Remembering Challenger

On Jan. 28, 1986, at 11:39 a.m., people across the country watched in horror as the space shuttle Challenger exploded over the Atlantic Ocean, killing everyone on board. It remains one of the worst accidents of the American space program. Hardly more than a minute after liftoff and about 10 miles above Earth, the space shuttle Challenger erupted into a ball of flame. The Times reported that the “orange fireball and billowing white trails” initially confused many onlookers, who did not realize that something had gone terribly wrong/ New York Times . More here.

DFO: I remember where I was when I heard the news that the Challenger had exploded 30 years ago — in the old 3rd Street parking lot en route to cover a breakfast meeting in downtown Coeur d’Alene. Where were you?