Challenger: 30 Years Ago Today

[Bailey Guns]

I was stunned and heartbroken. It was unreal watching the footage of the debris falling, and falling for what seemed like forever. One of the most memorable days of my life.

[wctriumph]

RIP and prayers up. I was watching it live, It is still one of those memories that will remain clear in my mind.

[buffalobo]

Was a freshman at WSC, skipped morning class to watch launch with friends/fellow dorm dwellers.

Bailey hit it, stunned and heartbroken.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

[Dave]

They had it live in my school, I was still young, but it's something I remember vividly. One of the teachers in my school made it pretty far into the teachers in space program testing, and he had hopes of being on a future mission.

[Gman]

I had just gotten back to my dorm room at Texas A&M and my neighbor comes over and says, "Did you hear what happened? The space shuttle blew up." I went over to his room to watch the coverage.

"Roger, go at throttle up." has stuck with me ever since.

The eagerness to go with the launch in spite of the cold temps ticks me off, but not nearly as much as the decisions that doomed Columbia.

[BushMasterBoy]

I dropped everything in Fort Lauderdale and moved to Cape Canaveral. Cried when the Columbia exploded. Space Station "Freedom" is still there.

[funkymonkey1111]

Watched it in person--they were still enough of a novelty we'd get out of class (10th grade) to step out and watch them. You could see the launches very clearly from Orlando.

[OneGuy67]

I was stationed in Germany and had just bought a brand new TV at the PX and installed it in my room. AFN was broadcasting the launch and we all saw the explosion and the ongoing news coverage.

[TheGrey]

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.

[Bailey Guns]

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.

Yep, me, too. Yes, death is an everyday occurrence. But it's not, to me, simply a matter of "they knew the risk, they took the risk". Our forefathers, the founders of our country, "knew the risk and took the risk" of rebelling against the king. I'm glad they chose to take the risk just like I'm glad others take risk on my behalf.

All of us have benefited immensely from the space program and it's been a source, rightly so, of tremendous national pride. I'm glad they crew of the Challenger, and Columbia, and all the others before and after were willing to take the risk.