35 years ago today: Space Shuttle Challenger disaster

[Steven P. Administrators]

 

 

The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster was a fatal incident in the United States' space program that occurred on January 28, 1986, when the Space Shuttle Challenger (OV-099) broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, killing all seven crew members aboard. The crew consisted of five NASA astronauts, and two payload specialists. The mission carried the designation STS-51-L and was the tenth flight for the Challenger orbiter.

 

This is one of those incidents in life that I remember were I was and what I was doing, or at least in my case, the day after we were all sent home from school to reflect. I was 13 at the time.

 

More: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Challenger_disaster

 

Were you born yet, and do you remember it?

[Michael Scrip]

I was in the 3rd grade when this happened.  That was back when they would wheel TVs into classrooms so we could watch it live.

 

Needless to say... the teachers quickly removed the TVs after the accident and we attempted to get back to normal class.  I don't remember much discussion in class afterwards.  😕

[Jim K Global Moderator]

Third grade as well. Didn't watch it live...I remember an overhead announcement about it at school, while on recess, but I'm fuzzy after that.  Watched the news when I got home and President Reagan's address. I became fascinated with the accident (and the space program)... glued to nightly news w/ Tom Brokaw while mom hoarded newspapers and magazines for me to read.

[Tikimotel]

Listening to Ron's Piece now whilst browsing... (JM Jarre Rendez-Vous album)

[Mindovermaster Global Moderator]

Year after I was born... LOL

[FloatingFatMan]

3 hours ago, Steven P. said:

Were you born yet, and do you remember it?

I was at the cape at the time, watching the launch live... I still have the occasional nightmare.

 

[FloatingFatMan]

2 hours ago, Mindovermaster said:

Year after I was born... LOL

Why are you laughing at one of the worst disasters in the space programme ever?

[+E.Worm Jimmy Subscriber¹]

1 hour ago, FloatingFatMan said:

Why are you laughing at one of the worst disasters in the space programme ever?

how do you even get that response from his comment? surely he in no way indicated that he is laughing at the disaster.

[mudslag]

11 hours ago, Michael Scrip said:

I was in the 3rd grade when this happened.  That was back when they would wheel TVs into classrooms so we could watch it live.

 

Needless to say... the teachers quickly removed the TVs after the accident and we attempted to get back to normal class.  I don't remember much discussion in class afterwards.  😕

I was in 4th grade in St. Louis and on that day we were at the science center watching a show on their doomed theater. The show ended about 15 mins before take off and projector operator knew one of the astronauts and we were given the chance to watch it live. It was crazy watching that event live with a room full of school kids. The operator was too in shock to turn it off right away while the teachers were trying to rush us out. 

[Jason S. Global Moderator]

54yrs ago was the apollo disaster where 3 astronauts died in the capsule after it caught fire. 18yrs ago on Feb 1 was the Columbia disaster.

[spikey_richie]

I was 5 when this tragic accident occurred. I seem to vaguely recall people (grown ups) talking about it, but it's not something I recall talking to my school friends about. 

[FloatingFatMan]

14 hours ago, E.Worm Jimmy said:

how do you even get that response from his comment? surely he in no way indicated that he is laughing at the disaster.

Do you not know what "LOL" means?

[+E.Worm Jimmy Subscriber¹]

16 minutes ago, FloatingFatMan said:

Do you not know what "LOL" means?

Let me repeat, how do you know the LOL was directed at the disaster, and not at the fact how young he was 35 years ago (as it surely was).

 

Also, no need to be so damn condescending. Not knowing what "LOL" means... 😕 right! That MUST be it.

[+Warwagon MVC]

Here is something you may not have known - They most likely didn't die in the explosion but instead died when the space craft hit the water.

 

 

[Dick Montage]

I recall watching it on TV, and not really understanding because as a kid I saw explosions al lthe time on TV, but could read the mood that this was bad.  Then the poor-taste joke of "What does NASA stand for"

Somwhat awkwardly we were in Florida the next summer, and went to the Kennedy Space Centre tour, they had a big (IMAX?) cinema extolling all the virtues of their space efforts.  It's lack of mention was somewhat jarring.

[Steven P. Administrators]

3 hours ago, warwagon said:

Here is something you may not have known - They most likely didn't die in the explosion but instead died when the space craft hit the water.

I was aware of that, but also the very likely event that the g-forces would have knocked them all out well before hitting the water, there were a series of other factors that likely would have contributed to them not being conscious for the water landing including what NASA stated:

Quote

Loss of cabin pressure just before or as the cabin broke up; crew members, unconscious or already dead, crashing into objects in the module; being thrown from their seats and the module; exposure to a near vacuum at 100,000 feet ...

And so on.. horrible any which way you look at it.

[DocM]

I'd just come out of a staff meeting and stopped to watch the launch in a patient waiting room. Gut wrenching watching that many people, including many kids, realize what had happened. Then word spread through the building. Bad day.

[techbeck]

On 30/01/2021 at 07:40, DocM said:

I'd just come out of a staff meeting and stopped to watch the launch in a patient waiting room. Gut wrenching watching that many people, including many kids, realize what had happened. Then word spread through the building. Bad day.

I remember watching this in school myself.  You have several more years on me.  😛