Memories of the Challenger

This is one page of many, check out the intro at I Remember Challenger for others.

This page currently edited by: Dagwood. Past editor: Junior

I will always remember that day, I might not remember alot, but I will always remember. I was in the 2nd grade, and we watched the launch on television. It was incredible to see the Challenger lift off. When I saw the explosion, I was not exactly sure what had happened. To this day, just the thought of the accident sends chills up and down my spine. January 28, 1986 was my 8th birthday.

From: Dani

I remember the day like yesterday. I was in the sixth grade. We had just returned from lunch and were all sat down in the classroom waiting for Mr. Tomlin to begin class. I remember sitting there for a long time wondering where he was. As he entered the room, he announced the dreadful news, many began to cry-myself being one. One of our teachers at our school was one of the finalists to be on the shuttle. We then went next door in another classroom and began watching the news. How dreadful it was. It's amazing how it just seems like yesterday.

From: Aaron Miller

I was only 8 years old, and I still can see the sunlight coming through our skylight window. I was home sick from school, and was home alone while my mother went food shopping. I remember actually watching the footage, and I know I'll never forget it. When I heard the garage door go up, I ran out in my pagamas to tell her the news. Now as an educator, I know I'd never be able to get on a shuttle as a teacher in space. Christa and all astronauts are exceptional and very special people.

From: Lisa

I was in 5th grade when this tragedy happened. I can still remember it clear as day. Selected students were chosen from each class to go watch the event on TV. Minutes later, a classmate came in with tears in her eyes. "It exploded" she said.

From: Christina

I was 19, second year of college, driving to class. I was floored, and couldn't believe it. At the time the shuttle was a big event, today is seems like an everyday event. After the accident I wasn't sure I supported NASA, and I'm still not sure I do today.

From: Don

I was a senior in High School when this happened; I came home for lunch and watched it on CNN....

From: Jeff S.

I live in the UK but have always been a fan of the space race & the work NASA & the Russians did from the late 60's onward. When I was around 8 a friend whose father warked at British Aerospace brought a very small piece of moon rock to school for us all to look at. I was hooked from then. I even remember Apollo 13. My mother, sister and myself sat and prayed for the 13 crew and watched it live via the first satelite in the UK. (not the first sat link though) I was almost as excited for the Challenger mission, I had watched all of the shuttle missions. I remember sitting there thinking 'this can't be right.". I thought it was a joke. Those lives gone in a flash. At least they wouldn't have known much about it. I'm glad it didn't stop the space program altogether. I wonder what the future brings. Cward

From: Colin

I was in the second grade at the time. 5 or 6 years old. I was in the cafeteria with everyone watching it on the news. I didn't know what to think at the time. Im 21 now. Seems so long ago. I know my mom still has newpaper clippings of the accident.

From: Miranda

I was in the 2nd grade when the Challenger exploded. I remember my teacher had been telling us about space shuttles. She brought in the t.v. so we could watch the event. When the shuttle exploded, I remember all of us crying and screaming. It was such a sad day and I'll never forget it.

From: Leslie

I was a sargeant in the 82nd airborne at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina when the disaster happened. I was driving up the hill to our barracks area from our motor pool for lunch when I first heard the news over my car radio. I raced for our barracks day room that had a big tv. The room was already packed when I arrived. Dan Rather was going over the events that just happened. Everyone including myself sat dumbfounded for at least an hour. I remember that everyone was released from duty. Here it is 15 years later and I still find myself emotionally affected by this. And to this day I still cannot perceive how agencies could put the almighty dollar above the safety of seven brave human lives.

From: Lee Goodell

I remember because I had a science fair project due that day and it was cancelled to watch the Challenger take-off, I was in 8th grade at the time. We, all of Mrs. Collinsworth's science class, watched as the took off and later watched as the Challenger exploded. I do not recall any emotions other than grief for the families and friends who turned out in support. The Challenger explosion did not phase me till I saw the burial and saw Christa's children left behind. I must have bawled a flood that day, not the only one I am sure. I am sure that she is in a better place but she still left behind a family. My prayers are still with the family.

From: Phillip Ewing

My 7th grade class did not go outside to see the launch that day as it was too cold. Instead we listened to the launch on the radio. When the announcer told us that there had been an accident, my students became hysterical as most of their parents were employed at the Kennedy Space Center. I will forget my students' stunned and shattered faces nor the emotion which strung us out for many days. As the day that Kennedy was shot, I will remember the sights, sounds, and colors of that fateful day.

From: Eleanor

I am sitting at work watching this tragedy of the World Trade Center and with my son being in kinderarten it reminded me of when I was in Kindergarten and we stopped class to watch The Challenger take off. Then, unfortunatly went back down and from that I learned about tradegy and now I am wondering if they are talking with my sons class about what has happened today as they did with us after shuttle went down and trying to figure out how to explain to him why horrible things like this happen.

From: Parrish

I remember my teacher crying and thinking that it was a tv show. I was in 5th grade, now I thought that was the worst thing a child could see but as of September 11 2001 I have thought that children have seen the worst thing that the world has seen yet. terrible images that will live with the US forever, God Bless America

From: nissy

I remember that I was in my 1st Period math class at Mt. Gleason Middle School in Los Angeles, CA when the principal came over the school's PA system and announced that the shuttle had exploded 1:13 into the flight. The announcement alone made me sick to my stomach knowing that 7 people on that shuttle weren't coming home ever again.

From: Christopher Cotton

I will forever remember where I was when the Challenger exploded. I was in 5th grade attending school in a suburb of Chicago. The Bears had just won the Superbowl 2 days before and I remember it was hard for us and the teachers to get the focus back to schoolwork. It seemed as if the celebration didn't stop on Sunday. For the first time in my memory my teacher decided that we were going to watch the launch in class. He invited the other three 5th grade classes to ours, checked out a TV, and 100 students excitedly watched as the launch was about to begin. Then the countdown.....I remember all of us whispering along as we hear 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Everyone kind of lifted in their seat as it lifted off. But then seconds later.....the explosion. The room was in shock. Silent and confused. I remember looking at my teacher. For the first time, he didn't have any answers.

From: Tracy Johnson

At the time of the accident, in my school classroom, we were having a special movie day. We were going to watch the shuttle Challenger take off then watch our movie. Actually, we had joined another class since TV's weren't so popular at our school. As I watched, during the fourth grade, I remember that I really liked the space program. I was into astronomy and NASA was so interesting to me. Well, as I saw the events unfold, the class almost cried out in amazement. I turned to my friend and said very cool, "I am going to be an astronaut when I grow up!". Of course, everyone thought I was crazy. Still, to this day, I love the space program. I am appalled to know that the safety of the shuttle program is in jeopardy again. The facility out in Palmdale, California is the home of the shuttle fleet. They have been left out of the equation when it comes to future safety inspections and modifications. NASA wants to move OMM operations to KSC. I am working right next to the shuttle. I work in the Palmdale facility. I cannot believe that we are going to let this tragedy happen and not let it teach us a lesson. That day in history will always haunt me. I used to feel like the astronauts would tell me what was going to be the future of my space career. Someday, I will be up there. That moment I am in space, I will cry and say thanks to those seven beautiful spirits. Let us never forget to teach our youngsters to honor those who have come before us in all aspects of life. I remember space shuttle Challenger...every millisecond...

From: Brad Hinton

I was in 6th grade when this tragedy occured. I went to school in Fort Worth, Texas. I was in 1st hour class, History, and I think about 2 other classes joined ours. We were excited to have a TV in the classroom to see this great event. We were also excited because our teacher who had a sister in Houston who lived next door to the other female astronaut, Judy Resnik. I remember watching the shuttle go up into the air after the countdown, and then it exploded. We all just sat there stunned. We didn't say much after that, except for whispering wondering why it happened. I don't think we got much done that day---the rest of the day was a blur.

From: Marsha

I wasn't there to witness The Challenger but after reading these peoples comments I feel like I did witness it. But I was in Library on Sept.11, 2001. My homerome teacher had turned on the TV. She came in the library and told the librarian to come watch the TV. She then came back. Library was over and we all went in the classroom I thought it was a little plane crash. An hour later they turned back on the TV and the one building had collapsed. Then 2 min. later the second building fell. my teacher said to us "that this was a serious problem " the first thing that crossed my mind was terroism but I didn't think it was true. It is still on TV and I am still frightened. So if anyone is really reading this I would like to say "GOD BLESS AMERICA AND ALL THE LIVES THAT WERE TAKEN IN THE SEPT.11 TRAGEDY"

From: Jess

I lived in Florida my entire life. I was just outside of Tampa in Pinellas county. I was in 2nd grade and the whole class was walking in an outside hallway to lunch. My teacher knew the shuttle was going up just about then so we stopped to watch it. We could always see the shuttle go up in the area I was in. Well, we watched it, sqiunting in the sun, and then a moment later, we watched it blow up. When you're 7 years old, you didn't know something had gone wrong. We didn't know it wasnt supposed to do that. We knew there had always been a stream of smoke left behind it but we had never seen it like this before. We went on to the cafeteria, ate our lunches and went back to the classroom where our teacher had set up a tv so we could watch the news and see what happened. This was a special launch because a teacher from Florida had gone up in it. Well, when we found out what had happened, almost the whole class started bawling. It was horrible. I couldn't believe that such a smart group of people (NASA) could let something so horrible go wrong. Now that I'm older I realize that no matter how smart you are, nothing is perfect. There will always be mistakes. There is a risk with everything you do on a daily basis. To this day, I still wish the families of the Challanger crew well, and to the Chalr crew....RIP

From: Jackie Dean

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