40th anniversary of the Challenger shuttle tragedy

[Sam Mills 51]

We didn't see it when I was in class, but I saw it soon after getting home that afternoon.

I was also fortunate enough to be in Florida for the final space shuttle launch, where we could watch the launch on TV and I could step outside the front door to see the shuttle shortly after leaving the launchpad until it got somewhere into the exosphere.

 

[mpcincal]

I've recounted my story on this board a couple of times: Found out when the principal came over the loudspeaker at the end of first period; they already had a TV set up when I got to my second period class. Plus, I lived Vandenberg, where they were planning to launch the shuttle eventually.
The thing that still pains me to this day is envisioning the people at Christa McAullife's school watching that launch in the auditorium and cheering wildly seeing one of their own on a national stage, and then one person, then a few, and then in no time everybody realizing that something was very wrong.

 

[Driftwood]

The saddest part is we haven't had a national space program in 15 years. Any American who has traveled to the stars has hitched a ride with the Russians or Uberred with a Bond villain.

And people wonder why Gen Xers are the way we are.

 

[BTExpress]

The one certainty I've gleamed from this thread:

A whole bunch of us had our daily Holly fix (or Dian, if stacked blondes are your thing) interrupted when CBS cut away from The Price Is Right to show that shuttle thingy.

(and what the hell did ABC or NBC show that no one was watching?)

 

[UNCGrad]

Yeah...Holly.