January 28th, 1986

[Bobbo]

Tomorrow is the 25th anniversary of the Challenger disaster.  I hope others will join me at 11:39 am (EST) in 73 seconds of silent reflection to honor the crew of that fateful flight.

[Devl]

Amen Brother!!!  That, 9/11, the JFK shooting and Mount St. Helens sent chills down my spine.  They all were truly horrifying and tragic!!  God bless their souls!

[MAD6Gun]

 Do you remember where you were when the Challenger exploded ?

  I was driving back from Chicago on a dealer trade for the Chevy dealer I worked for. I stopped to put the radio antenna on the "new"  Chevy Celebrity Wagon I was driving. When I got back in the car I turned on the radio and they were talking about how the shuttle had exploded.  I listened intently all the way back to Ft Wayne. When I got home I saw the Video for the first time. Truly a sad day in American History........

[f6rider]

went out for a early lunch...watched it live at my favorite watering hole.

and within a few weeks we had a lifeflight crew go down and a think we lost three.

[Serk]

Do you remember where you were when the Challenger exploded ?

I was at lunch in 6th grade... I still remember someone told me, and I said "What, did it crash into the moon?". The teachers never said anything, no one would confirm anything at ALL to us all day long, I never 100% got it confirmed until I got home...

[Tropic traveler]

Watched it live from the ground.
Went outside to see the launch like I had many times before & since. All we had to do was look due east to see the plume trail as we were about 65 miles due west from CC then. Something did not look right, it was too soon for a booster seperation. Went back into the boss's office {he had a TV} to hear what was going on. I felt sick as I walked in as I knew something was NOT right.
It wasn't.  

[RainMaker]

Was in Beaver Creek, Co getting ready to go skiing.  I went to buy groceries and when I got back to the condo, my wife told me.  Everyone was pretty somber all day.

Also remember the Columbia disaster.  My wife, kids and I went out in the backyard to watch the shuttle fly over.  It looked like it was going directly over Arlington. My wife asked why flecks were coming off it as it passed - we couldn't figure it out.  Then we went into the house to watch the shuttle land on TV.  And it never did. 

[MacDragon]

I was 27 years old and in a little cafe in Va. Bch. Va. taking a break from a sale job and watching it while eating,  on their little 19"... Needless to say, I lost my appitite... what a tragedy.

[vanagon40]

Do you remember where you were when the Challenger exploded ?

My father's funeral.

WOW, 25 years.

[John Schmidt]

Living in the Orlando area and working in Winter Park at the time, we were less than 50 miles due west of the launch site. Our office was on the second floor and at the end of each hallway had large windows...the one facing east was always crowded when a launch was scheduled. There was the usual excitment and ooohs and aaahs when it took off. But shortly after launch it obviously broke apart as we watched the numerous contrails going off in all directions. We had seen enough launches to know what had happened,  suddenly there was total silence amongst the 50 or so gathered to watch. Then, one by one, some began to sob. It was a sick feeling in your gut that was a long time leaving.

From our backyard, we have a fairly wide open view since the 7th fairway of the golf course is right behind the house. If it's really clear for a night launch, we can see this tremendous brilliance light up the horizon and a couple moments later the sound comes rolling in. You can actually hear the thunderous roar if it's fairly quiet. Then you see this beautiful arc of fire climbing into the sky and beyond. In the daylight, if you watch close you can see the boosters fall away, you can definitely see them with field glasses. Kinda neat, I never tire of it.

On a lighter note, when I was flying regularly, a flying buddy and I would go over and take pictures just as it launched. Other times, if nothing was on the pads, you sometimes could get permission to fly the length of the landing strip...just so you could say you've done it. Believe me, it's a long strip when you're in a small plane, but you don't dare land there. Once, after leaving the Cape we headed north along the coast just to check out Playalinda Beach. That's our so-called nude beach north of the Cape. Suddenly, my bud pointed to a secluded couple on the beach and wanted me to circle around so he could get some pictures with his long lens. I noticed he didn't take any shots so asked why....he handed me the camera so I could look. Two guys!  I about busted a gut laughing at him, asked how many pics he took. His answer...."just go!"

[olddog1946]

I was stationed at Wallace Air station in the Philippines, sitting at a table at the NCO club with my supervisor, watching the launch on TV...That was an event that hushed voices all around the world and Is something I will never forget.