On 29th anniversary of Challenger disaster, NASA's day of remembrance

cbs ^

[BenLurkin]

A wreath-laying ceremony was planned at Arlington National Cemetery, to be followed by remembrance events at several NASA locations, including the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

The tributes also honor the three astronauts -- including the first American spacewalker, Ed White -- who were killed on Jan. 27, 1967, when a fire broke out in the Apollo 1 capsule during a pre-launch test, and those aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia, which in 2003 broke apart upon reentry from space and streaked across the sky over Texas engulfed in flames. The seven members of the crew were 16 minutes from home.

[MarineBrat]

When I was a six year old kid, Ed White’s spacewalk completely fascinated me. I remember deciding that he was the coolest guy on Earth. That was one of the things that lead me down the road of science.

[Star Traveler]

I remember that day! Has it been THAT LONG ago?!

[PghBaldy]

Wow. I remember where I was. What an awful day for America.

[fatnotlazy]

A very sad part of history. What makes me sadder is that this administration has trashed our once proud space program. One of many things I can't forgive Jug Ears and his accomplices for.

If you have time, find President Reagan's address to the nation following the disaster. Moving, sincere, an example of real leadership. Then compare it to one of Obama’s self-serving monologues. There is just no comparison.

[reed13k]

I was giving a noon meal formation chow call at USNA as a Plebe when I was told to “shut the hell up and shove off”.

None of the Plebes who’d just hurried back from our last morning class and sprinted up to the 4th deck of the 6th wing at Bancroft had a clue why we were being waved off ....especially me - I was a real “xxxx-screen” who couldn’t seem to get anything right. Even caught it from some 3rd class Youngsters (sophmores).

It got so quiet we stuck our heads out the door to see all the upperclassmen standing outside the wardroom. One of the bigger flaming upperclassmen - saw us and waved us all out. We slowly converged on the wardroom and watched the videos for about 10 minutes before an announcement came across.

Formed up did attendance and headed for King Hall (mess). Had a prayer and sat down. No grillings/flamings, no chitchat, no discussion of news articles. The servers didn’t give their normal hellos or replies.

Imagine 4500 young men and women sitting at tables with a few hundred servers quietly eating a meal in total silence or at least with only mute whispers. People jumped at dropped utensils. It was surreal.

It was also the most singular and earnest tribute of which I’ve ever been a part. Unscripted, just everyone acknowledging through their silence the sacrifice that those aboard had made.

[mowowie]

I remember as a 18 year old walking into a Coca Cola plant here in MA looking for a job when the receptionist claimed that she was busy watching the Space Shuttle explode.
I thought that it was a weird kind of joke to tell....
Anyways that day seems like yesterday.

[MinuteGal]

I remember the day well. Neighbors were all in their back yards here on the west central Gulf coast of Florida, because occasionally we could see blast-offs from Canaveral during the day, although it usually was just a sighting of white smoke ascending. During night lift-offs, we could see more red, flaming ascensions.

Someone shouted to go inside to watch our TVs....and we raced in to see something was horribly wrong. You know the rest of the story.

We went outside in the yard again and craned our heads upwards. It was an eerie sight in the bright Florida sunshine. Black smokey things of different shapes were falling down from WAY up there. Scores of white feathery contrails coiled downward for what seemed like an eternity. We watched till the sky was clear and our necks ached....and back we went to watch the somber aftermath on TV.

What a day....and solemn remembrances to the valiant American warriors who perished on that January 28th, 1986, twenty-nine years ago today.

"And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high, untrespassed sanctity of space
Put out my hand and touched the face of God"

Leni

[353FMG]

I was working in Jubail in Saudi and shared a number of offices with American-educated engineers, mostly from UT.

The Saudis had a big kick on that occasion and showed it to their American colleagues just as the mid-eastern students on American college campuses did on the evening of 9/11/2001.

Folks, all that talk of Saudis being our friends, is total, utter, complete, full-blown BS.

[SunkenCiv]

Richard Feynman: Challenger Crash O-Ring - YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D6Rwcbsn19c0

Richard Feynman and the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster
http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DKBwF22Jfyn8

[SWAMPSNIPER]

We were in front of the hardware store watching, when the smoke plume veered off suddenly we knew the launch had gone wrong.

St. Augustine is about 110 miles from the pad, but on a clear day the launches are visible.

[M Kehoe]

Good evening. I'm always glad to see your moniker.

The CEO and I were going to lunch and heard it on the radio (WRVA in Richmond). Had to verify it with a friend at NASA, then I felt sick.

5.56mm

[danamco]

29 years ago, can’t believe it!

Sad day!!

We could never see lift-offs from South Florida, but we were glued to the TV, unfortunately, may their souls R,I.P!!!