Remembering The Challenger

[texasgirl]

20 years ago on this day, I remember watching the lift off of The Challenger. And watching as it exploded! It was like it wasn't real at all. We just sat there in total disbelief!
And then 3 years ago on February 1st, Columbia broke apart over Texas.
and of course, we can't forget the fire that killed the 3 man crew of the Apollo 1.
Let's pause and remember these brave men and women.


Apollo1:
Lieutenant Colonel "Gus" Ivan Grissom
Lieutenant Colonel Edward Higgins WhiteII
Lieutenant Colonel Roger Bruce Chaffee

Challenger:
Commander Francis R. Scobee
Pilot Michael J. Smith
Specialist Judith A. Resnik
Specialist Ronald E. Mcnair
Specialist Ellison S. Onikzuka
Payload Specialist Gregory B. Jarvis
First Teacher in Space Sharon Christa McAuliffe


Columbia:
Commander Rick Husband
Pilot Willie McCool
Mission Specialist Kalpana Chawla
Mission Specialist Laurel Clark
Mission Specialist Mike Anderson
Mission Specialist David Brown
Payload Specialist IIan Ramon

 

[GB]

I remember watching The Challenger explode live on TV. I was in 7th grade and it was lunchtime. Me and some friends had hung back in one of our classes to watch the liftoff. It was special for us because Christa McAuliffe had something to do with my town (she grew up there or something) and her mother was a substitute teacher in the school we were in and most everyone knew her. There is now a library in our town named after her. What a sad day that was. It was just shocking.

 

[Michelemarie]

Very sad day - may their friends and family be at peace knowing they are in such a better place.

 

[jkath]

I remember walking into the hair salon where I worked to find my co-worker sobbing. She had to tell me the news. Even after 20 years, it is still so fresh in our minds, and so hard to grasp.

 

[BigDog]

I watched the Challenger when I was in grade school too. TV was in the 4th grade room. I would have been 9, so 3rd or 4th grade?

 

[middie]

i was very young but for some reason i had the day off of school and i was home watching it with my mom. resnik was from ohio so we lost a "hometown" hero. they're doing something in the akron area to honor her this year. still so sad.

 

[pdswife]

I was watching tv and feeding David... he was just a baby. It was so sad!

 

[Barbara L]

I had just gotten home from taking my daughter to school (she was in 1st grade). I'll never forget the feeling of horror I felt as I watched it.

I wasn't living in South Carolina yet, but Ronald McNair was from here (Lake City), so there are some tributes going on now in South Carolina.

Barbara