Challenger: 25 years ago today.

[TopsyTurvy]

Twenty five years ago the Challenger space shuttle broke apart over a minute after its launch, killing all seven on board. It was both a tragedy and profoundly shocking event, the consequences of which are still being felt today.

Seventy three seconds was all it took.

Millions of people around the world watched as coverage of Nasa's space shuttle launch on 28 January 1986 was played out.

But as the commentary fell silent, and the exhaust trail snaked across the sky, it became clear that something had gone horribly wrong with Challenger's mission.

The shuttle rapidly disintegrated, with the loss of all seven crew.

The flight had been delayed for several days due to freezing weather. An investigation concluded that the seal on the rocket booster had failed because of faulty design unable to cope with the cold weather and other factors.

It was the first time the US had lost astronauts in flight, and it was a profound loss for the country.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12306318

Brave pioneers, people like that are an inspiration to us all.

[DngrMse]

I was at work at the time this happened, (still in the army, in the company day room, running the morning Lame And Lazy call, &c).

Unfortunately, through the wishes of CNN, Youtube won't allow embedding of the video I found. So here's another, better video. (The older couple at the 1:35 mark were Christa McAuliffe's parents).



The President's short statement following the tragic loss of the 7 seven men and women:

[Pappy&Me]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12306318

Brave pioneers, people like that are an inspiration to us all.

You spiteful little creep! You made sure I couldn't reply on my Channon and Christipher thread,

Thats ok,none of the PC so called non libs were repling anyway,just apologetic libs like you.

[TopsyTurvy]

You spiteful little creep! You made sure I couldn't reply on my Channon and Christipher thread,

Thats ok,none of the PC so called non libs were repling anyway,just apologetic libs like you.

What the Hell are you babbling on about? How can I make sure you can't reply? Go and have a lie down for crying out loud.

[DngrMse]

You spiteful little creep! You made sure I couldn't reply on my Channon and Christipher thread,

Thats ok,none of the PC so called non libs were repling anyway,just apologetic libs like you.

Pardon for being brusque, but could you please show a LITTLE FUCKING CLASS, and just learn when it's appropriate to shut that god damn hole beneath your nose?

Thank you.

[Panzerkampfwagen]

It's interesting that an engineer who told NASA before the launch that it should be delayed because there was a real danger of an explosion, he even predicted how, was blacklisted after the disaster to shut him up because NASA was claiming that there was no way to have known that there was even a danger during the launch due to the cold.

[DngrMse]

What is it about DA that attracts so many social retards?

[Shandril105]

What the Hell are you babbling on about? How can I make sure you can't reply? Go and have a lie down for crying out loud.

The ignore list is our friend.

[Ross22]

I remember that teacher that was one of the members of the crew....I believe that her students were there watching the take off!

[CatsandHamsters19]

I remember reading in a book that the temperatures were below zero that day.

[Ross22]

I remember reading in a book that the temperatures were below zero that day.

there were icicles hanging from the space shuttle.....I remember seeing it that morning before take off! And they said it was perfectly safe to fly!

[206]

Judy Resnik was the niece of my great Aunt.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judith_Resnik

[CatsandHamsters19]

there were icicles hanging from the space shuttle.....I remember seeing it that morning before take off! And they said it was perfectly safe to fly!

If I saw icicles, I would have delayed the flight again.

[Ross22]

All I remember is that there was pressure to have it fly that day...but I can't remember why!

[Lulu]

I remember reading in a book that the temperatures were below zero that day.

How cute are you. You weren't even born yet, were you?

I remember that day... I watched it all morning. I was flying to Hawaii with my family the next day and my mom who already runs nervous was freaking out about flying the next day. The teacher made me sad... she seemed like such a sweet interesting lady, it shouldn't have been her time to go.

[Adanch]

I remember it so well. I just wanted to puke it upset me so much. I plastered my walls for months with every news article I could get my hands on. My parents considered counseling.

I actually saw Columbia take off on it's last flight. I remember thinking that I wouldn't feel ok until they were safely back on the ground.

Very sad.

[DngrMse]

I remember it so well. I just wanted to puke it upset me so much. I plastered my walls for months with every news article I could get my hands on. My parents considered counseling.

I actually saw Columbia take off on it's last flight. I remember thinking that I wouldn't feel ok until they were safely back on the ground.

Very sad.

When I was a kid, I remember reading a scifi story, (I don't remember the title), but it was about this girl that stowed away on a ship to Jupiter, or somewhere, wanting to see her long lost uncle. Except there wasn't enough fuel to put the ship into orbit around Jupiter with her in it, and it was an emergency mission to save thousands of people from death. Maximize payload, minimize fuel. With her as a stowaway, there was no way to bring the ship, and it's precious cargo in. I kept hoping that the ship's pilot, and science would find a way to save the girl. The laws of physics were, and remain, rather rigid....there was no way to save her, and eventually, tragically, she died, sacrificing herself so that the pilot could safely bring his ship in. It was very difficult to read those last few pages.


On the day of the Challenger disaster, I felt the same way...hoping and hoping..... praying that with the turn of the next page, I would find those seven people alive.

[Adanch]

When I was a kid, I remember reading a scifi story, (I don't remember the title), but it was about this girl that stowed away on a ship to Jupiter, or somewhere, wanting to see her long lost uncle. Except there wasn't enough fuel to put the ship into orbit around Jupiter with her in it, and it was an emergency mission to save thousands of people from death. Maximize payload, minimize fuel. With her as a stowaway, there was no way to bring the ship, and it's precious cargo in. I kept hoping that the ship's pilot, and science would find a way to save the girl. The laws of physics were, and remain, rather rigid....there was no way to save her, and eventually, tragically, she died, sacrificing herself so that the pilot could safely bring his ship in. It was very difficult to read those last few pages.


On the day of the Challenger disaster, I felt the same way...hoping and hoping..... praying that with the turn of the next page, I would find those seven people alive.

I get that same sort of feeling reading Bachman (stephen king). I want the Hollywood ending that never comes. I feel like I am living that sometimes.

[86Dùde]

I was sitting in world history class when that happened and the teacher only briefly stopped reading about Cromwell for a few moments. Funny about the trivial shit you can remember when something important happens like that, such as when I walk into a room.

[TopsyTurvy]

I wasn't born either but I've seen a few documentaries about it.