[TigersEye]

One thing I would point out, though, was that the "PR" aspects of the Challenger's fateful last flight were a glaring indication to me that NASA was setting itself up for a disaster.

It will probably really chafe some hides but I have always thought that they sent Challenger up to please Pres. Reagan. They had made a big deal about the "first teacher in space" and Reagan was all set to include it in his State of the Union speech. The launch had been scrubbed at least twice before IIRC and the day it did go was the day of or the day before the SotU Address. It was the last chance to combine the two.

[BuckeyeTexan]

Never heard that rumor but here is what he ended up saying.

February 4, 1986

Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, distinguished Members of the Congress, honored guests, and fellow citizens:

Thank you for allowing me to delay my address until this evening. We paused together to mourn and honor the valor of our seven Challenger heroes. And I hope that we are now ready to do what they would want us to do: Go forward, America, and reach for the stars. We will never forget those brave seven, but we shall go forward.