Challenger Lost 23 Years Ago

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 9:24 am

23 years ago 4 companies were marching on the grinder at RTC San Diego when they stopped us and the CO of NTC
made the announcement of the Challenger disaster over the PA followed by a prayer by the chaplain and a minute of silence.
A very sad day! RIP :cry:

APG85 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 9:32 am

Seems like yesterday... :cry:

Elroy13 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 9:36 am

Sort of like 9/11, I remember exactly where I was when it happened! Very sad! :cry:

Mark Nankivil · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 9:36 am

I was at work with the radio on listening and sat stunned when events unfolded. Indeed, feels like yesterday.....

Heroes All.... Mark

Nathan · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 9:42 am

I was born two days after it happened!

Holedigger · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 9:49 am

I was listening to the launch on the radio at work, and then dashed out to the parking lot to watch about they said something was wrong. One look at the launch gone wrong and I knew it was bad! Normal smoke trail going up and then the "puff ball" with smoke trails in all directions. I still go outside to watch every launch...and say a prayer.

APG85 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 9:51 am

If you are interested in Shuttle flights, this book is a GREAT read.

http://www.mikemullane.com/RidingRockets.htm

Very well written and funny. Mike Mullane road the shuttle three times and was a good friend of the Challenger crew. His chapter on the Challenger accident (I think the chapter is titled "Falling") and his interpretation of what happened in the crew compartment is heart breaking. He has some very interesting insight into the early days of the Shuttle program. The astronauts did not like the Payload Specialist program. One Shuttle Commander padlocked the Shuttle hatch inflight because one PS showed an uncomfortable interest in the hatch handle - yikes! Another PS was depressed the entire flight. This book is a MUST READ for any aviation/space flight enthusiast. I couldn't put it down...

cozmo · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 9:58 am

Nathan wrote:

I was born two days after it happened!

I must be getting old. Was about to leave for class, but had to catch the launch first. I was kind of a geeky college kid.

Yesterday was the remembrance for Apollo I.

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 10:02 am

I wasn't that old but I know we were at a friend's house from church and saw it happen. Sticks out because it was VERY rare for us to watch any TV.

Ryan

Robbie Stuart · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 10:12 am

I remember what I was doing when it happened. I was at work, & I seem to remember we didn't get much done the rest of the day. In fact IIRC we locked up the hangar early , & went to the bar. Very sad day.
Robbie

Matt Gunsch · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 10:35 am

I was picking up parts for NAPA, I was on the freeway outbound from the warehouse when I heard it on the radio. I got back to the warehouse and drove to my grandmothers house about 1/2 mile away and watched the replays on TV. I did not want to go back to work, but I had to.

I was working on a model of the shuttle/747 combo when the Columbia burned up on re-entry, I put it back in the box and have not opened it since.

John Dupre · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 10:41 am

I was working for Precision Airlines in building 841 at MHT. I was walking across the hangar floor when someone called out what had happened. We all stood around listening on the radio and trying to make sense of what the news was telling us. We all hoped that somehow the crew had survived but doubted it. Christa McCauliffe was from NH so we all had an intense interest in the launch. I remember later watching it on the news for hours. The most useful thing I heard from the media was a scientist describing the difference between a conflagration and a detonation.

Later I couldn't believe that they violated launch protocol by launching at temps they had never experienced before.

Malo83 · **Joined:** Sat Sep 23, 2006 3:31 am **Posts:** 309

Jack Cook wrote:

23 years ago 4 companies were marching on the grinder at RTC San Diego when they stopped us and the CO of NTC
made the announcement of the Challenger disaster over the PA followed by a prayer by the chaplain and a minute of silence.
A very sad day! RIP :cry:

Was sitting in Sickbay at NAS. Lemoore with strepthroat waiting to see the Doc when it flashed on the TV. :cry:

spookythecat · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 1:02 pm

I remember watching it on t.v. in elementary school. I just ran across my copy of the Oshkosh Northwestern newspaper from the day after. It really does feel like it was yesterday.

Airlift48 · **Joined:** Sat Oct 29, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 744

I was in, of all things, 2nd Period Band Class playing my trumpet, actually. (8th Grade). I remember it well. I cant believe its been so long.

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Challenger Lost 23 Years Ago

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