7 Myths About The Challenger Shuttle Disaster

NBC via MSNBC ^ | January 27, 2006 | James Oberg

[OXENinFLA]

I remember watching it in my classroom..

[Lx]

The media tried to tie the forced launch on Reagan's SOTU speach. They (MSM) said he forced NASA to launch so he mention Christa Macoluff (sp?) in his SOTU.

[Dan(9698)]

"There were pressures on the flight schedule, but none of any recognizable political origin."

The pressure and the decision to launch were made by the head of NASA, who held a Doctorate in Education.

He was completely incompetent in the technical fields, but had the power to fire anyone who disagreed with him.

He also threatened to exercise the power to fire.

The Engineers who were competent to decide that the temperature was lower than what was safe for a launch were overruled by the incompetent head of NASA.

It was just like you deciding that you could run your car without oil. You could decide that if you wanted, but you would get the result of that decision.

He was incompetent, had the power, exercised the power, and got the predictable result. It is not a "Myth".

[strongbow]

I was assigned to Patrick AFB Hospital and watched shuttle launches from the parking lot. I will never forget that day, just like the day that Kennedy was killed and 911 it is indelibly etched on my brain. There were lots or rumors going on for months. We used to go out to the old Titan missle site for excercises and they buried all the recovered debris in one of the silos and covered it with concrete. Some of the rumors regarding the body parts and how they found them should not be repeated. Suffice it to say they did not die in the explosion.

[poobear]

Well, living in Florida EVERY launch was an event and televised. Regarding this tragedy, I for one was against it that day. Temperatures were below freezing and I for one with no engineering qualifications at the time knew problems could arise. When I walked outside my office and watched the outcome of the launch, I was sickened.

Not to say ITYS, and it could have happened at any launch but this particular disaster MIGHT not have happened if a few memos hadn't been ignored.

[Churchillspirit]

I watched it live. My husband had died just a few weeks earlier, so I had the TV on 24/7 for company.

It happened on the day scheduled for the State of the Union address, so all the lead anchors, reporters were in place in DC.

I'll never forget that day for many reasons. One being the touching remarks from President Reagan.

RIP Challenger crew.

[Churchillspirit]

I recall watching it on ABC.

[Dan(9698)]

...disaster MIGHT not have happened if a few memos hadn't been ignored.

Skip the "MIGHT" .

It would not have happened if the temperature had been high enough that the O ring wasn't so stiff it couldn't seal.

It is a wonder that several O rings didn't fail.

Saying "well it might have happened anyway" is to minimize the incompetence of the "Doctor" who ordered it launched even after being told that it was outside its safe operating temperature.

[Bean Counter]

Regardless of how many people actually did or did not see the launch live, (I personally did not watch it live), this article is a pretty good analysis of the facts surrounding the Challenger accident, and is worth reading.

Good post!

[fnord]

yep, BS

I saw it live, and called my Mom into the room to watch it. cant remember what channel but it was definitely on the air.

[ArrogantBustard]

I didn't see it live. I was at work. I heard it live, on the radio.

[beezdotcom]

Few people saw the tragedy unfold? Bullocks. There were classrooms full of children watching because there was a teacher on board.

Our college band was on tour, and we were in Titusville on that day to play a concert at Astronaut High School. Our bus pulled off the side of the road to watch the launch, and we witnessed the explosion live. We arrived at Astronaut High School ten minutes later, and nobody inside knew anything about it yet. It was only after WE told them, that hundreds of kids came streaming out of the school to look up at the ever-expanding clowd in the sky resulting from the explosion.

[RJL]

And they were equally horrified to learn in the aftermath of the disaster that the faulty design had been chosen by NASA to satisfy powerful politicians who had demanded the mission be launched, even under unsafe conditions.

James Oberg, Name names or I call BS!

[John W]

Read on.Thats one of the myths.

[Ro_Thunder]

My entire school had a television in EVERY CLASSROOM for this launch. I can attest that Deer Park High School in Deer Park, TX saw it, live.

[Semper Paratus]

It happened on the day scheduled for the State of the Union address

I remember MSM talk that the was pressure to launch that day because Reagan had it written into his SOTU speech.

[poobear]

Damned if you do and damned....

I presume we are in agreement here AFTER THE FACT. Up to the disaster we all agreed that this COULD HAPPEN.

[Clemenza]

I remember this well. I was home sick from school and heard about it on the radio. I went downstairs to tell my mother.

[Windsong]

Pride killed them.

[ThisLittleLightofMine]

I agree with you...I will never forget sitting in biology class and seeing it live on TV. It was a big deal because a teacher was on board.