https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Challenger_disaster
I sometimes wondered growing up in the 1980s and 1990s what it was like for previous generations on the actual days of memorable events like Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin first setting foot on the moon; JFK's assassination and other events. The Challenger disaster, the eruption of St. Helens and the fall of the Berlin Wall I think are the three most momentous days I remember from my childhood in the 1980s.
I was in elementary school, and we were watching the shuttle launch on television in school when the Challenger exploded. It was especially big for us kids in school, because among the Challenger crew was a schoolteacher, Christa McAuliffe ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christa_McAuliffe ). I remember thinking how awesome it would be if my teacher were on a space shuttle. And then ... it exploded.
My dad was an astronomy geek, a fan of Star Trek and Carl Sagan, so I naturally picked up the space geekery too. I was fascinated with space exploration ... but unfortunately with any passion, the sudden deaths of legends like real life astronauts I think hit particularly hard, though I know even non-geeks were impacted.
I'm no fan of Reagan (president at the time for you kids who don't know history), but there's no questioning his skills as an orator, and I still like the speech he gave in the wake of the Challenger disaster:
I think many of us play sci-fi games like Galactic Civilizations because space still remains that frontier into the unknown. I hope we can find a way to restore the great strides we once made to explore farther and farther. We could have landed a manned mission to Mars by now if we hadn't largely abandoned the focus on exploring space that seemed to result from the implosion of our space race rival (the USSR) as well as the loss of the Columbia on February 1, 2003 (just a few days after the Challenger disaster anniversary). We are still scarcely ankle-deep. I hope I will live to see a manned mission to Mars by the end of my days.
When it comes to exploring a new frontier, particularly as vast and alien as space, unfortunately we learn hard lessons on why pure oxygen environments are extremely dangerous (Apollo 1), extra checks on small things like o-rings and heeding caution from engineers over effects of cold should be heeded (Challenger) or the dangers of something seemingly innocuous as a piece of foam (Columbia). They serve to remind me on the importance of accuracy, and how even seemingly little details can make a big difference when ignored. I never made it through basic training, but I still remember vividly a schpiel given by an instructor in U.S. Navy basic training -- failure to pay attention to a bolt costing fifteen cents can destroy an aircraft costing fifteen million dollars and kill your crewmates.
True bravery means accepting terrible risk to accomplish something amazing. I think every real explorer facing real dangers, as astronauts do, fit the bill. We should definitely do all we can conceive of to improve safety, take a million checks on a single bolt, but in the end not let the very real danger of losing human lives deter us from exploration. And I think we should definitely take the time now and then to remember those who did pay the ultimate sacrifice while striving to do something great for all of mankind.
Good post, thanks. I remember the event well. May that brave crew rest in peace.
Well written Chibiabos, very well written! I remember the event also, I was watching the launch on television and was shocked when the Challenger blew up. May all 7 of those who lost their lives be remembered always. Continue to rest in peace Challenger crew.
good post... something I often think of as well... where we were when major things happen....
for Challenger.... I was staying down at a little country property we have in the wilderness with my son and sister during the school holidays.....remote from people... no electricity... no nuttin'.
My sister had the habit of getting up really early... (a bad one in my opinion...I'm an owl, not a lark!)... and she was off out digging holes and planting trees while I was still asleep. When I woke up, I'd had the weirdest dream that Challenger had blown up and all were killed. I told my sister of the dream when she returned to the cabin and she laughed at me. I shrugged it off... I have plenty of dreams, but never look upon them as premonitions.
Later that day we packed up as it was our last day of hols and time to get back to civilisation. On the drive back to Sydney we stopped at an the old township of Berrima at a beautiful old traditional pub. We walked into the bar to wet our whistles and it was just in time for the 6pm news. They had a big TV at the end of the bar and were showing the shots of Challenger exploding.... my sister just looked at me stunned... as was I.
The only thing I can think of is she had left the battery radio on in the cabin when she went out and I had subconsciously heard it and incorporated it into my dream. But it was really freaky at the time I can tell ya!
Moon landing.... I was home from boarding school with whooping cough and watched the whole thing on tele at the end of my bed...all the leading up days as well.... what a privilege... never begrudged that bout of whooping cough... I would probably have only seen as small part of it in a crowded rec room otherwise. As I grew up wanting to be an astronaut and was also intrigued by all things space.... and LOVED Carl Sagan... it was extra special for me.
Elvis Presley.... I was in a recording studio in North Sydney listening to Kerrie Biddell recording an ad for the New Zealand Dairy Board. I heard it on the radio in the taxi as I arrived... I announced it in the studio...everyone laughed and said it would be a hoax, he couldn't be dead... I suppose the news was too shocking to be believed... they didn't believe it all afternoon, despite my protestations... till the end of the session when someone in the outside office had heard it and confirmed not a hoax...
JFK was another day I remember very clearly tho very young...can 'see' the day still...
Princess Diana was another shock day. I was off to a family BBQ get together...heard the news of the accident. When we all arrived we were pleased it was only a broken arm...that was all the information that had filtered through. Then later in the afternoon was revealed she had died... was quite a shock...disbelief...especially after the report it was only a broken arm...
....and, I'm sure we all remember exactly where we were when we heard the Towers were hit....sadly, another event to be etched deeply into our minds of tragic/memorable events.
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