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Twenty-seven years ago today, America witnessed the tragic explosion of the space shuttle Challenger.
Delayed by almost a week, the shuttle mission on Jan. 28, 1986, was especially momentous, as it marked the launch of President Ronald Reagan's Teacher in Space Project. Concord, N.H., teacher Christa McAuliffe was onboard the shuttle to become the first civilian teacher in space.
A little more than a minute after launch, the shuttle exploded and broke apart, killing all seven crew members onboard. Later reports revealed that a faulty O-ring had been the cause of the distaster.
Millions of Americans watched the tragedy unfold on TV, including many students because of McCauliffe's role in the mission.
Where were you during the Challenger launch and subsequent disaster? Did you watch it on TV, or hear about it afterward?
Discuss in the comments below.
Annie Rhodes
8:00 am on Monday, January 28, 2013
I was in eighth grade at middle school. I was eating lunch in a classroom when the teacher came in crying. She had been watching on the TV in the teacher's lounge. It took her a few minutes to calm down enough to tell us what happened. All I could think about was that my science teacher had been in the contest to be the first teacher in space. Obviously he didn't win but he did get through the first few rounds of elimination. Some of the parents were so upset they came to school and picked up their kids. The rest of us crowded into the few rooms that had TVs to watch it explode again and again on replay. It was both surreal and chilling at the same time. Certainly a day I will never forget.
Annie Rhodes
8:01 am on Monday, January 28, 2013
I was in eighth grade at middle school. I was eating lunch in a classroom when the teacher came in crying. She had been watching on the TV in the teacher's lounge. It took her a few minutes to calm down enough to tell us what happened. All I could think about was that my science teacher had been in the contest to be the first teacher in space. Obviously he didn't win but he did get through the first few rounds of elimination. Some of the parents were so upset they came to school and picked up their kids. The rest of us crowded into the few rooms that had TVs to watch it explode again and again on replay. It was both surreal and chilling at the same time. Certainly a day I will never forget.
karen kramer
10:46 am on Monday, January 28, 2013
I was living in Boca Raton. The day of the explosion, I was packing to move to Illinois. The day was beautiful and clear and I could see the shuttle going up from my front window, then smoke and the spiral downward. I turned on the tv and saw/heard what I already knew had happened. I will never forget that day.
Bryan McGonigle
1:00 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
Third grade, watching it in class on TV.