On this day in 1986 (1/28/86), Space Shuttle Challenger exploded.

[BobPSU92]

We've been discussing the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 1 fire. On this day in 1986, Space Shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after launch. On that day in 1986, I was in study hall in the high-school library when a teacher ran in and said "The space shuttle just exploded! Turn on a TV!" We all gathered around the TV to watch the coverage. Shortly after that, we were sent home.

What a sad day.

 

[MICH.Nit Fan]

I was in Dr. Duffy's History class in Founders Hall, Clarion U. Another prof, Mr. Dunn, came in the room and told us what happened. We all just sat there stunned. These things had become so routine, that we had kind of forgotten what a dangerous business it was.

 

[Carl Spackler]

With my wife on a flight from Pittsburgh to San Francisco. We were over Nebraska when the pilot informed passengers of the tragedy. I remember looking at my wife and saying "they are all dead" no one could survive that horrific accident.

I remember Apollo 1 as they broke into the TV program to announce the accident. It wasn't until later that they announced all the astronauts were dead. An horiffic disaster that changed the space program in some positive ways.

It seems you always specifically remember exactly where you were and what you were doing when a tragedy is announced. Kennedy assassination, 4th grade school room, teacher announced, school dismissed early.

 

[BobPSU92]

 

[OhioLion]

I was doing a teacher observation here in Archbold while attending Defiance College. The class was primed to watch the take off in the morning, but it was delayed. During lunch/recess the take off took place and fortunately, the students did not watch it happen.

OL

 

[Nitt1300]

That was a bad one. There was very little thought of something that bad happening- I think it shocked most people.

 

[robmontour]

9th grade at Cumberland Valley. Just came back from lunch. It was on the TV. Sad day.

 

[NedFromYork]

Junior High art class in York, PA.

Never in my wildest dreams would have thought I would cross paths with anyone with a remote connection to this but then again never imagined I would ever live in NH. Our friends are friends with CM's daughter, who was obviously very young at the time. We've been to the movies with her, boat and beach trips, etc.

 

[LionJim]

Watched it live with a friend.

There was a real disconnect between the engineers and the NASA executives. It had been known since 1977 that the O-rings had the potential to fail in cold weather and, in fact, the night before the explosion several engineers, concerned that the temperature would be dangerously cold, had urged that the launch be delayed. Moral of the story: always listen to the engineers.

 

[Newlionfan]

We've been discussing the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 1 fire. On this day in 1986, Space Shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after launch. On that day in 1986, I was in study hall in the high-school library when a teacher ran in and said "The space shuttle just exploded! Turn on a TV!" We all gathered around the TV to watch the coverage. Shortly after that, we were sent home.

What a sad day.

We had moved to the Space Coast three years before. The debris and smoke from the explosion must have been visible overhead for hours after it happened .... at least it seemed that way. We were out driving and saw the entire thing occur!

 

[Nittany18]

I was in 2nd grade, lived in Florida, and remember my mom picking me up after school and wondering why many of the cars had their headlights were on. It was afternoon in south Florida, no one drove with headlights on...she said because of what happened.

 

[wex18]

the night before the explosion several engineers, concerned that the temperature would be dangerously cold, had urged that the launch be delayed.

There was political pressure to launch when they did because Reagan had his State of the Union speech scheduled that night, and he was going to place a call to the shuttle in orbit. The original plan was to launch several days earlier and have the astronauts as guests at the State of the Union. Reagan's entire education plan was to send a teacher into space.

 

[Hugh Manatee]

I was 18, standing in my yard with my dad in Longwood, FL, watching it live.

 

[massimoManca II]

I was in my bed in 164 Hamilton Hall when my creepy roommate came in from breakfast at Waring ... told me shuttle blew up... being a space nut - i was shocked/devastated

 

[83wuzme]

Watched it live with a friend.

There was a real disconnect between the engineers and the NASA executives. It had been known since 1977 that the O-rings had the potential to fail in cold weather and, in fact, the night before the explosion several engineers, concerned that the temperature would be dangerously cold, had urged that the launch be delayed. Moral of the story: always listen to the engineers.

Sadly, a similar story played out in 2003 with the loss of Columbia. My best friend and fellow PSU classmate is an engineer whose company had done work on the shuttle. He told me why the reentry tragedy occurred weeks before the story came out.

 

[psuro]

We've been discussing the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 1 fire. On this day in 1986, Space Shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after launch. On that day in 1986, I was in study hall in the high-school library when a teacher ran in and said "The space shuttle just exploded! Turn on a TV!" We all gathered around the TV to watch the coverage. Shortly after that, we were sent home.

What a sad day.

I was in the Hub watching it in TV when it happened. Everyone was just in shock. The place went quiet.

 

[CentrevilleLion]

I also lived on the Space Coast and saw it explode from the Harris Corporation parking lot. Earlier that morning our Chief Engineer told us that the had just talked with the Harris engineers who had just finished talking with the Martin Marietta engineers. They had said that there's no way there would be a launch that day because the O-rings were NOT spec'd for this temperature. Mission control stayed on the air for what seemed like a couple hours spewing BS about the shuttle being so well built that the astronauts might still be alive. The truth was that they called the local hospital that has an ER team on call for launch emergencies within minutes after the explosion.

 

[olelion]

"They slipped the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God"

 

[JBDLion]

I had just been born the night before and my parents watched from the hospital. There was a plane crash on my sister's birthday and a shuttle crash the day after mine. My parents stopped having kids after that.

Although, not everything about our birthdays was tragic. Penn State football won national titles both years.