Where were you when the Challenger Tragedy occured?

[cycloneye]

How time goes by vey fast and now it has been 20 years when that early afternoon day we saw with horror those images of the Challenger exploding.I was at a doctors office where a television set was on and then I saw the horrific scene.Suddenly total silence occured at the doctors office.

[TexasStooge]

I was over 8 months old when it happened.

[Skywatch_NC]

I was at work nearing the end of my shift at a shopping bag/gift wrap company in se NY state when I heard the news. Went home and watched footage of it on the news that Peter Jennings was anchoring...and Mom who was home at the time...she and I both just bawled.

Eric

[feederband]

I was home from school sick...Watched it from my house in orlando...Looked like somthing went wrong ran back inside to the tv ...Couldn't believe it..

[HurryKane]

I was at school--8th grade I think? I was in the hall and a teacher walked by and said "The Challenger blew up." I misunderstood and thought she meant 'went up' and so said, oh, great to hear that (had already started my interest in the space program back then). She corrected me. I went back to my clsssroom and told a few other kids. Not too much later the principal announced it on the intercom.

My father had almost applied to that Teacher In Space program.

[O Town]

We were outside at school watching it go up, as we do alot here in Orlando. I was in 8th grade. And when the smoke trail split in 2 everyone started making thier own assumptions of what happened. We went into the classroom and turned on the TV and heard what we all already knew. I will never forget it. And funny alot of teachers did not allow us to go outside and watch if it is during school hours, but for some reason that day alot of kids were outside watching including me. Never before or after that launch was I allowed to go outside and watch at school, only that one time.

[feederband]

We were outside at school watching it go up, as we do alot here in Orlando. I was in 8th grade. And when the smoke trail split in 2 everyone started making thier own assumptions of what happened. We went into the classroom and turned on the TV and heard what we all already knew. I will never forget it. And funny alot of teachers did not allow us to go outside and watch if it is during school hours, but for some reason that day alot of kids were outside watching including me. Never before or after that launch was I allowed to go outside and watch at school, only that one time.

Probably because there was a teacher on board..

[O Town]

Yup, you are probably right.

[kevin]

This anniversary should give us pause and determination to develop safer ways to enter space. With time it will become as commonplace and safe as transoceanic flights. The space shuttle is not a viable way of getting to that point.

[LaPlaceFF]

I was at trade school when I heard the news over the radio. Later that day a classmate had a portable TV and we then saw what happened.

[gtalum]

I was in class in the second grade and we watched the launch live on tv.

[Terrell]

When the Challenger exploded I was in the 10th grade. Given that it was on a Tuesday at around 11:40 AM, I was in my 5th hour English Class waiting for the bell to ring starting Lunch.

[EDR1222]

I was in my junior year of high school. Some had gone outside to watch it, but our class didn't. The principal made the announcement over the intercom. Will never forget that day.

I was at a drivethru getting breakfast when the radio station I was listening too announced that communication with Columbia had been lost as it was on its way back home. Never forget that day either.

[vbhoutex]

Laying on my couch sick as a dog and saying good bye to my wife as she walked out the door to work!! I screamed OMG when it happened and she ran back inside to see what was wrong. Needless to say I watched the tragedy unfold the rest of the day. I will always remember that moment like I remember the moment I heard that JFK had been shot.

[wxcrazytwo]

Laying on my couch sick as a dog and saying good bye to my wife as she walked out the door to work!! I screamed OMG when it happened and she ran back inside to see what was wrong. Needless to say I watched the tragedy unfold the rest of the day. I will always remember that moment like I remember the moment I heard that JFK had been shot.

That was a loooooooooooooong time ago. My brother was born at the same hospital he went to.

[Stephanie]

I CAN'T BELIEVE it's been 20 years already.

I was at work when I heard that she exploded. I was so excited for that teacher too.

[azskyman]

I remember it well...but I also remember the day they announced that Christa McAuliffe, the teacher, was going to be going up on the shuttle. There was actually an interview with her the day she found out. I had been a teacher, too, and thought how neat that would be to have that opportunity.

I was at home briefly when the launch went bad. I remember it was so traumatic for all of us. When I went back to work, I broke the news to my staff who were also broken up over the events of the day.

A real tough day...

[Nate-Gillson]

I was only 3 days old when that happened.

[Vandora]

I was in school, first grade I believe. We were actually watching it on the school TVs, when it happened. I remember crying, and a lot of my schoolmates and teachers doing the same.

[george_r_1961]

I was at the local college hanging out with a girl in the AV department. Neither one of could believe what we saw. We held out hope that the astronauts would be ok although we knew deep down there was no chance.