Remembering the Challenger 20 years later: Beautiful tribute by the Washington Post

The Washington Post ^ | January 28, 2006

[nwrep]

"...The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them nor the last time we saw them -- this morning -- as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye, and slipped the surly bonds of Earth to touch the face of God." -- President Reagan Addresses the Nation, January 28, 1986

[potlatch]

I remember watching it and then seeing all the families looking around at each other. I think we all were in disbelief!

[Rockitz]

I was at Rocketdyne, manufacturer of the SSME (Space Shuttle Main Engine), when this happened and knew right away that it was not our engines even though many in the press were attempting to lay blame on the SSME right away.

[Luis Gonzalez]

Where Never Lark or Even Eagle Flew

[Guenevere]

I remember it well...

..Usually I run outside and watch the launches from my backyard...(I'm not far from KSC)

...that day it was cold and I thought...'oh well, I've seen them before'...and kept the TV on as I washed dished at my kitchen sink.

The rest is history...

..When I realized what happened from the TV, I rushed out and saw the weird jagged line of plume & smoke.

I also remember the night before....

..we were out at a restaurant, and I remember it being the coldest night I'd experienced since moving to Florida....it was numbing cold.....cold that cuts right through you!

[cvq3842]

I only saw this now, but I do indeed remember that day.

20 years. Wow. Hard to believe.

Bless these brave souls and their families.

[ariamne]

Many astronauts have passed on, but worthy of note are those who died on missions, albeit not in space;

Charles Bassett died when his T-38 crashed

Ted Freeman died when a Canadian goose collided into his T-38 plexiglass shield and he lost trajectory and crashed

Charles Bassett died when his T-38 crashed

Clifton Williams died when his T-38 crashed

I love the history of the space program, except for these awful losses. Especially the early years, the right stuff--when men were MEN

[ariamne]

It is disturbing. I remember reading how the people who jumped from the towers on 9/11 had 10-15 seconds before they landed ,and they were conscious the whole way down; and I counted, thinking that was way too long to be anticipating a horrific death. This was even worse--the astronauts had over 2 minutes, they were probably conscious, and knew what would happen to them. It's an awful thing to contemplate.

[Great Communicator]

btt

[LibertyGirl77]

The facts point to them having been alive until they hit the water, and possibly even afterward. It is very likely that they knew what was happening. It is very, very sad reading, but the information is out there if you look for it.

[ReignOfError]

What I remember about that day was the cold....it was an incredibly cold day here in Jersey that day. Funny how memories stick you..

It was cold throughout the East (including at Canaveral, which is what caused the O-rings to fail). Here in Atlanta, we had a snow day -- but no snow, at least in my part of town, so my mom, sister and I went out shopping. We were in a thrift store when the announcement interrupted the Muzak. In seconds, everyone in the store, customers and staff, had gathered in the corner where the donated TVs were.

[Great Communicator]

Alive and conscious?

[FreedomCalls]

Excellent summary here:

http://cbsnews.cbs.com/network/news/space/SRH_Disasters.htm

[repgirl]

my mom was a high school english teacher so it really
hit me hard too. every person onboard was such a hero!

[Northern Yankee]

Finally got a chance to see this.

Beautiful.

Thanks...

[Revelation 911]

For my parents, it was JFK's assassination. For me, it was the Challenger. For you, it will be this."

I was driving truck - making local dleiveries - I can tell you the exact patch of road I was on

9/11 I was at my desk and my secretary told me - the whole shop watched tv for the next several hours & witnessed the second strike - that day went on forever....some of the assembly girls wanted to go home - I let them - everyone was a zombie of sorts, just numb

Our nighshift (mostly muslim turks) were actually embarassed and ashamed