Seven courageous astronauts died in the Challenger spacecraft 39 years ago today. The last words from the crew. 
“Roger, go at throttle up”
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I lived in Orlando at the time. Worked on the 7th floor of a building in Altamonte Springs. A bunch of us were watching the launch and listening to it on the radio. We could see that there was something wrong with the smoke trail even before they said anything on the radio.
The really spooky thing was that there wasn't much wind that day, so the twisted smoke trail hung there in the air for a long time. Definitely a day that I will never forget.
The really spooky thing was that there wasn't much wind that day, so the twisted smoke trail hung there in the air for a long time. Definitely a day that I will never forget.
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pangris
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Watched it live on TV when I was 8 years old as I sat in the library of Larkspur Elementary. I remember my teacher being stunned. Highest risk occupation, God bless anyone with the courage to strap into a rocket.
A Very Sad Day! Folks die everyday, but when MILLIONS of people are watching it on television, including schoolchildren during the school day, it is tough. I'm sure parents had some extremely difficult conversations with their kids that day. Of course, tragedy is a part of exploration…..in addition to this event, there was Apollo 1 in 1967 and Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003. There aren't many people born like Chuck Yeager, who must have been one of the bravest humans ever. But it takes people like him to attempt dangerous things that ultimately progress humankind. RIP all the brave souls.
Larry
Larry
19 degrees in my front yard that day. Watched the liftoff on TV and ran out to see the disaster unfold. I couldn't comprehend what I was seeing at the time. Joe
I remember it being a very cold day. Seeing pictures of ice on the launch gantry and thinking they were crazy to even consider launching. IIRC there had been several postponements prior to launch.
John
John
I was walking into the dorm quad when a friend told me on his way to class.. I didn't believe him.. then noticed the somber silence.. at college that was haunting... and I agree, another defining moment in Gen-X.
R.I.P.
R.I.P.
On a business trip to Tampa, our plane was coming in on approach when the shuttle launched. Pilot came on and announced that you could watch the launch on the left side of the plane. Watched it go up and a bright light and the two rocket boosters separated into giant U shape trails in the sky, I knew something was wrong. No more mention by the pilot, but assume they knew what happened as well. Upon exiting the plane, the airport was dead quiet and everyone was huddled around the TV monitors watching the announcement of the shuttle explosion. Will never forget that!
The next night a Lincoln westbound on NM 264 at Black Hat, near mile 7, slammed into a eastbound Mercury head on. The Lincoln driver was killed, and we believed 5 were dead in the Mercury. When EMS started cutting bodies out of the Mercury, the passenger seat dropped back and we found another body, an infant girl in her mother's arms.
This was near Gallup; it didn't even make the Albuquerque paper.
This was near Gallup; it didn't even make the Albuquerque paper.
It was a terrible tragedy. I had just gotten to work, and everyone was quiet and somber. They told me what happened. A very sad day.
It was a tragedy, but they were not heroes.
I remember sitting in Jimbo's Restaurant and before the launch, seeing the TV with photos of the icicles on the rocket.
I said to the guy sitting beside me "Man, that ain't good. I ain't no Rocket Scientist, but that thing ain't safe to launch with all that ice hanging down. Too dang cold!"
I said to the guy sitting beside me "Man, that ain't good. I ain't no Rocket Scientist, but that thing ain't safe to launch with all that ice hanging down. Too dang cold!"
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BLACKHAWKNJ
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"Slipped the surly bonds of earth" to "touch the face of God." Ronald Reagan
Saw the title of the thread, and the hair on the back of my neck went up. I too was flying, we were a bit north of the Cape. Little too far to see it in person. Got to Hartsfield and the entire airport was spooky quiet. Did not know why, quickly found out. Sad day indeed.
He was quoting the poem High Flight written by Canadian test pilot John Gillespie Magee, Jr.
Who also did not survive WWII.
I was at Nellis AFB with a flight of A-10s. Bad day overall. Dumb decisions across the board.
