There are only a handful of moments from my childhood that truly stand out and the disintegration of the Challenger is at the top if the list. Still, to this day, I recognize the smoke trail immediately. When I see footage, my stomach clenches and I feel as if I may have a panic attack. In January of 1986, I was a nine year old 4th grader who loved the idea of being an astronaut. I had always loved the immensity of the night sky. My parents got me my first telescope when I was only 6 years old. I would watch movies and TV shows about astronauts, I would read books about astronauts and the space they explored. I would stare longingly at the moon and stars and imagine walking on and among them. I even had an astronaut Cabbage Patch Doll that was among my prized possessions for many years.
On January 28th everything changed. During the launch of the space shuttles tenth mission, only 73 seconds into flight, an O-ring seal in the solid rocket booster failed. This failure allowed pressurized hot gas from inside the rocket motor to reach the external fuel tank causing the catastrophic event.
I will never forget the faces in the crowd, the looks on the faces of Christa McAuliffe's family as they registered the fact that she could not have survived. Christa's son, Scott McAuliffe was also 9 when the tragedy happened, I cried for him as he watched his mother die. Although I had experienced death multiple times by that point in my life, it was the first time I was faced with the mortality of a parent. The first time I had to imagine a child, my age, growing up without a mom. The first time I thought that I may want to be a mom and I wouldn't want my child to watch me die. It was that day I knew I would never, ever, ever be an astronaut.
The most amazing thing about that day is that it was a tragedy that was felt by so many youth in our country. I think that as parents, we try to shelter our children from that sadness of the world, but this was something we all experienced at the same time. This was not a tragedy that parents had time to think about and share in their own way. This was a tragedy that was truly experienced by the kids, live. For months leading up to the launch, teachers all over the country introduced Christa McAuliffe, she became a symbol of the future of education and exploration that resonated through classrooms. We all fell in love with her and the possibilities she presented. Then we all watched, in horror, as she was taken from us.
Seven astronauts died aboard the Challenger that day; Pilot, Michael Smith (April 30, 1945 - January 28, 1986) joined the astronaut program in May 1980. Before the loss of communications, his voice was the last heard, his words "Uh-Oh". Commander, Dick Scobee (May 19, 1939 - January 28, 1986), was selected for the astronaut program in January, 1978. He is survived by his wife and two children. Mission Specialist, Ron McNair (October 21, 1950 - January 28, 1986) was chosen for the astronaut program in 1978. He was a saxophonist who had worked with a composer on a piece that was to be played on this mission. It would have been the first original piece of music to be recorded in space. Mission Specialist, Ellison Onizuka (June 24, 1946 - January 28, 1986) was selected for the astronaut program in August 1979. He is survived by his wife and two children. Payload Specialist, Greg Jarvis (August 24, 1944 - January 28, 1986) was selected as a payload specialist candidate in July, 1984. Mission Specialist, Dr. Judith Resnik (April 5, 1949 - January 28, 1986) was recruited into the astronaut program in 1978 and was one of the first women in the program. Civilian Payload Specialist, Christa McAuliffe (September 2, 1948 - January 28, 1986) was announced as the selection for the Teacher in Space Project on July 19, 1985. She was planning on conducting two 15-minute classes from aboard the Challenger, which were to be broadcast to millions of school children. She is survived by a husband and two children.
The exact time of the death of the crew is unknown. On March 7th divers identified the crew compartment, with the remains of all seven astronauts, on the ocean floor. A report released on July 28, 1986 claimed the cause of death could not be determined. It noted that the forces the crew was exposed to during the initial break up were "probably not sufficient to cause death or serious injury". It further noted that the crew "possibly, but not certainly, lost consciousness in the seconds following the Orbiter break up" due to the loss of pressure in the crew module. It was found that Mike Smith's right-hand panel had been moved from the original launch position, indicating that he was conscious for at least a portion of the descent. Some experts believe that most, if not all, of the crew were alive and conscious for the full 2 minutes and 45 seconds until the point of impact with the ocean which was at roughly 207 mph.
Please take a moment to recognize the tragedy that occurred 25 years ago and the impact it had on the future of the children and the space program. Please, remember those who died and the families that loved them.
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