What Happened To The Bodies Of The Challenger Crew?

The 1986 explosion of the Challenger marked a tragic moment for not only the friends and loved ones of the seven astronauts aboard the doomed shuttle, but for the nation as a whole. Let's explore how - and where - the Challenger's crew members were put to rest.
#Challenger #Space #Crew
Voiceover by: Tim Bensch
Read Full Article: www.grunge.com/1543105/what-h...

[@GrungeHQ]

Rest In Peace to them all.

[@HanahLoo]

And isn’t it great that a spoiled pod like Beyonce can use the announcement of the tragedy in one of her ear numbing screech fests? She has no soul.

[@choppergirlfpv]

Pieces

[@dannotch3161]

There are so many inaccurate statements in this video. First of all, Apollo 11 was 16 1/2 years before the Challenger disaster not 11 years. The Identified remains of the Challenger crew were in fact returned to their families and buried separately. IT WAS THE Unidentified remains were buried together at Arlington.

[@patrickgolla]

They are all still alive and well,The challenger blew up but no one was onboard

[@HanahLoo]

@@patrickgolla How do you know that? I’ve heard this before but nobody seems to have any proof of the claim.

[@JE4-1]

Those poor children that had gathered in the school cafeteria to watch what they thought was the most exciting time for their teacher. 🙏

[@funktastic6662]

Oh 😳 WOW, I REMEMBER THAT. WATCHED IT LIVE, IN THE CLASSROOM.😭

[@jlongino51823]

I was in headstart. I had just turned 5. We were in the school cafeteria watching it live. I’ll never forget the mass confusion and the adults in such shock that they didn’t immediately know what to do. They just ran to shut the televisions off. I’ll never forget that sad moment and the days after.

[@TheTacticalHillbilly]

I was one of them

[@JeighNeither]

I watched this happen in class... maybe 2nd grade. It was shocking & sad for sure. Life has dealt me far worse since then, so it was really just a lesson in the circle of life, & the sacrifices we make as a species to further our knowledge. Death is unfortunately part of that, but if anything, watching it happen in realtime prepared us for adulthood & for the inevitable failures we would confront in our lives.

[@jasoncrandall]

That was me. 3rd grade. Watched it live

[@RitaS0831]

I'll never forget that day. My daughter was home sick and watched it on TV. When she yelled and told me that it what happen I didn't believe it. RIP Challenger crew.

[@kz6fittycent]

I was in the same boat - I was home sick, and when it happened I shouted for my mom to come into the living room.

[@bigmick1062]

@@MisterClear-yc3on Stop it! Give them the respect they deserve!!

[@MisterClear-yc3on]

@@bigmick1062 there still alive..I'm sorry you don't know this...an very simple look into this . there still going y their same names..I'm a totally normal , sober , logical human. just look into it stop what..truth..no.

[@lisaruhmann8342]

@@MisterClear-yc3onI guess you think there’s more than 2 genders then. 😂

[@JoeZaccaris]

There was a bitter cold spell over much of the U.S. that day --- my school cancelled classes so I sat home in tears watching the news all day about this tragedy

[@bigjohncasey2641]

My school's science teacher was a finalist for challenger. She was so excited for us to watch the launch. When the shuttle exploded, i remember seeing her in tears and had to be helped out of the room. It definitely left an impression on all of us still to this day. Rest in peace to all who passed that day.

[@edgarpadaoan-sx4ri]

1986 ! 38 years ago! I was only 13 years old back then ! I'm 51 years old already how time past .😢

[@firenze5555]

That was the end of putting teachers and non-astronauts in space after the Challenger explosion.

[@alstirling69]

I was 16 when I watched this at school in Scotland. I remember it very well still to this day. I also remember seeing the space shuttle fly low over our school on top of the Boeing 747. It did a tour and flew over the UK and Europe. Our school was only a few miles from Prestwick Airport. I remember that day well. One of.many very sad days for the world I can remember along with Lockerbie just a couple of years later. 😢😢

[@JoeZaccaris]

I remember my 10th grade science teacher was so excited about Christa McAuliffe going to space --- but when I came to school the day after the tragedy, it looked like he saw a ghost and was in total shock over what happened --- I felt so bad because it seemed like something inside him died

[@falkwulf3842]

My 5th grade teacher was also a finalist as well.

[@LoyaFrostwind]

I was in PE class, and a student office aide came in with the bulletin for our teacher to read. She was in tears at the end of the reading. Her sister was a finalist for the teacher spot on the shuttle, but wasn’t selected.

[@truckerray7533]

I was a junior in high school when this tragedy took place & watched it all unfold on tv in the high school library! May the Challenger 7 continue to Rest In Peace!

[@paulawalton4480]

I was a junior in high school too.

[@mrsx7944]

We all watched it happen live. Literally EVERY school in the US has it on.

[@truckerray7533]

​@@paulawalton4480sure brings back memories!

[@truckerray7533]

​@@mrsx7944 Yup, it brings back the memories

[@rosesigner]

I watched this live during class in elementary school. For some reason, it helped to trigger a fear of heights I still have.

[@mrsx7944]

All school kids in America watched it live.

[@isaiahmarquez9717]

“Challenger, go at throttle up.” I’ll never forget those words. I saw this in school . Live on TV. Just like millions of other kids. To this day, that moment is clear in my mind. Over the years, whenever I see a reply of that event, that phrase sends a shiver down my spine and I’m 11 years old again.

[@maribelivorysosad8040]

I was 12 yrs old 😢

[@ttfreetf]

I was 10 yrs old

[@ronnie8252]

I will never forget. I watched the Challenger disaster on live NASA feed off the big dish satellite. Godspeed Challenger crew.

[@Faven2011]

@@ttfreetf Same here

[@Dan-di9jd]

I could have swore I heard it in a arcade game at one point. It's the mid 90s one with the light gun and you had to use that peddle. I remember it saying that during the game.

[@doriskolackosky3520]

I was there when it happened and saw it. I taught one of the astronaut's children. Always knew they were down there. Could never watch a launch after that!! May they all rest in peace

[@mrsx7944]

Which astronaut?

[@Midnightsun99762]

I was 6 months pregnant when I watched this on the news. I cried all morning ❤

[@MostBeautifullest]

The entire crew is still alive to this day. Google it.

[@marcomcdowell8861]

We had a rare snow day that day, so I watched it at home. Definitely my first dose of reality as a kid.

[@SimplyRedVirginia]

I was a technician on the unmanned submersible crew that preformed a photogrammetric survey of the crew compartment debris field. This disaster was pretty much what your imagination can picture. I was told during my time as a sub tech that crashing in to the water from high altitude and high speed tears up a vehicle/craft worse than hitting the ground. It's hard for people to perceive what I did for a living then. A little easier to understand today since there have been some television programs showing unmanned submersible systems. Like everyone, we had the TV on in the lab where the system stayed when not deployed. And like everyone, we could not believe our eyes. Unlike most everyone, we were almost immediately mobilized to Cape Canaveral for the recovery operation...when stuff crashed in to the ocean, we were often the ones sent to find and recover it. Our role on the challenger salvage was just one system that was part of many systems and ships and divers, etc. all over the region. The boosters over there, the main fuel tank over here, the crew compartment in another place altogether. Most people wont forget that day. The people who worked on the salvage wont forget 1986.

[@sonyab81]

You and your team did a great job! It is also too risky for the people to go for the rescue. Unfortunately in this world ugly things happen as well. May they rest in peace🙏🏻

[@ECO473]

God bless you all.

[@briandailey7274]

You may have seen a crashed space shuttle but you never saw their dead bodies because they're still alive

[@PeterCarr-yv9io]

..😅​@@briandailey7274

[@SimplyRedVirginia]

@@briandailey7274 Was that supposed to be funny? I have too much decorum to describe exactly what I saw, but lets just say if they didn't die in that crash, somebody went to great lengths to stage what looked like it.

[@MartinGoff-tl6nx]

I was living in Florida at the time and saw the smoke from the explosion in the sky. It was a terrible day and everyone was in total shock. One of the quietest days I had ever seen, people were just out of it in disbelief.

[@frederickdouglass1806]

I remember the day well. It was one of the coldest I ever experienced as a lifelong and native Floridian. At that time, I was thinking it was too cold and couldn't believe the launch was going on as planned.

[@kristinquist5261]

My husband and I were talking about this last week, still after all these years its definitely left an impression. I watched this in 3rd grade class from beginning to end.

[@matte8663]

It’s weird isn’t it the things we remember.. I was 12 and I remember exactly where I was on this day and when the Columbia broke up on re-entry and 9/11

[@mrs.i.one12]

I was in fourth grade. We watched it all too in the school library. I remember that day very well. We didn’t have regular class after that. We spent the rest of the day talking about what we saw and how we felt.

[@GorgieClarissa]

@@matte8663 I was 11 during 9/11 and remember that day so vividly. it almost doesn't feel real to think about.

[@annelibashore4807]

I was in third grade as well when We heard that JFK was asassinated and I know as a child you never forget no matter how much time passes!

[@Jester62D]

It wasn't a faulty booster design. Management didn't listen to the engineering team who warned them about the low temperature launch.

[@LeahMarissa726]

No it was a lie! They are all still alive and still going by the same names!! Google it

[@mikee76427]

I was going to post the same thing. It's been widely reported that that morning Thiokol engineers warned that the unusually low temperatures the night before (at or just below freezing) were known to be a problem for the rubber-like seals between the sections of the SRBs, which were designed for usually-warm Florida launches. It wasn't a "faulty" design. NASA pressured Thiokol to sign off on the launch anyway and seven people died as a result.

[@StevenSeagullO.o]

It's sad people can be this dumb in the Internet age.@@LeahMarissa726

[@g-mang-man7924]

Exactly! Morton Thiokol was absolutely NOT at fault. NASA was.

[@johnp139]

It was BOTH!!!

[@uwillnevahno6837]

It wasn't a design failure, the o-rings failed because the decision was made to launch in temperatures outside specifications.

[@suebee1436]

They were sposta go up that previous Friday. I was there. On vaca. It was very cold that day, and that was the very same reason they didnt launch that Friday......im glad i didnt witness that. Altho i do have a photo i took of it on the launchpad.

[@futte8024]

I agree. It was not failty design, as he told in the video. It was a known restriction due to low temperatur. Management took a decision to launch despite warning from the engineers.

[@Dan-di9jd]

I believe had they been guaranteed funding, the director probably would have called it off. However, even with the best explanation it would be hard to go in front of Congress, explain that they wasted millions of dollars all because they were worried that a cheap rubber o-ring would fail due to a temperature problem. At that time, NASA was on the edge of their popularity and congress and a lot of Americans were upset that tax dollars were pumped into a program that gave little in return. So the Challenger was their last ditch effort to get the public to see the shuttle program was worth it and they had a (un)lucky teacher to go on the ride with them. So they already delayed once, and if they delay again chances are it's going to put everyone in a panic. I think afterwards the report outlined this and they put in a better system to give a go/no go order. I think having less pressure to perform would be key as well. No other shuttle launch really had this much eyes on them.

[@markmalasics2434]

@@suebee1436 "Sposta"???? "Altho"???? I'm assuming you skipped school to go on that venture.

[@mkay1957]

Actually, the sealing compound for the O-ring joints for each SRB section was a replacement for the old sealing compound, because the old compound had asbestos in it. I think it was the EPA that outlawed the old joint sealing compound and forced NASA to change to the new stuff, which was inferior and became brittle in cold weather. It is thought that that vibrations of the launch caused some of the brittle joint sealant fell away, allowing direct flame to impinge on the main fuel tank. Same thing with the Columbia. NASA had to change the adhesive for heat shield shield tiles because the old adhesive was deemed hazardous to the technicians attaching the tiles. The new adhesive was inferior, as other shuttles had lost tiles. In the case of Columbia, a section of tile came off, struck the leading edge of the wing and put a hole in it. On reentry, 5,000 degree heat entered the hole, burst a tire, weakened the wing structure and fried wiring and components. The shuttle started to pitch, roll and yaw and became uncontrollable. Finally, the left wing came off and the whole shuttle started to disintegrate. Basically, it was decisions made by a bunch of pinheaded bureaucratic azzholes that killed 14 astronauts.

[@ale7564]

Back then, many schools stopped teaching and turned on the TV to watch. All channels were broadcasting. We had a half day of school and tuned in at home. It was devastating to watch. Confusion turned to disbelief turned to sadness.

[@oldironsides4107]

Nope!

[@jlongino51823]

just turned 5. We were in the school cafeteria watching it live. I’ll never forget the mass confusion and the adults in such shock that they didn’t immediately know what to do. They just ran to shut the televisions off. I’ll never forget that sad moment and the days after. I hold my breath every launch to date. I’ll never forget the excitement we all shared then the sadness.

[@rasclotify]

We had the same exact reaction at my school watching it live. I was in my fourth grade class. I'll never forget that moment.

[@debcarpenter8519]

I'm sorry the school children had to witness such a tragedy. Especially Christa's former and future students.

[@jamesm568]

I never understood why you hide death from children.

[@generalwrecking]

@@jamesm568I think the idea not to “ hide “ death from children but to soften the blow and help guide them through a loss they’ve never been through and don’t understand how to process.

[@meagainandagain5756]

@@jamesm568Why wouldn’t you?

[@michealsullivan4205]

Just watching this brings back strong feelings of loss and sadness, and brings tears to my eyes. RIP brave crew of the Challenger.🕊

[@haydoncooper3744]

I was driving home from work when I heard it on the radio…….stunned.Rest In Peace.

[@mattalbrecht7471]

Having been 'fortunate' (and i use that term with a rock in my stomach) to be on the cape tour that very cold morning, all of us (on it that morning) were there to witness a moment in history we knew we'd never forget, but wish we could. The teacher's parents were not far from where i was seated. Shortly after the explosion , i think we all knew... I can still see her parents in my mind. I didn't go back to the beaches of Cocoa Beach to watch until one of the last shuttle launches. I wasn't on the tour that day, and i was fine with that. I remembered the "last time"...

[@bcgrittner]

That incident still hurts. I will never forget these crew members or the crew members of the shuttle Columbia. RIP

[@meddyven]

Nasa is to blame for both. They knew the temps were too cold that morning and ice had formed on the shuttle. Nothing would hav been made of them scrubbing the mission for another time. As far as Columbia, afyer the Challenger disaster, they should have not have taken ANY chances on safety. When that piece of foam came off one of the external tanks, and hit, it was like a hard piece. That tile damage shpuld have been repaired in space, before re-entry. And, Atlantis had a near miss on a return, having a gap in the fuselage. They were EXTREMELY fortunate that did not end in disaster.

[@LisaMedeiros-tr2lz]

@@meddyven You are not knowledgeable. Space flight travel has never been safe, nor will it ever be. There is no such thing as launching from the ground on what is basically a mammoth bomb with a controlled explosion to Earth orbit that allows you to not "take ANY chances on safety". LOL. There was insufficient funding to beat all risks down to a low level and this situation still exists today. There wasn't a "tile damaged...they could just repair". It was the wing leading edge that was made of a double wall of carbon-carbon fiber. Each one of the wing leading edge pieces were unique in size and shape. There were no spares in flight. Even just going out for an EVA (astronaut in space suit) represents extreme danger to the crew and they cannot do it alone. Even if they saw it....there was no provision to check from inside, there would have been nothing they could do about it, and there was not a Shuttle ready for a rescue mission. By the time a second could have been readied, the crew would have run out of life support. MANY times the external tank shed foam pieces during other flights. Birds would peck at it when outside.

[@williamhaynes7089]

@@meddyven That tile damage should have been repaired in space?? they had no way of doing so, no space walk suits, tools, sparte parts etc

[@meddyven]

@@williamhaynes7089 They could have stayed docked at the ISS, until parts were shuttled to them. Next excuse...

[@williamhaynes7089]

@@meddyven - they were NOT at iss... they would not have had the fuel to get there, plus they didnt have the shuttle dock with them to hook up with iss..

[@StephenLuke]

RIP Dick Scobee (1939-1986) Michael J. Smith (1945-1986) Ronald McNair (1950-1986) Ellison Onizuka (1946-1986) Judith Resnik (1949-1986) Gregory Jarvis (1944-1986) and Christa McAuliffe (1948-1986)

[@StephenLuke]

No stupid brainless conspirators allowed! They're all dead and not alive, get your brain straight!

[@batsonelectronics]

my advanced math class got to watch it live. It was soul crushing to see it blow up. I went to a small high school. I will never forget that day.

[@mrsx7944]

Literally EVERY school kid in the US watched it live. Small schools, big schools, etc

[@batsonelectronics]

@@mrsx7944 not everyone at my school. I think they had 4 tv carts and that was all that could watch it. There were around 50 kids in my grade, it was a small HS.

[@cainechance1776]

I was 10 years old and remember how excited the teachers and classmates were. I remember sitting down on the floor in a classroom was glued to the tv. I could hear the teachers in the back of the room talking about how cool it was for a teacher to be on the shuttle. Liftoff of the shuttle began and everyone was clapping and cheering to the point my teacher told us to settle down. Shortly after the shuttle exploded (We had no idea what had happened until later) a teacher ran to the tv and turned it off and then I saw a few teachers begin to cry. When I got home I remember my mom and dad telling us the shuttle exploded and the Astronauts passed away. I remember nothing so vividly after that day until 9/11 happened.

[@tennesseenate7314]

I was 10 as well I still remember it well

[@mrsx7944]

Every teacher turned the tv off.

[@garybills5876]

My story is almost identical, except I was only 9, & in 2nd grade. We listened to the lift-off on the Ms. Reser's weather radio. After the "throttle-up" we went back to the books. A short while later, we heard erie sounds of sniffles & weeping. A few homeRoom mothers gathered at the back & very little was said. We didn't hear what happened until lunch. Looking back, I appreciate the way they handled it. We love you, Ms. Christa McCuliffe. & Thank You for your service, Challenger Crew

[@telengardforever7783]

The irony of the Challenger accident that few people discuss: A lot of schools during that time watched both "Reading Rainbow" and The Challenger accident the same day. I know we did at Fort Bragg, NC. What's so ironic about it? Levarr Burton became the Captain of the Challenger in one of the last episodes of "Star Trek: Voyager". To kids of my generation that saw the accident live, that meant a lot to us. I remember watching that episode of Voyager and feeling proud that the Challenger was remembered and honored.

[@ricarenado]

I'll never forget that day. My dad, mom, brother and I were at KSC. We avoided the launch day on purpose but were unaware that the launch was scrubbed. We arrived at the KSC and then realized that the launch would happen. It was a very cold morning. We had just bought a Zenith VHS-C camcorder and dad got that on tape. We were unaware that there was an explosion - we thought it was the SRB separation. My mom, unaware of what happened, was commenting what we were witnessing, believing that all of that was normal. We then realized all shows were being shut down and then mom managed to talk to a cast member and the woman told us what had happened. I still have that VHS tape... RIP crew of STS-51L.

[@doubledrats235]

I was at work in NYC and when I came back from going out to lunch somebody told me that the space shuttle just exploded. I asked if the crew escaped and was told “no, they’re all dead.” I was stunned. How could the shuttle explode? It was like the Eastern Shuttle or the Pan Am Shuttle between Boston, NYC, and Washington D.C. But it was a lot more complicated and not as safe. R.I.P. to the crew and all astronauts and cosmonauts who didn’t come home.

[@mistyluthman3742]

I was in 5th grade and watching the launch in my classroom I was so excited for Christa a teacher in space , wow, and when it happened I cried they let us go home early from school and my mom asked what happened and I told her , what a very sad day I remember this tragedy like it was yesterday. I still find myself tearing up when I see videos like this one

[@robz7789]

May the Challenger 7 forever rest in peace

[@tomhall4266]

It's resting in pieces.

[@LeahMarissa726]

They are all still alive! Google them. They didn’t even change their names

[@NewCivilization]

@@LeahMarissa726 Sigh. Leah, stop that. In a country of over 1/3 of a billion people, more than one person will have the same name. The fact that other people have the same names as the victims doesn't change the fact that these people were k i l l e d,

[@tomhall4266]

@@LeahMarissa726 Very possible knowing how the government will hide truth and lie just because.

[@tusse67]

@@LeahMarissa726 Do you have a medical condition? Or is this just you being you?

[@lindaward3156]

This didn't seem to be 38 years ago! i'm stunned. I was watching at the time at nearly 30 years old and it was a heart stopper. i still think about it even w/o prompts.

[@alchemist6098]

I was in graduate school and the entire lab went to the local pub to watch the launch. We were shocked and saddened by the event. I had to stop watching TV and listening to the radio as it was relived over and over again for several weeks.

[@105rogue]

I don't believe faulty rocket design was entirely correct. The point can be argued, however, NASA was told not to launch in the current conditions, yet, they proceeded against expert advice.

[@erdossuitcase7667]

Read the report by physicist Richard Feynman who was tasked with investigating the event. He demonstrated before Congress that it was the O rings and freezing temperature at fault.

[@dextermorgan1]

Right and then fuel leaked out from the o rings and it exploded. It was rocket design and poor planning.

[@105rogue]

@@dextermorgan1 NASA is culpable for failing to adhere to manufacturer advise. I never said it was a good design. Only that fault was on NASA.

[@user-lv6bv1ut1m]

And none of them were held accountable for their death.

[@macwyll]

@@dextermorgan1 The rocket was designed to operate under certain atmospheric/meteorological conditions. The O ring failure would've been avoided if NASA had waited as they were advised to and not ignore warnings by the engineers who were subsequently vilified for doing the right thing. Is that a flaw in the rocket, or a flaw in NASA's policy and greed?

[@varrick1226]

I was a salesman during this time and recall coming home for lunch on a really cold day to watch this. It took me time to fathom what happened as I knew something went wrong. A horrific time. RIP to all these good people.

[@BelldandyAsuna]

I was eight that year when it happened. I will never forget that moment. Watching this now sends shivers down my spine. The horror they must have felt. I can't imagine the pain before impact

[@shannonduane30]

I was in second grade, and my teacher's assistant went to Florida to watch the launch (we were in California). I remember coming into class and being told that we weren't going to be watching anything that day because there had been a tragedy, and the shuttle had exploded. And to not bring it up to our assistant when she got home, and make sure we were extra nice to her, because she was really upset. One of those things you just never forget.

[@leslieking6259]

I was watching this as it happened. Stunned is not a strong enough word.

[@comet1227]

Surreal Is probably the word you're looking for.

[@leslieking6259]

@@comet1227 It surely was. My down the hall neighbor came to my apartment in tears. She was a very sweet elderly lady and was just beside herself. We just sat on my couch and watched in disbelief.

[@comet1227]

@@leslieking6259 the worst part of it all is that it could have been avoided but Reagan wanted to have something to announce at the state of the address that night I guess he got his wish.

[@lisabradford8180]

me and a friend were watching also. when it exploded we just looked at each other in shock and disbelief 😮💔💔

[@macwyll]

Sames

[@susannpatton2893]

We were just sent back to class, no safe space, no counseling, open your spelling book, math book etc. Day went on. No early release. We werent soft - we are tough

[@jenstrack4179]

Same here. Just sent back to class. Life went on. No counseling or anything.

[@oddities-whatnot]

Im 55, life carried on. Didn’t feel anything when I saw the disaster. I didn’t know those people personally. They were in the news, thats it.

[@isaiahgauthier2176]

Sounds like a classroom in China or North Korea.

[@RamsLakersDodgers]

But yet your generation are the ones crying all up & down KZbin about music,sports,movies & everything else under the sun🤦🏽”These times suck I wanna go back waaaaaa😭😭😭”

[@RamsLakersDodgers]

@@mrkennethj7232See what I mean?🤷🏽‍♂️Crybabies😂

[@LWRC]

As an engineer who worked at Rocketdyne, the Space Shuttle's Main Engine manufacturer located in Canoga Park, CA., I watched this in real time in the conference room at Rocketdyne! It was horriffic!

[@donixion4368]

I watched this at school in 6th grade. It's not a day I will ever forget.

[@speedfiend925]

I remember traveling with family by car in nearby Clearwater Florida on the day it happened. We watched it ascend into the sky only to see an orange ball and we all realized something very wrong had just happened.

[@charlessaint7926]

From what I read, after the explosion, at least two of the crewmembers either stayed conscious, or regained it, as their emergency oxygen packs have been manually turned on. Some of the control switches for the pilot had also been manually pressed. The pilot may have been trying to regain control but didn't realize that the shuttle was destroyed.

[@Bearwithme560]

Could he have known, but his training kicked in and he was trying to find a place to safely land, as futile as he must also have known.

[@flyingjew2994]

There's audio from them, but unfortunately they won't release it

[@LeahMarissa726]

They are all still alive!! It was a complete lie! They did not even change their names!! Google it

[@Possessedpappy]

There was a transcript leaked to the press but NASA denies its authenticity. One was going through checklists and the other could be heard praying.

[@Possessedpappy]

There was an actual transcript that was leaked to the press but NASA denied its authenticity. One astronaut could be heard going through checklists and the other could be heard praying.

[@jusnuts1443]

I was a high school senior at that time. I was in English class when our teacher wheeled in a TV on a cart and said "Forget the lesson plan. This is history." She slid in a VHS tape and replayed the whole thing. Years later, when I was serving in Kuwait during Desert Storm, I had the Rush album "Roll the Bones" on cassette. The song Dreamline stuck in my head. "Learning that we're only immortal for a limited time".

[@luvzfrance24]

I was in kindergarten when this happened and it's truly something you never forget

[@annemontanaro3795]

The Challenger disaster was due to a Oh-ring (phonetic spelling) contracting due to the chilly temperatures allowing fuel to escape and mix with the exhausy of the firing rockets. NASA engineers advised NASA administrators to delay the launch so the liftoff could happen in warmer temperatures but they refused and imitated lift off at the time planned.

[@BogeyDopeYT]

The rockets are solid fuel. The leaking o-ring allowed flame to burn through the gap and melt the booster mount. The booster contacted the large hydrogen/oxygen tank that supplies the shuttle engines, ruptured it, and that hydrogen blew up. More of a fireball than a detonation. Shuttle came apart mostly due to aerodynamic forces. Crew cabin continued on an upward trajectory, eventually falling back down and impacting. Booster manufacturer knew those o-rings would be affected by cold temps. NASA thought their schedule keeping management would somehow override material science. They FAAFO.

[@macwyll]

1986 was the year of a few catastrophic tragedies. The Chernobyl accident and a few others happened.

[@AluminumOxide]

Those few others included a hotel collapse in Singapore on Mach 15th, and the Cokeville hostage crisis on May 16th

[@malibustacy3606]

Greg LeMond won his first Tour de France in 1986 so it wasn't all bad.

[@deanladue5367]

Also in August 1986 lake Nyos in Camaroon Africa released a huge cloud of Co2 that drifted into nearby towns, It killed almost 2,000 people. Along with countless animals and wildlife.

[@malibustacy3606]

@@deanladue5367 I remember this event, it was covered on the news in Canada at the time.

[@deanladue5367]

@@malibustacy3606 the Co2 cloud was so lethal it even killed all the insects in the areas. The rescue workers noticed that were were no flies around any of the bodies, they were all dead.

[@rallypoint1]

One of those moments I still remember where I was when I heard. Walking between classes as a HS sophomore when classmates told me. Stunned.

[@JudiMay-qt6rw]

I live in Orlando FL and I watch as many launches as I can. I was babysitting for a neighbor and had my own son, who was under 2 at the time. We watched the countdown, and got ready to go outside to see it, and the older boy asked if it was going to blow up. I told him that NASA has all kinds of scientists who make sure this wouldn't happen, and then we watched the countdown. It only takes a few seconds to get outside to the best vantage point. I said a prayer for the astronauts, and we watched it come into view. The explosion was such a shock, and we watched as pieces and smoke trails spread across the sky. It formed a shape that reminded me of a malignant scorpion. I shook off my shock and brought the kids inside. They weren't aware of the tragedy that had just occurred, and I got them started on an art project to distract them. I recorded the launch, and watched it later, and it was obvious the O Ring failed, as you can see the flare of fire coming out of the joint before it expands and explodes. Such a sorrowful day.

[@Ryan-gw1ob]

I was in 6th Grade and watched this live .. Craziest thing l ever saw live

[@chironrocket6340]

7th for me. St. John the Baptist grade school in Winfield, Illinois. I was in the bathroom when it happened and someone came in and said the Space Shuttle just exploded. I didn't believe them and walked into a classroom that was completely silent except for the quiet sobs of our teacher.

[@RonnieG]

Me too. A bit younger but I remember the TV rolled out, watching then the TV turned off & everyone going back to class.

[@RonnieG]

I also saw 9/11 live on TV, the 2nd plane, while in English class at our jr College. Our professor told us class is over. Everyone go home & be with your families.

[@Akira625]

I was in the same grade. My science teacher came into the classroom and told us the shuttle had exploded. Minutes later we were watching the footage that they had just taped.

[@comet1227]

The lady that was the second runner up to teacher in space Barbara Morgan? Can you imagine her standing there watching that? She did eventually get to go in August of 2007.

[@CatRacer1a2a]

I was 4 yrs old and clearly remember walking into the room and my mom crying. One of my earliest memories.

[@user-to6rx6im4l]

I had stayed home from school that day with my younger brother and dad cause of of no heat in school that day and was excited for the launch that turned out so terrible I was 14 at the time remember it like yesterday God Bless all the crew members RIP 🙏

[@davidb9166]

I was 10 years old when this happened. I remember a classmate who came to class late told the teacher the shuttle exploded. She left the classroom and came back with a tv for us to watch what happened. It was a day I have never forgotten.

[@tennesseenate7314]

I was 10 as well 😢

[@Redworc86]

I was born on 1/7/1986. In the baby book my mom and dad put together, the first life event is the challenger. Obviously I have no recollection of it but have learned about the tragedy in subsequent years. Watching the video of the launch and seeing the family members reaction is gut wrenching. I can’t imagine having to process that in real time on television.

[@cleopatracatra2097]

My nephew was born on January 28, 1986. I was happy about that and devastated about the Challenger at the same time!

[@solarismoon3046]

I remember as if it happened last week. I was in school when this happened. I saw it live on T.V. I laughed at it because I thought it was fake! I thought that they were pulling a joke or something. I was only eleven years old. I didn't understand at that time what was going on. Now I know that this was real of course some days later. But that's something that you never forget. We watched all these people lose their lives before our very eyes!

[@rudyc.1305]

27th here

[@Lulusvideos1]

You were born on my 23rd birthday and the year I had my son. I was pregnant and we heard about it at work. No social media back then, it was all over the news.

[@dalphinezara7879]

@Lulusvideos1 i was watch to 20th year old anniversary of space shuttle challenger explosion news showing at tv screen from my relative aunty's home tv before my 6th year old birthday

[@usnavydeepsea6836]

I was in USN dive school in Coronado two weeks from graduation the day the shuttle exploded, three months later I was stationed at EOD MU-4 in Key West and14 divers from my command were sent to Cape Canaveral for a month to dive on the recovery of the shuttle debris. We worked with commercial divers diving off the two Morton Thiokol vessels used to recover the solid rocket boosters. One of my former diver shipmates from EOD MU-4 was at the time stationed aboard onboard the USS Preserver which is the navy salvage vessel that found and recovered the intact crew cabin. He was on the initial recovery dive and said all of the bodies were still mostly intact but had succumbed to exposure from being in salt water for 5-plus weeks and marine life eating on them.

[@Lulusvideos1]

I always wondered if they were burned or exploded in some way, thank you for the information.

[@hamsterama]

Very interesting! Thank you for sharing your story!

[@kennethking3520]

In my research of the shuttle disasters it is pretty well documented that NASA tracked and had pretty accurate coordinates of where the crew compartment landed in the ocean the day it exploded or within a day or so after. Based on that what puzzles me is why it took so long (the 5 plus weeks you mention) to say they found it and recover the remains.

[@cbraunsteins]

Makes sense... But the video says the bodies were crushed. So, which is more accurate?

[@orangecat504]

@@cbraunsteinscrushed but if they were intact they would heavily damage. Conscious or not they hit the water 1k+ mpg

[@sandybruce9092]

I remember this day very well! I was sick and kept our son home from Preschool (he was al almost 6 years oldI). had fallen asleep for a short time in the couch and woke up just before the launch! I watched it live and will never forget!

[@tmilesffl]

Preschool at 6 years old?

[@Logan_Woods-zd2zi]

I was 20 and working at a Stock Transfer office downtown. My mother called me via the switchboard and told me she had just watched it all on television.

[@krstn73]

Gosh, I remember sitting in school like it was yesterday. They rolled the TV in so we could watch it live. It was so bad and just complete silence after it happened. Even as a child, you knew it just blew up. I remember school was dismissed after it happened. So sad.

[@jeffreyjohnson8]

Not to be disrespectful or morbid. But it seems the “explosion” would have already been a cremation. A very sad day in history.

[@mkay1957]

Actually, the bodies were not burned, because the shuttle itself did not explode. The main fuel tank did and heavily damaged the shuttle. As it started to tumble it completely came apart. The crew cabin was relatively intact, and at least 3 emergency oxygen bottles were found by the recovery team in the on position. The cabin hit the water at 207 MPH, and the impact dismembered all of the crew. It was 2 months before they found what was left of the crew compartment. The bodies and body parts were in a horrible state after being submerged for 2 months. Their comingled remains were cremated together and buried together at Arlington National Cemetary.

[@rasclotify]

I was one of those kids watching live in their classroom. It was a big deal and a source of pride if I recall for our teachers to see one of their own making history and our classroom was one of many that day in the building and country watching the live televised event. Although I was only in fourth grade, I remember it clearly just like I remember watching the planes hit the twin towers on 9-11. The look on our teacher's face that day and the confusion among us little kids was something one doesn't forget. There are these historical events that happen when captured on tape that move in slow motion and are forever embedded in one's mind even though the happen in real time, they feel like movies one never forgets. RIP.

[@johnmeskens5613]

We live in Central Florida. I was in Junior high school at that time. My best friend Brian dad was part of the shuttle ice team. That day we took off school and went to Kennedy Space center with his mom and dad to see the launch. We were in the stands watching when it happened. Could still remember her mom freaking out.

[@masakari]

Living in Clearwater Florida, we saw the smoke trails from our school. I was a Senior in HS, in a music practice room, when someone came running in and said the shuttle had blown up. We ran outside and it was clear from the trails that the shuttle had come apart.

[@winterknight6195]

I remember watching this as it happened in my classroom. A very sad moment in history.

[@TH-kd1ju]

Was in kindergarten, 5yrs old and watching live with the rest of my elementary school. At least 1 teacher screamed, confused chaos ensued for several minutes until some teachers were able to calm the others and we were all sent back to our individual classrooms. I honestly believe it left me and other kids with a sort of ptsd and I believe that's where my fear of flying and space stems from

[@johnp139]

Wimps

[@askiff1415]

Knowing the culture of the US I’m surprised you didn’t sue NASA and others for millions 😅

[@TH-kd1ju]

@@johnp139 I'm sure you were a tower of strength at 5yrs old 🙄

[@axelfoley20]

Don't worry. No one died in that explosion. Those astro-nots are still alive. Just do some research into the challenger astronauts still alive. No one would be crazy enough to get in one of NASAs rockets if they saw how many times they have failed.

[@JustRaine97]

I remember getting a Weekly Reader in my class and our teacher read the article about the Challenger crew before they launched. We were excited when that day came because we were gonna watch the launch on television. We all piled into a classroom with two more 4 grade classes and gathered around the television to watch. At first we didn't understand what happened. The teachers looked horrified. They couldn't explain because they weren't sure what happened either. So they turned the TV off and we started asking questions. By the next day we all kinda knew what happened. It was really sad because we were sort of invested in the story about the teacher going into space. It was a very sad day. I'll never forget it.

[@Angela-vy5ok]

I was coming back from university after my courses that day. I flipped on the tv as I was making my lunch and knew something major had occurred and then they started to show the footage. I remember thinking’ oh no, Don”t tell me something happened to this rocket 🚀 .’ It was so sad.

[@Dablackstoic]

It took me awhile for me to process what I was actually seeing

[@LeahMarissa726]

What you saw was a lie. Every single one of them are still alive. They did not even change their names. Google them

[@Dablackstoic]

@@LeahMarissa726 ?

[@tusse67]

@@Dablackstoic Never mind that simpleton... He's in it for the attention.

[@donmcallister3745]

Who told you that… JFK jr.???

[@cleopatracatra2097]

@@donmcallister3745 He overheard a conversation between Elvis and Jimmy Hoffa.

[@jeancasola9340]

God Bless them all and Thank You for giving your lives for humanity and space exploration.

[@DismalT0mb]

I was in 3rd grade and remember watching it with all my classmates in school. Never forget it.

[@guccideltaco]

I wasn't at school the day it happened. My older sister came home and immediately said "The Space Shuttle exploded!" I do remember one of my 5th grade teachers had joined the "competition" to be the 1st teacher in space. He ended up dropping out because it was too stressful, but hearing about Christa McAuliffe always reminded me that he had gone out for it.

[@richstex4736]

I went to college w/the guy who was the runner-up to Christa McAuliffe. I thought he would get it because he had a military background. He was interviewed for days after the tragedy.

[@MostBeautifullest]

It's all a hoax. Google it.

[@taloniilm]

I vividly recall the the incident. While TDY from Dyess AFB, TX my C-130 H crew and I were involved in dropping 82nd Airborne paratroops over Ft Bragg, NC . Upon landing and engine shut down for a scheduled refuel, the aircraft crew chief ran on board and gave us the sad news. Many years later I while supporting a team of US Navy divers, (SEALS) I learned from one of the SEALS that he had been among the divers tasked to recover the crew of STS 51 - L . His recollection regarding the condition of the remains closely mirrors the narrative in this video.

[@mrsx7944]

Michael Jordan's brother was a SgtMajor in the 82nd. He was tough.

[@gemdre]

I was in the army when it happened. At the time, I had a month off because I was heading to Germany. I was home, watching it all unfold.

[@johndisante8334]

I was in 7th grade and we all watched live in class. Our teacher was speechless but very calmly turned of off and we had a day long quiet day and talked about what happened.

[@edwinalucas2615]

I was home alone watching I never forgot the look on the face of Christa McCalla’s Mother’s face can replay it in my mind soo sad May they all rest in perfect peace 🙏🏾♥️🙏🏾

[@Jamesamong007]

Just a little correction, Ellison Onizuka's remains are buried at Punchbowl Cemetary in Hawaii, or if he was cremated like the others maybe some of his ashes are there.

[@dalphinezara7879]

I love ellison onizuka's two space shuttle flight first space shuttle flight was discovery and second space shuttle flight was challenger

[@amylopez5993]

Ellison Onizuka is buried at Punchbowl in Honolulu, Hawaii. I have been to his gravesite.

[@mackeyhensley8369]

I believe it’d be more correct to say he has a memorial there and maybe some of the ashes. There’s no body buried there.

[@LeahMarissa726]

No the correct way to say it is, they are all still alive! They didn’t even change their names! Google it

[@YPCBencher]

@@mackeyhensley8369 No, his remains are buried there. They did recover all 7 crew bodies, though they were hardly recognizable as human bodies. Parts that weren't not identifiable were cremated and buried at Arlington. They removed Judy Resnick's body first, then Christa McAuliffe's body. They deemed it too dangerous to try and get the rest until they lifted the crew cabin out of the water. During that, Greg Jarvis' body broke free and floated away, it took a couple weeks to finally retrieve it.

[@BradH2024]

@@mackeyhensley8369There are remains there. Despite the misinformation in the video, most of the remains were identifiable, sorted and after autopsy returned to their families for burial or cremation/dispersal. The cremains at Arlington under the Challenger Memorial are of body parts that couldn’t be positively identified.

[@BradH2024]

@@mackeyhensley8369There are remains buried there. Most of the remains were positively identified, sorted and after examination returned to their families for burial or cremation and scattering. The cremains buried under the Challenger Memorial at Arlington were of remains that could not be positively identified.

[@loriduffield6639]

I was in college coming back to my sorority house after a class. Several sisters were watching it on tv and we all just stood or sat there without speaking for what seemed liked the whole afternoon.

[@harleyhawk7959]

I watched it on the t.v. I swear milliseconds after it exploded, just before the ground said, "Go with throttle up." Then boom. then the crew captain replied, "Going with throttle up." That ingrained into me for life.

[@michellatour150]

To my understanding the explosion wasn't due to faulty design but rather pushing / expecting components to still function way outside of their initial design limits, in this case seals remaining flexible in near freezing ambient temps.

[@comet1227]

it was the O ring. It had been freezing that day. They never had the heat to expand.

[@fw1421]

The engineers that worked for Morton Thiocol were pressured into approving launch even though they knew ambient temperature was too low for the o-rings that sealed the solid rocket sections together. In my eyes NASA was actually responsible. They were more concerned with image than the safety of the astronauts.

[@LeahMarissa726]

It was a lie!! They are all still alive!! They are all still going by their names!! Google it

[@RandomStuff-he7lu]

@@fw1421 And NASA was pressured to make sure to launch on time because Regan was planning to laude the launch in that day's State of the Union address.

[@BradH2024]

@@RandomStuff-he7luNot true. Reagan was not going to mention the flight that night. That was debunked years ago.

[@susanyoung5447]

I know High Flight. They used to play it, with beautiful video, at the end of each broadcast day. Now, you youngsters won't remember that as you've never seen the end of a broadcast day. They also played the Star Spangled Banner right afterwards with a video of a flag flying in a breeze or light wind. I always waited, I was 13 at the time and allowed to watch the Late Show Movies, I loved that poem. And I always thought it was disrespectful to turn off the TV while the anthem was playing. I guess it's no surprise I joined the service. Of course JFK had something to do with it too. The "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country. " quote from his inaugural speech had something to do with it.

[@ThymeBottle]

My parents worked for the aerospace divisions at Holloman AFB, White Sands Missile Range and Proving Grounds, NM, in the 1960s. This was broadcast at the sign-off of both the El Paso, TX and Albuquerque television stations which we received via cable, as we were in a mountain basin, and I remember it well from my childhood there. Written by a young Royal Canadian Air Force pilot, during WWII, who was sadly killed during a flight training exercise, the poem was included in a letter to his parents just three months before his death. Here it, respectfully, is: HIGH FLIGHT BY JOHN GILLESPIE MAGEE JR. Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds,-and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of-wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there, I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air .... Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace Where never lark nor ever eagle flew- And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

[@LisaMedeiros-tr2lz]

Same here. I listened to the poem and watched the anthem too many times to count at the end of the broadcast day. Days gone by.

[@susanyoung5447]

@ThymeBottle ... Y1ou want to hear something strange? The Albuquerque channels were the same ones I watched. I lived in Farmington.

[@truthsayers8725]

I watched it as it played out in real time. I was in Air Force tech school and had gone back to my dorm for something I had forgotten for class. The launch was on TV in the day room. Sad sad day for sure

[@lorenzor124]

I was counting up my Garbage Pail Kids cards while watching...

[@johnnyboyssite]

was a Sr in H.S. in Science class. The Teacher rolled the TV into the classroom so we can watch. The class went completely silent. We looked over at our Teacher and you could see the tears rolling down his cheek. We just could not believe what happened

[@Dave-lq2le]

I firmly believe that this disaster is the reason we haven't really done any space exploration since.

[@markrogers4913]

If I'm remembering things correctly, NASA lost a lot of momentum and public support after this. So it became more about equipment, satellites and tests on space stations... and less about shuttling people.

[@MrChopsticktech]

@@markrogers4913 Nasa was already losing support and funding. The Shuttles were supposed to be launched more often and carry payloads cheaper than rockets that were tested and used for years. Curious Droid has a great video on KZbin about the failures in the Shuttle Program.

[@repaid1317]

Well no more space exploration after Challenger? I suggest you might want to check your data. There were over 100 more shuttle flights after the Challenger and quite a few after Columbia as well.

[@tobiojo6469]

May they all rest in peace and may their memories be a blessing to us all.

[@apollo11guy]

What exactly does that mean, "memories be a blessing to us"?

[@johnp139]

You mean rest in pieces.

[@richardvoogd705]

​@@johnp139um..... In other circumstances that might be funny. It wasn't their fault that things went horribly wrong. Who knows how things would have worked out if NASA had paid more attention to the engineers' concerns.....perhaps it would have turned out to be a successful flight. There's also situations similar to those depicted in the Apollo 13 movie, where nasty stuff happens and yet they somehow make it back. The real Jim Lovell, who was one of the crew on the flight that inspired the movie, has a cameo towards the end of the movie. And yes, I am old enough to remember learning of it on the news.

[@vtac7627]

I am 44 today. I remember that moment like it was yesterday. I didn’t quite grasp the gravity at the time, but I remember feeling really sad and seeing my mom cry. All these years later, it’s tough to watch.

[@robertcarleson5595]

My family waited for 5 years for a launch that corresponded with a business trip for us from Utah. It is the saddest day in our familie’s 80 years. We believe the crew would have wanted our country to continue to pursue space endeavors. Bless them all.

[@Sean71976]

"We are the children, we bid you goodbye, Challenger crew who flew so high..."

[@scottmurphy650]

The nose of Challenger hit the ocean with a 200 g force deceleration. Human bodies come apart literally at the seams with something like that. It is no wonder their remains were cremated and comingled. May they all forever rest in peace.

[@johnp139]

Rest in pieces.

[@michaelzilkowsky2936]

"a 200 g force deceleration. Human bodies come apart literally at the seams with something like that. " Gordon Smiley.

[@suebee1436]

@@johnp139hahaha🫢

[@bonnford9164]

Most people remember where we were at the moment the accident occurred, it was so memorable. Thank you for the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

[@spike178]

Was 22 then time goes so fast. Felt so sad about the school teacher.

[@MrStaybrown]

We watched it at school. The teacher shut off the TV and ran out. We didn't see a teacher for about an hour.

[@greggreg2263]

I remember being in elementary school and watching this happen none of the children seem too upset until the teacher started crying 😢then we got scared 😨

[@Cline3911]

That takes me back. I'll never forget where I was, and what I was doing when I found out about said accident.

[@seleneirissummers]

I witnessed this live on TV. I was out sick from school. My dear mom always gave in when i wanted to stay home. RIP challenger crew and MY Mom.

[@SKF358]

Scientists estimated the Shuttle project would be 98% successful. That's 2 failures per hundred missions. Ultimately there were 2 failures in 135 missions.

[@victoriacole7661]

Interesting. Thank you.

[@williamhaynes7089]

if airplanes were 98% successful we would have dozens of crashes every day

[@johnp139]

@@williamhaynes7089Only this is NOTHING LIKE AIRPLANES, IDIOT!!!

[@LisaMedeiros-tr2lz]

@@williamhaynes7089 Airplanes don't leave the ground on a controlled explosion of millions of pounds of fuel and don't reach speeds of 20,000 mph. The fact that NASA had so many successful MANNED flights in such a short amount of time is a testament to their drive.

[@mrhassell]

The remains of the Challenger crew were found in the debris of the crew cabin in March 1986. The crew hit the surface of the ocean at an enormous speed of 207 MPH, resulting in a lethal force that likely tore them out of their seats and smashed their bodies straight into the cabin's collapsed walls. They all died on impact.

[@jasoncox9883]

That is the day I will never forget. I was 9 years old and third grade and watched that happen live. They shut every school down here where I live and had us come home. For my generation it was the first experience of actually dealing with death

[@The2ndFirst]

Mike Smith was from my hometown in NC. There's a tasteful memorial to him on the waterfront. It wasn't two weeks before the running joke in town was; "The last words broadcast from the shuttle were "Am giving it full throttle." Well, THAT will be the last time they have a Tarheel pilot a space ship. He redlined it!."

[@tomsanders5584]

This memory is etched in my mind, same as 911. The look on Christa McAuliffe's mother's face still tears me up. 😪

[@meddyven]

Both her parents completely devastated, hoping it was a bad nightmare.

[@rebekahTee-er3rz]

They're fine......Christa Mc McAuliffe was a persona based on the then Ann Maguire ( who was killed 2014).

[@MrChopsticktech]

@@rebekahTee-er3rz That is one of the dumbest things I have ever heard. Every student from her school knew her as a real teacher, not to mention friends, families and co-workers. She would have had to sign documents, gone through training, fill out a will, life insurance etc. So what would she gain be not being who everyone involved said she was?

[@SJHFoto]

I remember when this happened. My teacher wheeled a television into the classroom (this was in rural Canada in primary school-and it NEVER was done, so it was a big deal) and we were all stunned. I remember my teacher crying (which was the first time I saw a grown-up cry) I was 10

[@PelonMusk]

"Watched in terror"? Uh no. I watched it live in school. Everyone initially believed it was shot down. Nobody was "shocked" or found it frightening. I specifically recall several of us laughing.

[@MrChopsticktech]

I'm glad I didn't go to your school or hang out with people who were laughing.

[@1122JZ]

I was in between classes at the University of Pittsburgh. Watching it on TV was heartbreaking. God rest their souls.