and felt it. We were drinking our morning coffee and it felt like something hit our house. Didn't think to go outside and look up, but if we had we could've seen it breaking up. Some debris was found near our land in E. Texas.

One of the coolest sights I've ever seen in my life, is the shuttle coming in for a night landing. It was like a blaze of fireworks in the Texas sky. Kinda like the longest lasting shooting star you've ever seen. But it seem to be a fireball throwing off sparks, that lasted more than a minute. All from the comfort of my back yard. It was wild.

LaManchaPaul · #14 01/31/11, 08:43 PM

Like it was yesterday.
My best friend for life, and co-worker, called to say that his wife had just called the news in to him about the Challenger. We were crushed. I went in to tell my boss. After the news, he said something like. Oh that's too bad. Then like a good boss, began to talk work as if nothing had happened. I responde with a comment of inability to concentrate and left.

Another co-worker. this same friend and I were driving to the Florida Keys to enjoy a week of Winter Star Party (Astronomy). At some point the co-worker commented about lowered flags. Out of the blue, he said, 'gosh I hope nothing happened to the Space Shuttle." It turned into an awfully depressed party.