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I worked for a candy company. We went out to the warehouse to listen to the radio. We had been out there about an hour and the boss came in with a customer, some old lady. He pinched up his face and walked up to us and cocked his head sideways like we were some sort of unidentifiable organisms. "Those people are dead, you've heard about it, its not going to change, so get back to work."

I said, "You are a slimy bastard you know.".

He fired me and I went home. As I drove along on the interstate there were already flags flying at half staff. I woke my roommate up and we watched the coverage. He was a big supporter of the program.

The next day of course the boss sent a flunky to my apartment. They did not know how to operate the computers. I told the guy that there was no way. The guy asked how much I would charge to come back for two weeks to train a replacement. Since I made about $5.00 or so an hour I said "$5000". The guy accepted. I wonder how high he was authorized to go.

Anyway, it is a day I won't ever forget. The sky was so blue and it was so cold and I felt righteous rage and terrible sadness.

Seeing the films of Christa McAuliffe's parents, not knowing what had just happened. Terrible.

I was working in the Space Defense industry in Colorado Springs when Challenger blew up, and in fact had just left Johnson Space Center where I had helped train the ill-fated crew on the SMS (Shuttle Mission Simulator). I even had (and have) the tee-shirt from that mission.

My buddies back at the Space Center all had deep suspicions that the launch was coerced by the Reagan White House, because that day happened to be the day of the State of the Union speech, and the speculation was that the shuttle (carrying a teacher on board) would make for a potent reference in the speech.

Sorry if I've offended any Reagan fans out there, but if they could talk 200 US Marines who dies in Beruit would testify that even "The Gipper" wasn't perfect.

I was running late, very late, for work because of some work on the shower I was doing. No one else was home, all where in school, teaching it or going to it. I finished my work, took a shower and never turned on the radio or TV. When I got into my car they were talking about the "teacher in space".... Then I realized they were talking in the past tense. I quickly switched stations, and then ran back into the house to watch the replays.

Of course, I'm also old enough to remember exactly where I was (Robin Mickle Jr. High) and what I was doing. (On lunch break from 8th grade English class) when JFK was shot. Mrs. Abel came back into the room after lunch with puffy and red eyes. She choked out the confirmation of the rumors we had heard in the halls. Then she cried some more. On a positive note, I also know exactly where I was when Neil Armstrong made that "Giant Leap for Mankind". I was at my (now) wife's grandparent's farm. Her parents and siblings were also there. It was a very small house, and I had to sleep in the back of my Dad's pickup (Which wasn't so bad, it had a cab high cover, with screened top vent and side windows you could open and a fairly comfortable bed.)

I also remember the Apollo 9 astronauts reading "Genesis" from Lunar orbit. Christmas 1968. And a bit earlier the Ranger probes crashing into the moon (on purpose!).