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Message
re: The Space Shuttle Challenger exploded after liftoff 40 years ago today...
Posted on 1/28/26 at 7:23 am to RollTide1987
Posted on 1/28/26 at 7:23 am to RollTide1987
In a tugboat wheelhouse (I wasn’t running the vessel). And having a television playing in a tugboat wheelhouse whilst underway was/is a violation.
It was a chilly and sad day.
Reagan’s State of the Union address was scheduled for that evening, postponed a week because of it.
There has been some speculation that this contributed to the Go Fever.
It was a chilly and sad day.
Reagan’s State of the Union address was scheduled for that evening, postponed a week because of it.
There has been some speculation that this contributed to the Go Fever.
0
Posted on 1/28/26 at 7:38 am to RollTide1987
I was home sick from school that day. My step dad worked at Stennis Space Center so watching the launch was always a given in our house. Never forget laying on the couch and thinking - "did I really just see that?", then there was the silence for what seemed like forever.
Posted on 1/28/26 at 7:39 am to RollTide1987
I was home sick from school and was watching it live. I was like 7 at the time and remember lying in front of the TV on living room floor.
This post was edited on 1/28/26 at 7:41 am
Posted on 1/28/26 at 7:41 am to AUstar
First year med school neurology class. They came in and told us brief moment of silence and class continued
Posted on 1/28/26 at 7:44 am to Canon951
quote:8th grade English, Mr Jones. We weren't watching it - the teacher from the neighboring classroom stuck her head inside the door, Mrs Jones walked over, and I heard the phrase "the shuttle - it blew up!?!". She wasn't making light, she was genuinely in shock. Sad day.
This was one of those you never forget where you were when it happened. I was in 10th grade Biology class when they announced it over the loud speaker.
Posted on 1/28/26 at 7:44 am to Canon951
I was at school when they announced the shuttle had exploded, but my overriding memory is from the hospital later that evening watching it on TV…..my grandfather died that day.
Posted on 1/28/26 at 7:47 am to Lou
I was in 6th Grade, it was a pretty big deal bc the teacher that was onboard. I am pretty sure we had two or three classes in a room watching it live. (The entire school was watching in some way)
I just really remember it happening and the silence after, then seeing the teachers trying to figure out what to do next.
I just really remember it happening and the silence after, then seeing the teachers trying to figure out what to do next.
Posted on 1/28/26 at 7:50 am to Ace Midnight
quote:
Incredible people that technology, systems and protocols just failed them
The "system" that failed them was NlASA mgmt.
Posted on 1/28/26 at 7:50 am to Canon951
quote:
This was one of those you never forget where you were when it happened
Posted on 1/28/26 at 7:57 am to Canon951
quote:
This was one of those you never forget where you were when it happened.
I know I was in school because I was 12, but I don't remember exactly where I was. That's probably more on me because I'm old and don't care. I do remember we had a teacher who was very upset because she had put in for the Christa McCauliff gig.
Posted on 1/28/26 at 8:05 am to Canon951
In Tampa Bay on a bright sunny morning you can see the vapor trail on liftoff. I had pulled over on US19 to watch. About six cars joined me. We saw the cloud and two rockets separate. Took off running back to the car, guy asked as I went past” What happened?” “ it just blew up”
Too many rocket engine tests at Edward’s to know.
Too many rocket engine tests at Edward’s to know.
Posted on 1/28/26 at 8:12 am to Canon951
What is seared into my mind is the image of Christa McAuliffe's parents looking up at that exploding Space Shuttle. That was heartbreaking.
I was sitting in my office, when the guy in the next office came in and told me what happened. I remember thinking - Dear God, please don't let this be true. It was.
I know I've seen tragic images before, but that one surely ranks up there.
I remember them smiling and waving as they existed that building to get on the van that was going to take them to the launch pad. Yep, they were the the best of the best of the best of America.
I mostly held it together, but I have to admit I lost it when President Reagan said this at the end of his speech.
The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for the journey and waved goodbye and “slipped the surly bonds of earth” to “touch the face of God.”
Even after all these years I still choke up when I read that.
I like to think that Shuttle Crew was among the people who greeted President Reagan when he crossed over to the other side. Christa McAuliffe reunion with here parents must have been special too. Just a thought.
I was sitting in my office, when the guy in the next office came in and told me what happened. I remember thinking - Dear God, please don't let this be true. It was.
I know I've seen tragic images before, but that one surely ranks up there.
I remember them smiling and waving as they existed that building to get on the van that was going to take them to the launch pad. Yep, they were the the best of the best of the best of America.
I mostly held it together, but I have to admit I lost it when President Reagan said this at the end of his speech.
The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for the journey and waved goodbye and “slipped the surly bonds of earth” to “touch the face of God.”
Even after all these years I still choke up when I read that.
I like to think that Shuttle Crew was among the people who greeted President Reagan when he crossed over to the other side. Christa McAuliffe reunion with here parents must have been special too. Just a thought.
This post was edited on 1/29/26 at 11:16 am
Posted on 1/28/26 at 8:17 am to RollTide1987
I had just turned 10 2 weeks prior. I was all about space/astronomy/NASA. My parents took time off and we drove from Atlanta to Daytona (as close as you really could get) to watch the launch of Columbia for STS-1.
Atlanta schools were closed because of the same cold weather that impacted the launch. My mom and dad both had to go to work, but my grandmother lived next door to us, so I was over there. At that time all shuttle launches were still covered by all the major networks, so we had it on and saw it happen live.
Atlanta schools were closed because of the same cold weather that impacted the launch. My mom and dad both had to go to work, but my grandmother lived next door to us, so I was over there. At that time all shuttle launches were still covered by all the major networks, so we had it on and saw it happen live.
Posted on 1/28/26 at 8:25 am to AlwysATgr
quote:
The "system" that failed them was NlASA mgmt.
You misspelled Morton-Thiokol
Posted on 1/28/26 at 8:27 am to RollTide1987
My old man was a sophomore in high school I think. Probably a very similar story to everyone else who saw it in school. Watched on TV and he said everyone was just frozen.
Posted on 1/28/26 at 8:38 am to RollTide1987
I was walking through the Quad when I heard someone mention something about it. I was on campus basically all day back then, in class or working, so I did not see much coverage of it until later in the afternoon.
Also, reading the comments, a lot of you apparently were sick that day and home from school
Also, reading the comments, a lot of you apparently were sick that day and home from school
Posted on 1/28/26 at 8:38 am to Canon951
I was in class at Nicholls. It seemed like they canceled class and went to my truck to listen to WWL about it.
Posted on 1/28/26 at 8:40 am to AUTimbo
quote:
Morton-Thiokol
There is a pretty good documentary (for those who like engineering stuff) on Netflix about the O-Rings and how they knew about the cold weather issues that could occur and the decision to launch. Im sure lots of yall have seen it, but it is worth a watch if you haven't. Its called "Challenger: The Final Flight".
Posted on 1/28/26 at 8:42 am to RollTide1987
Hard to believer that was 40 years ago. I was 26 years old and in my first enlistment in the Air Force.
This post was edited on 1/28/26 at 8:43 am
Posted on 1/28/26 at 8:48 am to IAmNERD
quote:
There is a pretty good documentary (for those who like engineering stuff) on Netflix about the O-Rings and how they knew about the cold weather issues that could occur and the decision to launch. Im sure lots of yall have seen it, but it is worth a watch if you haven't. Its called "Challenger: The Final Flight".
I remember physicist Richard Feynman showing how the O-ring seals lost resilience in cold temperatures.during a hearing on TV.
This post was edited on 1/28/26 at 8:51 am
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