Death of the Space Shuttle Challenger

As a child I was fascinated by the space shuttle program. I would wake up early to catch every launch that I could, listening to the news commentators remark about every moment of the launch both before and after the event.

The launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger was to be especially memorable--the very first teacher was going up in space. School was filled with news of Christa McAuliffe and her history-making journey as I happily awaited the launch of another woman in space.

At the launch all seemed well. I recall them talking about the throttle up and then a puff of smoke appeared in the air.

After a moment of confused silence, Dad said "I think something went wrong" as we looked for the shuttle.

"No way, Dad!" I argued. "Nothing's wrong--it was supposed to happen that way. You heard them call for the throttle up!"

Dad shook his head. "No, something is wrong. I don't see the shuttle."

I squeezed up close to our television trying to find the shuttle to point out to Dad. Nothing was there but the smoke.

The announcement that came next made me sit on the floor in shock. To this day I have no clue what they said, I was just sitting there in total disbelief.

"No, you're wrong!" I tried to argue with the screen. "Dad, nothing happened to the shuttle, we just can't see it cause it's too far up!"

We waited...

And waited...

I knew the truth but could not accept it as I sat arguing with the television and my father. I could not conceive that with all of the genius at NASA that anything could happen to my heroes the astronauts.

As we all know from history, the worst DID happen that day. The Space Shuttle Challenger officially broke apart 73 seconds into the flight and all seven crew members aboard were killed. Michael J. Smith, Dick Scobee, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Christa McAuliffe, Gregory Jarvis and Judith Resnik all perished on that fateful Tuesday Morning, leaving a nation in shock at the loss.

Life went on, of course. More shuttles were launched and history made, but January 28, 1986 saw the world lose some innocence and experience the frailty of life.

Whenever I see that big plume of smoke I become 15 again and my nose is stuck to the TV screen, yelling at the voices and calling them liars.

Rest in peace, Challenger crew. You are remembered.