40 Years Ago Today:

[lastlib]

The Challenger shuttle disaster. The nation and the world lost seven heroes of science and exploration:



Francis R. Scobee, Mission Commander
Michael J. Smith, Pilot/Astronaut
Ronald E. McNair, Mission Spcecialist
Ellison S. Onizuka, Mission Specialist
Judith A. Resnick, Mission Specialist
S. Christa McAuliffe, Teacher in Space
Gregory B. Jarvis, Payload Specialist

The Challenger shuttle booster exploded 73 seconds after launch, destroying the shuttle orbiter, and killing all seven crew members. The cause of the explosion was traced by an investigating commission member to be an O-ring seal between sections of a solid-rocket booster that stiffened due to cold temperatures at launch and thereby failed to seal.
The mission was to be the first to put a teacher in space to conduct science lessons for schoolchildren.



This image is seared into the memory of all of us who were alive that day and experienced the tragedy.

RIP, Challenger crew. You are not forgotten.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[pfitz59]

1. I was living in Jacksonville Fl at the time

Saw this up close in real time. Horrific.

[Clouds Passing]

2. 😢

[dickthegrouch]

3. I watched the shuttle Columbia land 7/4/82 at Edwards AFB, CA

That's the closest I've gotten to one.
An incredibly emotional moment for me.
I would love to watch a launch live, but I refuse to go anywhere near Floriduh.

[JustAnotherGen]

4. Watched it in school

[Volaris]

5. Im no fan, but that day, Reagan was the president this nation needed.

I'll always give him credit for that.

[CountAllVotes]

7. We never needed Reagan!

Never no matter what!

[erronis]

11. Anybody would have been better than Reagan. Well except for trump, shrub, nixon, ...

[Polybius]

20. I was just going to mention that

His speech was amazing, and really brought the country together after the tragedy.

[misanthrope]

22. Yes, he read Peggy Noonan's speech without making a mistake

Speech time for Bonzo.

[Tommy Carcetti]

6. I was a kid and my family was taking a January vacation in Florida at the time

We had never seen a launch before but were excited about the prospect.

It was a cold day. The night before the moon was full and red, almost a bad omen.

We were driving along when I first saw the contrail over the horizon. We immediately pulled over, got out of the car. My dad started snapping pictures.

We saw the contrail divide into two but didn't think anything of it. We figured it was just how these launches normally were. We got back into the car, turned on the radio, and that's when we heard the news. I remember my mom gasping. I remember stopping to eat for lunch and the entire restaurant being deathly quiet.

I still remember it as clearly as I did 40 years ago.

[erronis]

12. Wow - what an exceptional time to be there and what a memory!

Last edited Wed Jan 28, 2026, 08:15 PM - Edit history (1)

[dameatball]

8. I was living in southeast Orlando at the time and saw the unusual plumes while looking out from a loading dock.

Things just looked off. Pretty soon the news got around and not much got done for a while.

[canetoad]

9. Shuttle launches

Must have been a relative rarity in those days. I was preparing for the day but turned it on in the morning (AEST) to watch the launch. Tragic.

[malaise]

10. Damn time flies

Rec for visibility

[BurnDoubt]

13. I remember feeling overwhelming sadness...

For these brave Humans risking all to pull back the curtain and make the secrets of the Cosmos known.
They represent the Best of Humanity.

[llmart]

14. I think we all remember where we were when that happened.

What an awful tragedy. The looks on the parents' faces said it all.

By the way, Artemis II is scheduled to launch the first week in February, tentatively Feb. 6th depending on weather, etc. It's still a "go" as far as I know.

[electric_blue68]

15. Oh, woah. I do remember; just forget the date ....

How awful for you people seeing it live in Fla!

I was at work doing photo shoot set-ups for a small cataloge probably for jewelry in a small room. Though I occasionally helped with hard goods in the big 2 story open studio (a cool space) thst our small room was set in.

They usually had a radio on. I think I was in the big studio I/we heard it there.

Having been watching space shots since grade school on the 7ft wheeled inTV stand (?'61), or listening on the radio later on the sneak 😄 at HS, or one job; made it especially horrifc!

[debsy]

16. I was in a dorm lounge at ECSU watching the TV with a friend.

That day along with a select few others in my personal history are etched in memory.

[niyad]

17. I remember. I had stopped for gas, and the store had the tv on

tuned to the launch. I was just paying when it happened. I ran for my car, knowing our clients were going to need us.

Later we learned about the pressure st. ronnie had exerted to force the launch, despite the risk. I will never forgive him.

[democrank]

18. A tragic, sad day

[Xavier Breath]

19. I was at home sick that day.

A buddy of mine who worked evenings at a grocery store called me that morning. He asked if I knew what had happened. I said I didn't and he told me to turn on my tv. I asked what channel and I'll never forget what he said: ''It doesn't matter.''

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

21. The day before my 25th birthday.

Guess we know what tomorrow is now.

[lastlib]

23. Medicare, baby!

Happy Birthday!

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

25. Thanks! Started it first of the year.

So far, I like it. I went with traditional.

[Raine]

24. Very sad day, l remember it well 😪

R‐I-P 🙏

[BigmanPigman]

26. It's sort of like when JFK and John Lennon and 9/11 occurred

Everyone remembers where they were when they heard the news.