Where were you when the Space Shuttle exploded on 1/28/86?
 

Where were you when the space shuttle blew up on January 28th, 1986?

I was a freshman in college. I went into the common room in the dorms and it was on TV. A future sorority sister of mine has Kristen McAuliff for a high school teacher. I remember her telling me that. Somebody offered her $500 for her high school yearbook. I wasn't in a sorority yet. Our colony was formed the following semester. It was a very sad time.

Denise

I was in school -- first grade.....our class didn't watch it. I don't think I found out until I came home, and even then I don't think I fully understood what happened.

It wasn't until years later, as an adult, when I watched a documentary about it, which showed the unedited footage, that I truly internalized everything.

I had just walked into Spanish class when our principal announced it over the P.A. I remember my teacher cancelled the lesson for the day, and turned the radio on so we could listen to the news reports. Very sad day.

I was in high school. A friend and I were going to my locker to drop off my books so we could go to lunch when our band director stopped us in the hallway to let us know the news. We were just stunned. Instead of going to lunch we spent the rest of the time talking about it and our own mortality in the band room. :(

Second grade. We were watching it on tv because a teacher was on the shuttle. I remember one of the teachers blurted out oh sh*t then ran to turn the tv off. The spent the rest of the day tring to calm down the kids.

I was in Japan. If I remember correctly, the explosion happened late at night Japanese time. I remember waking up in the morning and my dad telling me about what had happened. I was 4 so I didn't really understand.

I was teaching high school and between classes I was standing in the hall and a collegue informed me about the Shuttle. I taught 11th grade history and was able to get a TV in my classroom for the remainder of the day.

I was in Mrs. Delk's third grade class, and we did watch it. I'll never forget it.

I was a junior in college and working at the campus switchboard. I'd been in class all day and went straight to work from class. One of my coworkers at the switchboard had just started her pre-student teaching and was at school with the kids watching it on TV when it happened. She was at work and was really shook up. The kids had been really upset. So, she's the one who told me and we worked all evening, with me trying to keep her mind on other things.

I was 4 and I was at my grandparents house. My Gramps's brother worked for NASA at the time. And had even called us the day before to tell us how nice some of the crew were. And that he had to help Kristie pick and choose which things she wanted to take up to space with her,b/c her students had sent too much.

I was 4 so I really didnt' understand what was happening. But when the explosion happened I remember asking my mom what just happened. I was really confused.

I drew a picture of it exploding right after it happned. :(

In Hawaii. I was a young pup. 3 years old. I was probably asleep.

I was in 5th grade and my class was in the library. The principal came in, walked up to my teacher and said, "Where's the TV? The Challenger exploded." I thought he was referring to another TV - like they named their stock or something? :o

Then I realized what he was really talking about and I started to tell the other kids in my class. My teacher was the best science teacher in the district, so in a sad way we were lucky because they took a TV to our classroom and we got to watch all the news reports. No one else in the school got to do that.

You and I are the same age? Why did I always think you were older? ;)

Anyway, normally I would have been in the cafeteria for Morning Care as both my parents had to be in to work early.

Because it was a special morning, the teachers all got to school early so everyone could watch TV. It was around 6:30 AM, I believe. After it happened, Miss Chang, my first grade teacher, left the room crying.

The entire student body held mass in the Co-Cathedral that morning. After that, whoever wanted to go home could go home as the Principal cancelled school that day.

I dont remember where I was, but know when I saw it, it was one of the Saddest Times of My Life.

We became so complacent about These Big Machines going up into the Air and really thought nothing about it.:(

It happened!

But, please Remember, this is still an experiment as to this day We still only know so little.

Some of the greatest Minds work there, but if it wasnt for Budget Constraints and Polotics Maybe there would be less Problems.

Of Course, We as Private Citizens can only afford so much for so long.

8th Grade @ McKinley Middle Magnet. I believe I was in my science class.