25 Years ago today Challanger AND 8 Years Ago Columbia Disas

[StormingB81]

Jan 28, 1986, space shuttle challanger broke apart 73 seconds after lift off killing all 7 on board including teacher Christa McAuliffe. Can't believe it's been 25 years!

[Tireman4]

Man oh man. I was 21..working at a Dairy Queen and I heard it from my grandma that morning..wow....

[gtalum]

I was in fourth grade. We were actually watching the launch live on tv, because of a classroom program involving Christa McCauliffe, the teacher aboard. It was a pretty traumatic moment, especially since I have always been a space and science geek.

The worst part about the incident was that it was completely avoidable, but those at the highest levels in NASA (and above) refused to listen to their vendors who insisted they not launch if the temperature was below 40 degrees. Incredible hubris basically killed those 7 astronauts and ultimately the American space program.

[Pburgh]

I was watching it live too. I'll never forget the look on the families' faces. All those family members were watching it right there.

[MGC]

I was in Oakland California on a business trip. I was getting ready for my day and had the news on....they were broadcasting the launch. They covered the first minute of the launch then cut away for some reason only to flash back to the cape. Next image was that of debris raining down from the sky....it as a true O-#$@! moment. I ended up being late that morning, I just could not remove myself from watching the TV. Ironically, I got to watch Challenger land at Edwards AFB just several months before on the crafts last mission. I've since got to witness two shuttle launches. It is a must see event.....MGC

[Stephanie]

I remember I was at work and someone came into my office and told me what happened. I remember watching the video later at home and them showing the families watching but were not quite sure that something awful had just happened. I can't believe it's been 25 years either!

[mf_dolphin]

We were watching the lift-off live from our loading dock in Clearwater. It went from "Cool!" to "Oh My God!" in a matter of seconds....

[Graham1973]

I watched it on the news with a sad feeling that I've never felt again until I was watching In the Shadow of the Moon. There is a scene showing a Titan flying along normally and then it explodes, the first time I saw that I immediately thought "Challenger"

[Category 5]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfQt9wYCofE[/youtube]

[Cyclenall]

I just recently watched a bunch of Challenger Disaster videos two months ago without realizing the 25th anniversary was close by.

[StormingB81]

I do feel bad because i nall the talk about challanger I totally forgot that on 1 Feb 2003 was the Columbia Disaster. Can't forget about them!