Space Shuttle Challenger

[marshman]

27 years ago today, the shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after lift off killing all 7 on board. I think that is one of those moments where we will all remember what we were doing and where we were when we heard the news. Didn't hear any mention though of it on the news though. Hard to believe its been almost 30 years.

[Tarrantcodoe]

I was in 5th grade. We were learning all about NASA that week and were going to get to see it after lunch. The school did record it, guess they were smart to do that, due to what happened. But after lunch they brought all of us into the gym and told us that there was a problem and we wouldn't be seeing it and they would talk to us the next day. So after school went home to see it all on the news.

[CletusBodeen]

I was in 7th grade TX history and we watched the launch in class that morning. I'll never forget it.

[Viking]

I was in third grade at school. My pops worked at NASA and was actually in Cape Caneveral when the bad stuff happened.

[Ol Thumper]

**** were getting old, that was a sad day for sure.

[1369]

Kinda strange, I watched Challenger while in high school and Columbia while feeding my daughter that early morning.

[BigL]

remember it like it was yesterday. I was watching it live in 9th grade when it happened. I've always been very interested in the space program and even worked for United Space Alliance after college. Mostly wrote software for the robotic arm but did a little for booster. Wish the shuttles were still flying. I would definitely take my son to see a launch if they were.

[mykidsdad]

I was 6 years old and out of school for the day because I was sick. I remember my mom watching the tv and crying like crazy...

[Trust]

5th grade Mrs. Cornett's class watching on TV

[nimrod]

i was in 7th or 8th grade science class watching on tv

[Silent Assassin]

Yup. Remember that day vividly. I was in the living room and watched the news of it when that happened.

[FtHoodBowHunter]

I was in 2nd grade. We watched it happen.

[Graybow]

I was in college when it happened.

[kfd82]

I grew up just a few miles from Mission Control. In fact, Gene Krantz the flight director of Apollo 13 and several flights before it, was a member of my Church.
We had astronauts come speak at our schools several times a year, we toured NASA like kids around San Antonio tour the Alamo. Every kid within 50 miles of me had been to three places, without a doubt, before the 5th grade. NASA, The San Jacinto Monument, and The Battle Ship TEXAS.

Back then when you toured NASA you got to see the actual Mission Control room. Now they have "Space Center Houston" and everything is a replica.

Anyway, the Dickinson Independent School District had unveiled its newest school that year. Hughes Road Elementary housed the 4th and 5th grades.
I was the first 5th grade class ever through that school.

The classrooms were arranged in "pods" 5 or 6 classrooms in a semicircle with a large area between them all, kind of like a lobby. There was a small stage in each pod and we would all gather there for functions or when something important was on TV.

Every shuttle launch was big news and very exciting. Anytime a launch was during school hours we watched it on TV. We all sat and watched the launch that morning. I still remember it just like it was yesterday.

I remember thinking it was fireworks, or some sort of show... a special effect or something. The other kids around me pretty much thought the same thing. I can remember kids ooooo'ing and awwww'ing. Some sad Whoa, that was cool! others said Radical, or Man that was bad (of course Bad meant Good back then)

Then a teacher turned off the TV, we were hustled back into the class rooms and the teachers seemed different the rest of the day. It seems like either some of the kids figured it out, or maybe the teacher told us, but at any rate I knew what had really happened before I got home.

[Todd-ty729]

.