Eagle732 27 Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 25 years ago today we lost 7 astronauts in the Challenger accident. Mission Specialist Ellison Onizuka was an Eagle Scout. Also another interesting fact: One of the items flown in STS-51-L's flight kit was an American Flag sponsored by Boy Scout Troop 514 of Monument, Colorado. Their scoutmaster, William Tolbert (A major in the USAF space command), ordered the flag and arranged for it to be flown over the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., then flown on the space shuttle during STS-51L. However STS-51L ended in disaster as the space shuttle Challenger was destroyed. Later divers found the the flag, still completely intact and sealed in a plastic bag. The flag was returned to Boy Scout troop 514 in a special ceremony, presented by astronaut Guy Bluford (Also an Eagle scout). Where were you 25 years ago today? Link to post Share on other sites
Tampa Turtle 1011 Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 Working my first job in the bowels of an electronics factory. No TV no Radio. Wearing a rubber suit around machinery I was sure my boss had garbled the news. We went outside and saw the smoke trails hanging in the sky. I saw the huge factory flag at half mast so I knew it was true the Shuttle blew up. I was pretty shaken up. On a clear day in Tampa you could see the launches in the east. My wife was on a roof top with some co-workers and saw it happen. Hard to believe it is 25 years. Link to post Share on other sites
Eagle732 27 Posted February 22, 2012 Author Share Posted February 22, 2012 I was standing on the beach in Titusville. Living in Orlando I had seen many launches, the people around me, tourists, thought what they were seeing was normal. I remember saying "It's never done that before, somethings wrong" I picked up my 35mm cameral with zoom lens and started taking pictures because I knew I was witnessing history. Very sad. That vapor trail hung in the sky hours. (didn't mean to put this in the Camping & High Adventure forum) Link to post Share on other sites
ASM162 20 Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 I was in an electrical engineering lab at PSU when I heard the news. I was in shock that such an accident could occur; especially with the first teacher in space on board, Christa McAuliffe. A true national tragedy. Now, to correct the record, the date of the disaster was January 28, 1986 and occurred at 11:38 EST. It is now more than 26 years ago. Link to post Share on other sites
packsaddle 753 Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 Yeah, I was thinking this was the wrong date for the Challenger disaster. Wonder how Eagle732 came up with this? Link to post Share on other sites
beardad 12 Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 I was in 2nd or 3rd grade. I remember my teacher telling us about it. We didn't get to go home early like othes we heard about. Link to post Share on other sites
CA_Scouter 11 Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 Ditto the date.... I was working for Lockheed at the time (in Sunnyvale/Silicon Valley). Pretty somber mood at the workplace.... Link to post Share on other sites
OldGreyEagle 5 Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 It was a Tuesday, 2 days after Super Bowl XX, Bears beating the Patriots 46-10. I was talking in the work hallway to a few guys I hadn't seen since the game. We were quite lively reliving the game. A transcriptionist told us the news and all of a sudden, a stupid game did not seem near as important or impressive as it did 10 seconds ago... Link to post Share on other sites
Jay K 15 Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 I had watched every Shuttle Launch. I missed that one. Then, I got to see it 100 times. A sad day. Link to post Share on other sites
Eagle732 27 Posted February 22, 2012 Author Share Posted February 22, 2012 You right it was Jan 28th. It was on the news this morning and brought back memories but yes Jan 28. Link to post Share on other sites
Engineer61 19 Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 I was at work in the design lab at ITT in Raleigh, NC. I was laid off three weeks later, Feb. 13, along with thousands of others. My father worked for Rockwell for many years...some on the cockpit section of Challenger. He cried.(This message has been edited by Engineer61) Link to post Share on other sites
eaglescout1996 10 Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 I was in Titusville, watching the launch from the playround of my school, Apollo Elementry. My family moved to Titusville in the mid-1950s to work with Space Program. My father actually just retired from NASA this last year. Link to post Share on other sites
desertrat77 1144 Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 I was an airman first class, watching the tragedy on the old TV in the dormitory dayroom. Waiting for a ride to the airport, headed to Ft Bragg to participate in Exercise Gallant Knight 86. Very sad. Seems like yesterday. A toast in honor of the Seven Astronauts...they will not be forgotten. Link to post Share on other sites
CalicoPenn 729 Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 I was in College, in the school's student center, watching the launch on TV - and then was called to one of the dorms to treat a student who collapsed because Christa McAuliffe was one of her teachers at Concord High School. Link to post Share on other sites
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