In memoriam.

[saxikath]

Twenty years ago today, we lost the Challenger seven. The explosion of the Challenger is a generational marker; if you're around my age, you remember where you were when you learned of it.
I wrote about my memories of the day last year.

I also wrote about it on the day it happened. I found an entry in the journal I kept irregularly in high school.



Tuesday, January 28, 1986 8:45 p.m.

"A National Tragedy"

Shock. Disbelief. "May I have your attention, please, for an announcement. The rumors you have heard about the Space Shuttle are true. It did explode and crash." No! Someone's captured the PA system and is playing a cruel joke. That's not possible. It doesn't even sound real.

So did I first find out about and react to the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger this morning. And when I saw the replay -- just to watch the Shuttle turn into a fireball when I knew it would happen -- that was bad enough. But those who saw it as it happened, particularly the families of Mike Smith, Judy Resnik, and the others -- especially that of Christa MacAuliffe. Her students, too -- all watching and cheering, and then realizing something had gone dreadfully wrong.

Only now is it starting to sink in. All day, I've been in almost a state of shock; of course, nowhere near that of the families of the crew members.
CREW MEMBERS:
Michael Smith, Pilot
Judith Resnik, Engineer
Pilot - Ellison Onizuka
Francis "Dick" Scobee, Commander
Ronald McNair
Gregory Jarvis
Christa McAuliffe [sic], Civilian (Teacher)

I wasn't around for JFK's assassination, I wasn't there when Grisson & crew died on the launch pad (19 yrs. ago yesterday!); I've never been through this before. Closest I've come was the attempt on President Reagan's life. And then I was only a 5th grader, and didn't understand, really.

I watched the replay for the 1st time at school, and then all through 7th per., both at school and at Jeri Hupke's house (stayed there 'til 4:30). It was just unbelievable -- watching that wonderful ship turn into a fireball and shoot debris everywhere.

One ship, and more importantly (in my opinion), seven lives lost over the Atlantic Ocean this morning, in the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger about 1 min. after liftoff.

To Challenger's Last Crew

You gave your lives
To follow a dream.
You tried to make it come true.
And after the pain
And after the tears
We all can learn from you.
We can learn to try
And persevere
And take the risks that come
With taking our dreams
And making them shine
In the light of history's sun.
So, Dick and Mike,
Ron, El, and Greg,
Judy and Christa too;
Goodbye, and thanks
For caring enough
To make your dream come true.
You showed us we
Should go and try
To make ours come true, too.

KB 2-1-86

Comments

[lunacow]

Thanks for sharing that. It's really fascinating to read old journal entries, isn't it? I think I'm inspired to post about my own memories of the day in my LJ now.

[fizzixrat.livejournal.com]

I remember the TV being set up in the library -- in fact, I remember being a bit distressed when Captain Bob (7th period chem for me) decided to drag us in there instead of going on with class as planned that day, because I was *burned out* on the video at that point and wanted to do something normal again.

And I've addressed the day (as well as my own personal experiences with Columbia) over in my LJ now. Kath, you might remember some of those details, now that I've spelled it all out. I had intended to post this today, but I had to go to work first, so you all beat me to it. :)


BTW, thanks to the link from last year. I've actually posted something in there for mabfan's sake. Oh, and you and I met well before I got involved with Jim and the planetarium, but we certainly got to know each other a lot better because of him. (I didn't actually start going to the planetarium until around the time of the Challenger accident, because I didn't learn about the program until around then. David Pinter mentioned something about it at the bike racks after school one day and I pressed him for more information.)