I was in the dayroom of the vo-tech, watching the launch before my class started. I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

I disagree with the idea of stacking death against death. Every death diminishes us in some way; these astronauts represented a much bigger picture, and a far loftier and hopeful goal. They were our bridge to the stars. They were never alone; those of us avidly following the story of the Challenger and her crew were with them in spirit.