Thursday, January 29, 2015

The Challenger Space Shuttle Explosion

challenger



The anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger was yesterday.  In 1986, the Challenger exploded 73 seconds into flight killing all seven of the astronauts aboard.

This is an day that I will always remember as John and I were in the parking lot taking photos of the Challenger taking off.

We had been in Ft. Lauderdale at a Sales Meeting and decided to drive to Kennedy Space Center to watch the Challenger take off.

It did not take off as scheduled so we went on to Orlando, FL. It was so cold.  The hotel we were staying in had to go to KMart in the middle of the night and buy more blankets.  We slept in our clothes.

It did not take off the next day either.  On the third day, we knew if we were going to Epcot, we had to go that day.  So, standing in the parking lot, we watched the explosion.  It was horrible.

The whole day was just a day of silence - no one was talking, lots of tears and disbelief.

John has photos of it as it exploded.  He instantly knew something was wrong - I didn't.  I just thought the booster rockets were going off, but no, something far worse.

It is a day to remember sadly.

Judy

18 comments:

  1. Oh Judy, how awful to be there! I was home with my kids and we were watching the Shuttle take off on TV when it exploded. I cried and cried. I tried to hold it together because the girls were so young and didn't understand but I knew immediately that something was wrong! Sad day!

    ReplyDelete
  2. That was such a sad day! I remember exactly where I was when I heard the news. One of the times in history that is forever etched in our minds. Sad that you witnessed it in person...I have always thought how awful to have been there in person especially for the families. What incredible people were on that mission!
    Miss Bloomers

    ReplyDelete
  3. Judy, that was a sad day. I saw the memorial at the Arlington Cemetery in D.C. I wish we still had our space program. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

    ReplyDelete
  4. I vividly remember that day. I was in my last year of graduate school and I was watching it on television in my little apartment. How horrifying to be there, Judy!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Judy, That is a day that I will never forget either. We lived in Florida just a ways from the launch area. Our kids were all in the school yard to watch the lift off. We were just on our way back from a sales meeting. Everyone went to school and picked their kids up and brought them home. Back then no one drove with their lights on during the day on their cars. The Governor requested that everyone drive with their lights on. I can remember driving down US1 and bawling as I saw all the lights coming towards me. xo Diana

    ReplyDelete
  6. I remember hearing it on the car radio. I thought it was a sick joke. Very sad. I can't imagine seeing it. I wouldn't have known right away either. Those poor families watching it. I'm sure that those aboard had no time to even react. A sad sad event.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Judy,
    We just visited a NASA Exhibit at the River Falls Library in Wisconsin. They did not have anything about the Challenger. They did have a large section dedicated for the Columbia.
    Thank you for this post.
    Carla

    ReplyDelete
  8. A sad day. I was at home after taking my older two children to school. I had the tv on to watch the lift off and it was totally unbelievable. We lived in Huntsville Alabama at the time and the astronauts were well known in our area.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I remember seeing it on TV. I cried.
    Deb

    ReplyDelete
  10. I remember watching it on TV. I lost my breath. What a sad day.
    Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  11. I remember that day and where I was. Amber was just a baby and I had gone to a craft store. You are right. It was a silent day all over the country.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I cannot imagine seeing that in person. I will never forget that day and the total shock that we all felt! I struggled to put my son in the car and take him to preschool, I felt frozen! Thank you for sharing! Blessings, Cindy xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  13. Such a sad happening. It must have been just terrible to have witnessed it.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I remember that day and the horrible shock . Can't imagine witnessing it !!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I remember that day and the horrible shock . Can't imagine witnessing it !!

    ReplyDelete
  16. It was such a horrible day.
    Hugs to you,
    Meredith

    ReplyDelete
  17. I remember that day well; remember exactly where I was. Can't imagine actually being there as it happened. Such a shock, indeed. Sadly, there's been even more days since that have caused shock and grief and reflection and remembrance. Hugs and blessings, Tammy

    ReplyDelete
  18. I remember hearing and reading about this tragic event, it is still very vivid in my mind, but must be very present for you. Such a sad day. xx

    ReplyDelete

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...