Ronald Reagan's Challenger Speech

Less than 5 hours after the accident. I had forgotten he cancelled his State of the Union Address and instead did this, 30 years ago today.

I remembered the crew here.

Posted by: Dave In Texas at 12:33 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 RIP.

Posted by: Pappy O'Daniel at January 28, 2016 12:34 PM (oVJmc)

2
What a leader.

RIP to the crew.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at January 28, 2016 12:35 PM (zLP1L)

3 I could see the cloud from the explosion in Orlando. Hard to believe that was 30 years ago.

Posted by: antisocial justice beatnik at January 28, 2016 12:35 PM (jV8Mq)

4 RIP

Skipped going to Goddard for the very part time gig that day.

Posted by: DaveA at January 28, 2016 12:36 PM (DL2i+)

5 I was working at a little print shop in Kerville, TX

My big boss had a tiny TV in his office and some of the bosses had gathered in there to watch the launch. And then I heard the gasps and oh-noes coming from in there.

One of my co-workers had a daughter named Christa, who was all excited because the first civilian in space was a schoolteacher with the same name as her. All I remember at first was the heartbreak that little girl would go through.

Reagan was magnificent in his address. And props to Peggy Noonan for her finest moment in writing it.

Posted by: WhatWhatWhat? at January 28, 2016 12:37 PM (r9tFS)

6 Its surprising that just 30 years ago we were united enough to share the shock of a failure like this. Not any more.

Posted by: Pappy O'Daniel at January 28, 2016 12:37 PM (oVJmc)

7 It was the beginning of the end of manned missions to space. We may never regain our courage, especially the republicans party leadership.

It's too dangerous, and the money would be better spent helping the poor and oppressed minority peoples.

Posted by: Sigurd Askr at January 28, 2016 12:39 PM (meisE)

8 6 Its surprising that just 30 years ago we were united enough to share the shock of a failure like this. Not any more.

Yep. If it happened now, the dust wouldn't even be settled before the Left would be blaming Reagan and "right-wing budget cuts."

Posted by: WhatWhatWhat? at January 28, 2016 12:39 PM (r9tFS)

9 I had gotten fired the day before. I woke up, turned the news on.

Woof.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 28, 2016 12:40 PM (659DL)

10 I sure miss leaders like this: in space and in the White House.

Posted by: chiefjaybob at January 28, 2016 12:41 PM (Bbn6G)

11 "Not any more."

Yeah, Obama's speech would be "Let me be clear, this is all the fault of the evil rethuglikkkans, especially Ted Cruz."

Posted by: Lauren at January 28, 2016 12:41 PM (Z/8dZ)

12 And props to Peggy Noonan for her finest moment in writing it.

Yes. I read a fascinating remembrance by her about this recently.

There's always a debate about whether the words are the speechwriter's or the speaker's. In the end, of course, the speaker chooses to speak them and they are his words.

Peggy somehow intuited that the quote from "High Flight" would fit the mood of what Reagan wanted to say. She was a junior speechwriter at the time and didn't even think he'd use her draft.

He did, of course, and the next day he asked her "how did you know I love that poem?". It turned out to have been on a plaque he had seen every day at some point in his life.

And she didn't know that about him, but she knew him. And so the words were both hers and his.

Posted by: Bandersnatch, Opus/Bill the Cat 2016 at January 28, 2016 12:42 PM (1xUj/)

13 "The answer to catastrophic engineering failure is more diversity."

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 28, 2016 12:42 PM (659DL)

14 Peggy Noonan wrote that, didn't she?

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at January 28, 2016 12:43 PM (8ZskC)

15 I remember the day shuttle flights resumed.

I was stationed at Langley AFB at the time. The base came to a complete halt, and people gathered around televisions to watch the launch of, IIRC, Discovery.

There were massive cheers when it made it into orbit.

Posted by: An Poc Ar Buile at January 28, 2016 12:43 PM (XbIOG)

16
I was living in Hawaii then.
One of my friends was on what he called President Reagan's Surf Team (funenjoyment). Good times. Great president.

Posted by: wth at January 28, 2016 12:44 PM (HgMAr)

17 In my lifetime, Iwill not see his like again, in that office.

Posted by: simplemind at January 28, 2016 12:44 PM (JTwsP)

18 I happened to be answering phone for an hour when the receptionist went to lunch. One man's wife called to tell him about it.

She also called while I was answering the phone when Reagan was almost assassinated.

Posted by: Carol at January 28, 2016 12:45 PM (sj3Ax)

19 I was at a dr app in downtown SF. It had been raining very hard but stopped. Everything was bright and wet and water was shooting out of manhole covers 4 feet in the air. There was a strange vibe but I couldnt figure out what was going on. Finally I stopped a young woman and asked and she told me. I was headed for Bart and she asked to walk with me bc she needed someone to talk to. I should have asked her to lunch or coffee. I understood her feelings.

They had canceled the launch repeatedly and in the ams I wd see video of the ice forming on the bottom of the rocket so it wasnt a surprise that things wd go wrong.

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at January 28, 2016 12:45 PM (iQIUe)

20 I was working at Radio Shack and saw it live. When the rockets split, the narrator kept reciting altitude, so no one was sure what we were watching. After 10 seconds, we knew the entire craft was destroyed. Absolutely horrifying.

Posted by: Adirondack Patriot at January 28, 2016 12:45 PM (GWITj)

21
Someone ought to put out a campaign commercial - I don't care for whom - with a tagline about how it's time America had a man in charge instead of a pissy, menstruating 13-year old girl.

RR story which will probably be laughed at by the serving /have served members of the Horde: when I watched his funeral, once the cortege got under way, I stood to attention and saluted.

All alone, in the house. Nobody watching. But I felt he deserved that token of respect.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at January 28, 2016 12:46 PM (X6fMO)

22 Thank you, Dave in Texas.

Posted by: Carol at January 28, 2016 12:46 PM (sj3Ax)

23 I would have made a stirring speech, liberally peppered with social justice rhetoric.

Posted by: Prez'nit Easybake at January 28, 2016 12:47 PM (Dwehj)

24 That's a pretty famous poem. Even I would have used it, it fits so well.

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at January 28, 2016 12:47 PM (iQIUe)

25 Popular Mechanics has a nice article of first-person recollections around this.

Posted by: Valiant at January 28, 2016 12:47 PM (2bqlb)

26 I remember what this did to Muslim self-esteem.

Posted by: Pappy O'Daniel at January 28, 2016 12:47 PM (oVJmc)

27 Thank you, Dave in Texas.

Don't do that, it only encourages him.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 28, 2016 12:47 PM (659DL)

28 Written by Peggy "Obama Swoonin'" Noonan

Posted by: Mega at January 28, 2016 12:48 PM (JwLCI)

29 That's a pretty famous poem. Even I would have used it, it fits so well.

I remember this being used on a television sign off reel when I was a kid. Yes, they used to sign off. Get off my lawn.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 28, 2016 12:48 PM (659DL)

30 I thought the letter of condolence the ruskies sent was touching. It was something about having lost astronauts themselves, they knew what we were going through.

And of course there were the leftys who thought the space program was a waste bc everything shd go to sjw shit. Hate them.

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at January 28, 2016 12:48 PM (iQIUe)

31 Bandersnatch, #12: Thank you for that great comment. I didn't know this.

And as others have said, may the crew rest in peace; and, politics aside, how I miss President Reagan.

Posted by: JPS at January 28, 2016 12:49 PM (D/RKq)

32 There are some things a president does that are beyond ideology, legislation, and politics.

Posted by: AmishDude at January 28, 2016 12:50 PM (Xd2w5)

33 I thought the letter of condolence the ruskies sent was touching. It was something about having lost astronauts themselves, they knew what we were going through.

Moscow radio played dirge music all day.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 28, 2016 12:50 PM (659DL)

34 I was in 8th or 9th grade science class. Someone knocked on the door and pulled the teacher outside the room to tell him. When he came back in he was visibly shaken. He told us he had applied to be the teacher on the crew...

Posted by: PAgirlinNC at January 28, 2016 12:50 PM (IyKms)

35 As we community-organizers-cum-presidents like to say, "never let a tragedy go to waste".

Posted by: Prez'nit Easybake at January 28, 2016 12:50 PM (Dwehj)

36 Terrible. Just terrible. Really, really, really bad. Really, really terrible and awful. Really awful.

Posted by: President Trump at January 28, 2016 12:50 PM (vgIRn)

37 I did NOT build that.

And you should be thanking me.

Posted by: Pres Boyfriend Obama at January 28, 2016 12:50 PM (326rv)

38 It was kind of sad when the Challenger went up, but you know what was worse, more sad, and even enraging?

Ronald Reagan shutting down the entire program for the rest of his term of office.

WHAT
THE
HELL???

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at January 28, 2016 12:50 PM (39g3+)

39 How long did it take the left to blame the Philly train derailment on Republican budget cuts? Less than 24 hours, wasn't it? Maybe even within 12?

So yeah, it would have immediately been blamed on budget cuts if it were to happen today. But, we don't do great things anymore, so it's moot.

Posted by: Chupacabra at January 28, 2016 12:50 PM (kZVsz)

40 I'd have given a happy shoutout to Joe "Medicine" Crow before anything else.

Posted by: Preezy McShit at January 28, 2016 12:50 PM (JwLCI)

41 Isn't nice to see a President speak to us and with us, rather than lecturing us on our failures and telling us that is not who we are.

Sigh

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 28, 2016 12:51 PM (kzdjp)

42 Thanks, Dave. It seems like only a moment ago.

Posted by: goon at January 28, 2016 12:51 PM (gy5kE)

43 Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at January 28, 2016 12:46 PM (X6fMO)

Spot on, sir!

Posted by: Ralf Lauren Hrothgar at January 28, 2016 12:51 PM (wYnyS)

44 RR story which will probably be laughed at by the serving /have served members of the Horde: when I watched his funeral, once the cortege got under way, I stood to attention and saluted.

All alone, in the house. Nobody watching. But I felt he deserved that token of respect.

I have heard of others doing this also.

Posted by: rickb223 at January 28, 2016 12:51 PM (dnQ1L)

45 I remember them letting us outside at school to look at the smoke cloud and trail that was left behind. Whole thing was very surreal.

Posted by: Insomniac - Pale Horse/Death 2016 at January 28, 2016 12:51 PM (kpqmD)

46 I was working in a tool and die shop in Huntsville, AL. Being a space town with schools named after Chaffee, White and Grissom, it hit particularly hard.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at January 28, 2016 12:51 PM (LUgeY)

47 I was in 9th Grade but was home watching since schools were having mid-year Regents exams (New York thing).

Posted by: Benji Carver at January 28, 2016 12:51 PM (OD2ni)

48 17 In my lifetime, Iwill not see his like again, in that office.

I was so young back then, I figured we'd always have men of Reagan's caliber in the Oval Office. Man, was I mistaken.

I was one of those "Reagan Democrats" (in my defense, I was REALLY young!) and I switched to the Repub party because of him.

Shame that party left me.

Posted by: WhatWhatWhat? at January 28, 2016 12:51 PM (r9tFS)

49 MPPPP,
It doesn't matter that no one was home. RR deserved your salute.

Posted by: Carol at January 28, 2016 12:51 PM (sj3Ax)

50 There are some things a president does that are beyond ideology, legislation, and politics.

Posted by: AmishDude at January 28, 2016 12:50 PM (Xd2w5)

Hmm. Not sure what year you're living in, but please let me know how the weather is there.

Posted by: Mega at January 28, 2016 12:53 PM (JwLCI)

51 I was one of those "Reagan Democrats" (in my defense, I was REALLY young!) and I switched to the Repub party because of him.

Fist bump.

Of course, I was running the hell away from Jimmah, too.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 28, 2016 12:53 PM (659DL)

52 34 I was in 8th or 9th grade science class. Someone knocked on the door and pulled the teacher outside the room to tell him. When he came back in he was visibly shaken. He told us he had applied to be the teacher on the crew...
Posted by: PAgirlinNC at January 28, 2016 12:50 PM (IyKms)

Talk about the feeling of someone walking over your grave. Also, get off my lawn.

Posted by: Insomniac - Pale Horse/Death 2016 at January 28, 2016 12:53 PM (kpqmD)

53 About a week before the Challenger exploded, I had a dream that I was standing among a group of people in Florida, near the water, and we were watching a rocket lift off. It went up, and then there was a loud bang and a lot of smoke. People in the crowd applauded, some gasped, and then some started crying. I didn't know what had happened, so I just stood there. Pieces of the rocket started falling down into the water near where we stood. Then I woke up.

A week later, I saw the t.v. coverage of the Challenger lift-off and explosion. It was like being in the dream again. One of the weirdest things I've ever experienced.

Posted by: TrivialPursuer at January 28, 2016 12:53 PM (a31sM)

54 I remember this like it was yesterday. I was sitting in Chemistry class in my junior year of High School wondering where the teacher was. He walked in late, told us what happened, and walked out. Very visibly shaken.

And God, do I miss a leader like Reagan. I get choked up every time I see him speak.

Posted by: Timon at January 28, 2016 12:55 PM (KSonr)

55
There are some things, (some) president(s) do(--) that are beyond ideology, legislation and politics.
We've yet to see that occur with the current occupant.

Posted by: simplemind at January 28, 2016 12:55 PM (JTwsP)

56 Different times, different times indeed.... Doubt We can ever return to an America like that.... Makes Me sad and angry...

Posted by: donna at January 28, 2016 12:55 PM (/dSsq)

57 The biggest annoyance of the Challenger disaster was how people to this day wax on and on about how having a teacher go up in the shuttle "inspired students" and was so great.

I remember then. Students were sad the thing blew up, but nobody felt inspired by her being on it, even before the explosion.

It was really sad to me and frustrating, because we needed those shuttles going up and learning and expanding. It was sad when those sailing ships would go out and never come back from exploring, too.

But we didn't stop sending ships out.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at January 28, 2016 12:55 PM (39g3+)

58 Man, back when a MAN was POTUS.

"Break the surly bonds of Earth..." Tear inducing stuff.

Godspeed, indeed.

Posted by: ChocoCheese at January 28, 2016 12:55 PM (OvUux)

59 Ladies and gentlemen...FRANCE, FUCK YEAH!!!!!

Lunch between the French and Iranian leaders is CANCELLED after President Hollande refused to take wine off the menu for his meeting with Muslim counterpart Rouhani

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 28, 2016 12:55 PM (659DL)

60 There were five hundred ways Reagan could have made this about him and he whiffed every one.

Posted by: Prez'nit Shit Midas at January 28, 2016 12:56 PM (8ZskC)

61 I was an armed guard on a tractor-trailer heading to Toronto. And we stood quietly watching with truck drivers crowded into an alcove at a truck stop watching it. Again and again.

Posted by: Blue Hen at January 28, 2016 12:56 PM (326rv)

62 #51Of course, I was running the hell away from Jimmah, too.

Heh. Yep, Carter had a lot to do with it.

But I was also just so very impressed with Reagan after he was shot. His good humor, the way he bounced right back, at his age. The way he reassured the nation.

It had a profound effect on me. I was too young to vote for RR the first time, but in the second election I proudly pulled my first Presidential voting machine lever for him. I just loved that guy.

Posted by: WhatWhatWhat? at January 28, 2016 12:56 PM (r9tFS)

63 There were no transgender astronauts at the time, which greatly contributed to instability. That was the true tragedy.

Posted by: Prez'nit Easybake at January 28, 2016 12:56 PM (Dwehj)

64 "50 There are some things a president does that are beyond ideology, legislation, and politics.

Posted by: AmishDude at January 28, 2016 12:50 PM (Xd2w5)

Hmm. Not sure what year you're living in, but please let me know how the weather is there."

The Bush World Series first pitch was probably the last time this happened. The Left has finished off its job of poisoning society since then.

Posted by: Benji Carver at January 28, 2016 12:56 PM (OD2ni)

65 "I didn't find out about this until I read it in the newspaper."

Posted by: Prez'nit Shit Midas at January 28, 2016 12:56 PM (8ZskC)

66 And he didn't even find a way to blame it on Carter or tell us that NASA "acted stupidly."

Posted by: Lizzy at January 28, 2016 12:57 PM (NOIQH)

67 No one ask about the color of anyone's eyes.

Posted by: Mega at January 28, 2016 12:57 PM (JwLCI)

68 And God, do I miss a leader like Reagan. I get choked up every time I see him speak.

"Mr. Gorbachev, Tear. Down. This. Wall."

Posted by: rickb223 at January 28, 2016 12:57 PM (dnQ1L)

69 "muslims invented the zero, from which Western culture derived the O-ring."

Posted by: Prez'nit Shit Midas at January 28, 2016 12:57 PM (8ZskC)

70 I was in elementary school, only 11 at the time, and I remember being corralled into the cafeteria to watch the coverage. My teacher's brother had been next in line had Christa not been able to go.

Posted by: tdpwells at January 28, 2016 12:57 PM (56Plz)

71 "We probably had this coming because of the Crusades. High horses and stuff, people."

Posted by: Prez'nit Shit Midas at January 28, 2016 12:58 PM (8ZskC)

72 Lunch between the French and Iranian leaders is CANCELLED after
President Hollande refused to take wine off the menu for his meeting
with Muslim counterpart Rouhani

It was the hill to die on.

Posted by: That guy who always says... at January 28, 2016 12:58 PM (Dwehj)

73 The biggest annoyance of the Challenger disaster was how people to this day wax on and on about how having a teacher go up in the shuttle "inspired students" and was so great.

If you want to go all Greek mythology there was an element of hubris to it. "We've made space flight so routine we can send up a teacher".

I was young and working in NYC. Pre-internet, the fastest dissemination of information was Wall Street traders.

The black humor spread fast.

Posted by: Bandersnatch, Opus/Bill the Cat 2016 at January 28, 2016 12:58 PM (1xUj/)

74 I was in 9th Grade but was home watching since schools were having mid-year Regents exams (New York thing).

Posted by: Benji Carver at January 28, 2016 12:51 PM

Yep...school library, 9th grade. A bunch of kids looking at each other saying "was that supposed to happen?" and then realizing something had just gone really, really wrong.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at January 28, 2016 12:58 PM (bzd8I)

75 There were no transgender muzastronauts at the time, which greatly contributed to instability. That was the true tragedy.

Posted by: Prez'nit Easybake at January 28, 2016 12:56 PM (Dwehj)
FTFY

Posted by: Ralf Lauren Hrothgar at January 28, 2016 12:58 PM (wYnyS)

76 60 There were five hundred ways Reagan could have made this about him and he whiffed every one.

Obama would most certainly have made it all about Him, and Hillary! would wax Nostalgic about having considered being an Astronaut... She was this close...

Posted by: donna at January 28, 2016 12:58 PM (/dSsq)

77 O/T SkyNet is coming.

http://preview.tinyurl.com/h8sftpr

Posted by: goon at January 28, 2016 12:59 PM (gy5kE)

78 Dr. Sanity, who ran a fascinating blog for years, was the flight surgeon for the Challenger. Here's her account: http://drsanity.blogspot.com/2005/01/challenger-flight-surgeon-remembers.html .

Posted by: Surellin at January 28, 2016 12:59 PM (V4N/S)

79 Thank you.

I was home sick and saw it live. I'll never forget.

Great post.

Posted by: Dianna at January 28, 2016 12:59 PM (DV/Ik)

80 The astronauts died 2 minutes and 45 seconds after the explosion. The cabin of the shuttle continued upward on inertia, till it stalled, and then free fell back into the ocean.

Posted by: ChocoCheese at January 28, 2016 12:59 PM (OvUux)

81 I wonder how many "I's" the current occupant of the WH would utter during a speech to memorialize the crew? I wonder if he would even memorialize them unless there was a minority/underserved/LGBT/Muslim crew member....

Posted by: PAgirlinNC at January 28, 2016 12:59 PM (IyKms)

82 This happened on my first day of work at The Phone Company, aka AT&T. We all went into a conference room and watched the coverage.

Crazy day.

Posted by: JackStraw at January 28, 2016 12:59 PM (Hxh2/)

83 RR story which will probably be laughed at by the serving /have served members of the Horde: when I watched his funeral, once the cortege got under way, I stood to attention and saluted.

All alone, in the house. Nobody watching. But I felt he deserved that token of respect.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at January 28, 2016
12:46 PM (X6fMO)

I'm not laughing. I wish I had done the same.

Posted by: OregonMuse at January 28, 2016 01:00 PM (WcCoO)

84 Obama would most certainly have made it all about Him, and Hillary! would wax Nostalgic about having considered being an Astronaut... She was this close...

Posted by: donna at January 28, 2016 12:58 PM (/dSsq)

Obama and Hillary would make a great team for the Solar Landing mission. They, would, of course, land at night.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 28, 2016 01:01 PM (Z8fuk)

85 Can't remember if I was home, day off, or in the Office the day it happened.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 28, 2016 01:01 PM (kzdjp)

86 It had a profound effect on me. I was too young to vote for RR the first time, but in the second election I proudly pulled my first Presidential voting machine lever for him. I just loved that guy.

I missed it by 16 days.

Posted by: rickb223 at January 28, 2016 01:01 PM (dnQ1L)

87 80 The astronauts died 2 minutes and 45 seconds after the explosion. The cabin of the shuttle continued upward on inertia, till it stalled, and then free fell back into the ocean.

Posted by: ChocoCheese at January 28, 2016 12:59 PM (OvUux)

Wow, how do they know this?

Not that I'm doubting you, I just hadn't heard it before.

Posted by: OregonMuse at January 28, 2016 01:01 PM (WcCoO)

88 There were some in the conservative press at the time who alleged the Russians were responsible for the explosion.

The evidence? There was a Russian intelligence 'trawler' in the area before the launch and just outside the exclusion zone during the launch.

Posted by: RioBravo at January 28, 2016 01:02 PM (NUqwG)

89 "This only points out the need to find solar-powered alternatives to rocket powered space flight because sustainability."

Posted by: Prez'nit Shit Midas at January 28, 2016 01:02 PM (8ZskC)

90 My guess is everyone in the cabin was unconscious, if not from the initial shock then from the impact with the ocean.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at January 28, 2016 01:02 PM (39g3+)

91 Let me be clear. That won't happen on my watch. Mainly because we have no space program any more.
No need to thank me.

Posted by: Emperor Clusterfuck I at January 28, 2016 01:02 PM (YFFpo)

92 There was a Russian intelligence 'trawler' in the area before the launch and just outside the exclusion zone during the launch.

There was ALWAYS a Russian trawler watching back in the day.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 28, 2016 01:03 PM (659DL)

93 My boss had just been diagnosed with extensive cancer, and I was helping out at her husband's office because his receptionist had been in a car wreck. So shitty day to begin with. Then someone said to turn on the little B&W tv and we saw that evil cloud. Shocking. I can't believe it was 30 years ago.

Posted by: stace at January 28, 2016 01:03 PM (CoX6k)

94 See this model rocket? That's because I invented space flight.

Posted by: Ahmad the Goat Fucking Inventor at January 28, 2016 01:04 PM (8ZskC)

95 Oregon Muse, it really is just supposition. I had first heard this a few months ago, and after some "internet" searching, I found it out to be the view of many experts. And like, 90 says, the crew was likely(and hopefully) unconscious.

Posted by: ChocoCheese at January 28, 2016 01:04 PM (OvUux)

96 Wow, how do they know this?

Autopsies from the bodies recovered from the cabin module on the bottom of the ocean. It was pretty awful to learn, until I realized they'd have been knocked out cold from the fall.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at January 28, 2016 01:04 PM (39g3+)

97 Wow, how do they know this?

Not that I'm doubting you, I just hadn't heard it before.

Wonder if they could remotely monitor vitals from Florida or Houston?
No reason to release that info out of respect?

Posted by: rickb223 at January 28, 2016 01:05 PM (dnQ1L)

98 I remember this being used on a television sign off reel when I was a kid. Yes, they used to sign off. Get off my lawn.
Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 28, 2016 1

--------------------

Yup. It was an F104 Starfighter, climbing through the clouds into the blue. Climbing, climbing.......

A beautiful way to end the day.

Posted by: Soona at January 28, 2016 01:05 PM (Fmupd)

99 Obama socks,
Go away & take the real one with you.

Posted by: Carol at January 28, 2016 01:06 PM (sj3Ax)

100 Wonder if they could remotely monitor vitals from Florida or Houston?
No reason to release that info out of respect?
Posted by: rickb223 at January 28, 2016 01:05 PM (dnQ1L)

Data Links would have been knocked out by the explosion

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 28, 2016 01:06 PM (kzdjp)

101 See this model rocket? That's because I invented space flight.

A thousand years before the white man came out of his cave, Africans had developed space flight in Egypt. Back then Egyptians were black as coal, too, honest. It was only white oppression that stopped the noble African's advance and technology, and it was stolen by the white devil who then rewrote history to shut out all these facts I pulled out of my.... that they deny.

Posted by: Black Studies Professor at January 28, 2016 01:06 PM (39g3+)

102 "The astronauts died 2 minutes and 45 seconds after the explosion. The cabin of the shuttle continued upward on inertia, till it stalled, and then free fell back into the ocean."

Oh shit. Did not know that. That's...wow that's really awful.

Posted by: Lauren at January 28, 2016 01:07 PM (Z/8dZ)

103 I remember this being used on a television sign off reel when I was a kid. Yes, they used to sign off. Get off my lawn.
Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 28, 2016 1

--------------------

Yup. It was an F104 Starfighter, climbing through the clouds into the blue. Climbing, climbing.......

A beautiful way to end the day.

Test pattern of a pic of an indian and the Star Spangled Banner.
Yeah. Off my lawn.

Posted by: rickb223 at January 28, 2016 01:07 PM (dnQ1L)

104 Wonder if they could remotely monitor vitals from Florida or Houston?

Whatever telemetry they had was lost once the vehicle was destroyed. I'm fairly certain that they could monitor vitals.

I was amazed to find out the massive amount of data that was streamed during flight.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at January 28, 2016 01:08 PM (LUgeY)

105 A great leader indeed.

In the meantime, this is my first experience with in-flight internet.
This is $10.00 wasted! 20 minutes to get on line and all I can connect with is the Hoard.
I feel cheapen...

Posted by: Diogenes at January 28, 2016 01:08 PM (F7bMH)

106 I was living in Jacksonville at the time. Even 180 miles from the launch site, you could see the explosion and the cloud it left behind.

It was really, really cold that day.

Posted by: Mike at January 28, 2016 01:08 PM (ISxUB)

107 Trump is destroying Fox's credibility. Disclosed that a high level player on Rubio's team is the daughter of the Fox vice president in charge of the debates.

Fox failed to disclose this information.

We all know the media is in bed with the politicians, but has anyone ever actually went there and used it to beat them over the head?

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at January 28, 2016 01:08 PM (4ErVI)

108 I recall that there was recorded audio post explosion. I think that they recovered 'black boxes'.

I think that the families demanded a settlement from NASA.

Posted by: Blue Hen at January 28, 2016 01:08 PM (326rv)

109 Test pattern of a pic of an indian and the Star Spangled Banner.
-----
Racist AND jingoistic.

Posted by: RioBravo at January 28, 2016 01:09 PM (NUqwG)

110 The Challenger explosion led to a halt in our shuttle program, and eventually led to the PEPCON disaster.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUcgYmgTkEg

One of the largest industrial explosions in the USA. I'm terrible at typing, so I'm not going to hammer it all out here, but basically:
PEPCON manufactured the fuel for the shuttle's boosters, shuttle program halted due to challenger event, no order from FEDGOV to halt manufacturing of booster fuel, company stockpiles fuel till it reaches a hazardous state, then a fire happens. Two hikers happen to catch the explosion on video. It's amazing.

Posted by: ChocoCheese at January 28, 2016 01:09 PM (OvUux)

111 As for the topic at hand, I was in high school, in science class, when they took us next door to a theater room and turned on the television. It was very quiet as they replayed the disaster.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at January 28, 2016 01:09 PM (4ErVI)

112 20 minutes to get on line and all I can connect with is the Hoard.

I feel cheapen...

I would say "Hey!!!"...but you have a point.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 28, 2016 01:10 PM (659DL)

113 [x] Does remember Star Spangled Banner followed by test pattern.

[ ] Does not remember Star Spangled Banner followed by test pattern.

Posted by: Bandersnatch, Opus/Bill the Cat 2016 at January 28, 2016 01:10 PM (1xUj/)

114
I didnt think the bodies were intact. I remember reading that they found pieces of the Asian-America Astronaut.

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at January 28, 2016 01:10 PM (iQIUe)

115 The 15 y/o who stabbed the swedish social worker is over 6 feet tall.

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at January 28, 2016 01:10 PM (iQIUe)

116 Dack,
That should be disclosed on Faux News part.

Posted by: Carol at January 28, 2016 01:10 PM (sj3Ax)

117 "all I can connect with is the Hoard. "

Aren't we really all you need?

Posted by: Lauren at January 28, 2016 01:11 PM (Kqit+)

118 High school art class making what probably turned out to be an ashtray

Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at January 28, 2016 01:11 PM (fWAjv)

119 The 15 y/o who stabbed the swedish social worker is over 6 feet tall.

Lakers on line one...

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 28, 2016 01:11 PM (659DL)

120 osted by: Dack Thrombosis at January 28, 2016 01:08 PM (4ErVI)

Just a gentle request. Bandersnatch asked in the previous thread that we please keep Trump comments down there-not in a thread about the Challenger. No, I'm not telling people what to post. I don't know about anyone else, but I would like at least one Trump free thread a day if the original content is unrelated to him.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at January 28, 2016 01:12 PM (w4NZ8)

121 The 15 y/o who stabbed the swedish social worker is over 6 feet tall.

They grow 'em big on nothing but falafel and goats ass.

Posted by: rickb223 at January 28, 2016 01:12 PM (dnQ1L)

122 I know this Ronnie didn't cry. Barky had a tear rolling down his cheek as he announced that he was taking a steaming dump on our 2A rights. F'n pussy.

Posted by: Brave Sir Robin at January 28, 2016 01:12 PM (5buP8)

123 Reagan was a great American who was elected President. There have been fewer than 10 of those. The last four have been of a much more diminutive stature.

Posted by: setnaffa at January 28, 2016 01:12 PM (BtRXi)

124 "We probably had this coming because of the Crusades. High horses and stuff, people."

Posted by: Prez'nit Shit Midas at January 28, 2016 12:58 PM (8ZskC)

And Reagan didn't care about AIDS or did he invent it. I forget.

Posted by: TheQuietMan at January 28, 2016 01:12 PM (493sH)

125 Richard Feynman was on an investigative committee that looked into the causes.

He said it was administrative, but that was a minority view which was included in an addendum (I believe) in the official report.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 28, 2016 01:12 PM (Zu3d9)

126 Actually, this was the first sign that NASA wasn't all it had been.

Posted by: Pappy O'Daniel at January 28, 2016 01:13 PM (oVJmc)

127 Forgot:

http://goo.gl/qTPj6w

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at January 28, 2016 01:13 PM (iQIUe)

128 In the meantime, this is my first experience with in-flight internet. This is $10.00 wasted! 20 minutes to get on line and all I can connect with is the Hoard.

Gogo Inflight is usually pretty good, although it doesn't allow for streaming so no Youtube, Hulu, etc. You must be on a very short flight to have $10 access. Gogo costs around $28 for a cross-country flight.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at January 28, 2016 01:13 PM (8ZskC)

129 Two hikers happen to catch the explosion on video. It's amazing.

That stuff was like highly flammable rubber and when you lit up the boosters, there was no way to turn them off until all the fuel had burned.

They made the booster nose cones and aft skirts in Huntsville. I got to tour the facility that made them. Fascinating stuff.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at January 28, 2016 01:13 PM (LUgeY)

130 >>>> Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at January 28, 2016 01
-------
I assure you that Trump knows this. Fox looks like so weak, desperate, and pathetic. O'Reilly was practically begging Trump to come to the debate last night. And Megyn Kelly just beclowned herself having that slob, Michael Moore on.
Trump wins big.

Posted by: L, Elle at January 28, 2016 01:14 PM (2x3L+)

131 When presidents were presidents and classy folk.

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at January 28, 2016 01:14 PM (voOPb)

132 I was in third grade. Shuttle Launches had become so "routine" that the school no longer took a break to watch them.(Think about that!) I was returning back to class from the bathroom and saw it happen live in the common area between the classrooms. I'll never forget it.

Posted by: ChocoCheese at January 28, 2016 01:14 PM (OvUux)

133 Posted by: FenelonSpoke at January 28, 2016 01:12 PM (w4NZ

Yes.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 28, 2016 01:14 PM (Zu3d9)

134 Just a gentle request. Bandersnatch asked in the
previous thread that we please keep Trump comments down there-not in a
thread about the Challenger. No, I'm not telling people what to post. I
don't know about anyone else, but I would like at least one Trump free
thread a day if the original content is unrelated to him.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at January 28, 2016 01:12 PM (w4NZ

Ahh ok I didn't see it.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at January 28, 2016 01:14 PM (4ErVI)

135 They made the booster nose cones and aft skirts in Huntsville. I got to tour the facility that made them. Fascinating stuff.

If you've never been around it, (and I haven't), it's all very fascinating stuff.

Posted by: rickb223 at January 28, 2016 01:15 PM (dnQ1L)

136 When TV stations signed off for the night

https://youtu.be/ye7s4ybA7h4

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at January 28, 2016 01:15 PM (FkBIv)

137 I was in a doctor's office getting treated for an ear infection, and heard someone in the hall tell someone else what had happened.

Got home and it was wall-to-wall TV news.

Posted by: Pappy O'Daniel at January 28, 2016 01:15 PM (oVJmc)

138 I don't remember the Challenger disaster (was still a baby), but I'd never heard about the astronauts surviving past the explosion. Those poor families....

Posted by: pookysgirl at January 28, 2016 01:15 PM (K27gs)

139 Less than 5 hours after the accident.

Speaking five hours...

Posted by: weft cut-loop at January 28, 2016 01:17 PM (W0RfD)

140 113
[x] Does remember Star Spangled Banner followed by test pattern.
[ ] Does not remember Star Spangled Banner followed by test pattern.

Posted by: Bandersnatch, Opus/Bill the Cat 2016 at January 28, 2016 01:10 PM (1xUj/)

[xx] Does remember Star Spangled Banner followed by test pattern.

Posted by: OregonMuse at January 28, 2016 01:17 PM (WcCoO)

141 8 6 Its surprising that just 30 years ago we were united enough to share the shock of a failure like this. Not any more.

Yep. If it happened now, the dust wouldn't even be settled before the Left would be blaming Reagan and "right-wing budget cuts."

Posted by: WhatWhatWhat? at January 28, 2016 12:39 PM (r9tFS)

--------

Everyone knew they shouldn't launch. Someone in that White House called and said launch or else.

NASA management now found themselves under enormous political pressure and cracked. Then pushed it forward and those people died.

If the whole thing wasn't a big grandstanding ploy by the Reagan White House (teacher in space) and that the SOTU speech included stuff about her, and that thing was going to be in space during SOTU, that thing never gets launched that day.

I don't just factor in the administration's push. I consider the whole thing their fault.
------
Of course

Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at January 28, 2016 01:17 PM (fWAjv)

142 It's a little dusty here, having trouble with my eyes...must be allergies.

I was in my 7th grade homeroom English class. My teacher ordered a TV from the A/V dept. be wheeled in so we could watch the launch. Back when there was pride for what we as Americans could accomplish.

Put this speech against anything that President Special Olympics has said and tell me who the better speaker is.

Posted by: Stu Podaso at January 28, 2016 01:19 PM (ufFCO)

143 Oh sorry, Fenelon, I didn't see you that request either. I was following that OT once we get past 100 comments general guideline. No more Trump.

Posted by: L, Elle at January 28, 2016 01:19 PM (2x3L+)

144
[x] Does remember Star Spangled Banner being a new fangled hit.

Vic

Posted by: This is why Morons can't have nice things at January 28, 2016 01:19 PM (326rv)

145 And Reagan didn't care about AIDS or did he invent it. I forget.

He and Nancy had it invented. She surreptitiously injected her hairdresser, and the rest is history. Ronnie also had the FBI distribute crack cocaine to the ghetto. It's all true.

Posted by: Brave Sir Robin at January 28, 2016 01:20 PM (5buP8)

146 I remember seeing it on the launch pad on TV, right before I had to go to my geography class at Arizona State.

I made it to the building, and saw my friend heading out & looking confused. "Space shuttle blew up, class canceled" she said.

Thought it was some kind of a sick joke and told her so. She pointed to one of the TV's rolled out into the main hallway, with people crowded around it, being unusually quiet. The launch was on endless loop. No one spoke above a whisper.

The weird thing is.....years later, I was back at my alma mater for a seminar paid for by my employer. It was on September 11th, 2001. It was like a rerun of the Challenger disaster, with giant TV's on video carts, and people crowded around, barely talking above a whisper.

-----------------------------

That was the last time I set foot on that campus. I've never been back. I'm afraid about things happening in threes, and I don't really care how irrational that thought is.

Posted by: bigpinkfluffybunny at January 28, 2016 01:20 PM (PeoNT)

147

Wait,,, I'm confused..... ~cough-cough, cough, cough-cough~,, what happened?

*hic*

Posted by: Hillary Clinton at January 28, 2016 01:20 PM (HSmrB)

148 Is that 'America' dead? It sure feels like it.

Posted by: Foghorn Leghorn at January 28, 2016 01:20 PM (UhRGU)

149 Better half was part for the USN dive/recovery team and spent weeks bringing up pieces and parts out of the ocean.

Posted by: Suppressed Flasher at January 28, 2016 01:20 PM (X+nFp)

150 If you've never been around it, (and I haven't), it's all very fascinating stuff.

That facility also had an electron beam welder that made the prettiest beads I've ever seen.

I have a bunch of stories from living and working there. I was fortunate enough to snag a job at MSFC right before I moved down here. My immediate boss was Chuck Yeager's second cousin. Got to see astronaut Bonnie Dunbar one day, she's about 4' 10" and 90 lbs soaking wet. I worked in the old Gemini vehicle assembly building.

Good times. Really, really good times.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at January 28, 2016 01:20 PM (LUgeY)

151 Pop quiz:

So, when Rush spends most of his time playing audio clips from other media shows that mention him, a good word to describe this is:

[..] incestuous
[..] masturbatory
[..] tiresome
[..] self-indulgent
[..] ego-tastic

Posted by: OregonMuse at January 28, 2016 01:21 PM (WcCoO)

152 This thread is choking me up. Not only remembering the Challenger, but remembering what this country used to be.

Posted by: Soona at January 28, 2016 01:21 PM (Fmupd)

153 I was in my 7th grade homeroom English class. My teacher ordered a TV from the A/V dept. be wheeled in so we could watch the launch.

We did the same when I was in 7th grade homeroom.
To watch the JFK funeral procession.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at January 28, 2016 01:21 PM (FkBIv)

154 I'm glad President Hollande basically said FU to Iranians.

Posted by: Carol at January 28, 2016 01:21 PM (sj3Ax)

155
Our flag flies 24/7/365 in front of our home, in accord with protocol.

Each morning I salute it. It's the symbol of my country, one which I proudly served under.

Nothing will ever shake my faith in this land of ours--no matter the circumstance.

And I refuse categorically to feel shame--THAT emotion falls directly on the shoulders of hose who deny or wish to harm her.

If this offends ANYONE, then deal with it, no apology is forthcoming.

Posted by: irongrampa at January 28, 2016 01:21 PM (jeCnD)

156 So, when Rush spends most of his time playing audio clips from other media shows that mention him, a good word to describe this is:

Expected.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 28, 2016 01:22 PM (659DL)

157 I saw the Space Shuttle at Andrews AFB when I was a teenager. It was on the back of a 747. I think it had come from CA or was being sent there. That things was enormous.

Posted by: Jubal Anderson Early at January 28, 2016 01:22 PM (RdP/w)

158
[x] Does remember Star Spangled Banner followed by test pattern.

[ ] Does not remember Star Spangled Banner followed by test pattern.

Posted by: Bandersnatch, Opus/Bill the Cat 2016 at January 28, 2016 01:10 PM (1xUj/)

There's got to be a separate box for Vic:

[ ] Does remember Star Spangled Banner followed by hot date with Betsy Ross.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at January 28, 2016 01:22 PM (X6fMO)

159 It was my understanding that the astronauts did survive the explosion of the rockets but not the impact into the ocean. I'd have to read up on it.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at January 28, 2016 01:22 PM (4ErVI)

160 As I recall it, each astronaut had their own voice recorder. I remember after their recovery, some of the content allegedly leaked. Now, these may have been lies, but if so, they were well written and plausible, with the pilot insisting he could ditch the craft and the commander yelling at him that he had no control surfaces. And someone pointing out that Christine's (sp?) oxygen wasn't on and she was unconscious, and the commander saying let her sleep.

Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie!, with purchase of commenter of equal or greater value at January 28, 2016 01:22 PM (rwI+c)

161 Ladies and gentlemen...FRANCE, FUCK YEAH!!!!!

Lunch between the French and Iranian leaders is CANCELLED after President Hollande refused to take wine off the menu for his meeting with Muslim counterpart Rouhani

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 28, 2016 12:55 PM (659DL)

I couldn't imagine Barry the Fairy ever doing that

Posted by: TheQuietMan at January 28, 2016 01:23 PM (493sH)

162 [x] Does remember Star Spangled Banner being a new fangled hit.

Vic

Posted by: This is why Morons can't have nice things at January 28, 2016 01:19 PM (326rv)

Vic suggested "home of the lathe" for some reason, and Key rejected it.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 28, 2016 01:23 PM (659DL)

163 This thread is choking me up. Not only remembering the Challenger, but remembering what this country used to be.

Yeah. That's what hurts. "What this country used to be".

Posted by: rickb223 at January 28, 2016 01:24 PM (dnQ1L)

164 In the meantime, this is my first experience with in-flight internet.
This is $10.00 wasted! 20 minutes to get on line and all I can connect with is the Hoard.
I feel cheapen...
Posted by: Diogenes at January 28, 2016 01:08 PM (F7bMH)

Wouldn't advertise it. The hoard might put key words in bold caps for your seatmate to see.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at January 28, 2016 01:24 PM (vgIRn)

165 Posted by: OregonMuse at January 28, 2016 01:21 PM (WcCoO)

He's been on repeat this whole week. Good lord, we get it. Can't he talk about something else?

Posted by: Arson Wells at January 28, 2016 01:24 PM (UnJ7w)

166 Posted by: This is why Morons can't have nice things at January 28, 2016 01:19 PM (326rv)

Vic suggested "home of the lathe" for some reason, and Key rejected it.
Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here)

Of course......he didn't want to........change keys.

Posted by: This is why Morons can't have nice things at January 28, 2016 01:24 PM (326rv)

167
IIRC they allegedly had stuff hooked up to the astronauts that had their heart rate etc. Whether or not that would have continued transmitting after the explosion? Unlikely is my guess.
They were whole until they hit the water is what I always read.

Posted by: Tilikum Cruel Assault Whale at January 28, 2016 01:25 PM (uhftQ)

168 Wouldn't advertise it. The hoard might put key words in bold caps for your seatmate to see.

Us?

NO FUCKING WAY!

Posted by: Bandersnatch, Opus/Bill the Cat 2016 at January 28, 2016 01:25 PM (1xUj/)

169 This puts tears in my eyes for two reasons:

The loss of this courageous crew

&

The great President that we had with true leadership qualities, humility, and compassion for all.

Posted by: Cheri at January 28, 2016 01:25 PM (oiNtH)

170 I prefer astronauts that don't explode all over the place.
Those guys are losers.

Posted by: Trumpety Trump Trump at January 28, 2016 01:25 PM (QM5S2)

171 Met Ron in the Rose Garden in 1984. He looked exactly the way he looked.

Dark hair, rosy cheeks, and broad shoulders.

He was awesome.

Posted by: blaster at January 28, 2016 01:26 PM (2Ocf1)

172 The hoard might put key words in bold caps for your seatmate to see.

COME BACK TO BED DARLING YOU STILL HAVE $5 ON THE METER

Posted by: This is why Morons can't have nice things at January 28, 2016 01:26 PM (326rv)

173 Lunch between the French and Iranian leaders is CANCELLED after

President Hollande refused to take wine off the menu for his meeting

with Muslim counterpart Rouhani

It was the hill to die on.

Posted by: That guy who always says... at January 28, 2016 12:58 PM (Dwehj)

Cause Rouhani couldn't do what a normal person does when they don't like or don't eat or drink something on the menu and just say "no thank you" when the sommelier comes around?

Posted by: redbanzai at January 28, 2016 01:27 PM (OrI3J)

174 "followed by hot date with Betsy Ross.
"

Ugh, speaking of Betsy Ross does anyone else absolutely hate her character on Sleepy Hollow?

She is so bad. Soooo bad.

Posted by: Lauren at January 28, 2016 01:27 PM (Kqit+)

175 I was in 9th grade. I remember hearing some science teachers talking about it in the hallway. Soon everyone was talking about it. I didn't see the video until I got home from school. Later, I recreated the scene in a primitive graphics program for my Apple IIe, called "Take 1".

Posted by: Chris M at January 28, 2016 01:27 PM (k3w9p)

176 Wouldn't advertise it. The hoard might put key words in bold caps for your seatmate to see.

LONGBOW

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 28, 2016 01:27 PM (659DL)

177 Cause Rouhani couldn't do what a normal person does when they don't like or don't eat or drink something on the menu and just say "no thank you" when the sommelier comes around?
Posted by: redbanzai

It's about control.

Posted by: rickb223 at January 28, 2016 01:27 PM (dnQ1L)

178 Oregon Muse,
I've grown tired of Rush & look forward to Mark Levin. Levin will be off tomorrow.

Posted by: Carol at January 28, 2016 01:27 PM (sj3Ax)

179 We did the same when I was in 7th grade homeroom.
To watch the JFK funeral procession.
Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at January 28, 2016 01:21 PM (FkBIv)

As long as we're all exposing our ages, my 7th grade A/V cart experience was the successful landing of Apollo 13. Nice to have a happy event instead.

In the 70s, even more so than now, 7th graders were too cool for school and very jaded. Seriously, the 70s were horrid. Everyone cheered for this one though.

Posted by: stace at January 28, 2016 01:28 PM (CoX6k)

180 An open bottle of wine for a moslem is like uncovered meat to a cat.

Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie!, with purchase of commenter of equal or greater value at January 28, 2016 01:28 PM (rwI+c)

181 Seat mate is HAWT!

Posted by: Diogenes at January 28, 2016 01:28 PM (F7bMH)

182 yep, tears here for those lost as well as Ronald Reagan

Posted by: micky at January 28, 2016 01:29 PM (LBYzV)

183 I've grown tired of Rush & look forward to Mark Levin. Levin will be off tomorrow.
Posted by: Carol at January 28, 2016 01:27 PM (sj3Ax)

Same here. Let's get back to the issues.

Posted by: Arson Wells at January 28, 2016 01:29 PM (UnJ7w)

184
Ugh, speaking of Betsy Ross does anyone else absolutely hate her character on Sleepy Hollow?

Since we're veering off topic.

The show had a neat premise, and could have combined historical elements with the supernatural and action and mystery.

It wound up being the victim of crappy writing.

Posted by: This is why Morons can't have nice things at January 28, 2016 01:29 PM (326rv)

185 He was awesome.

In his youth he was a lifeguard at a state park along a river in N.IL. I *think* he saved 9 people from drowning.

Posted by: Brave Sir Robin at January 28, 2016 01:29 PM (5buP8)

186 #167 I was told by a junior enlisted member of the recovery crew that he understood they drowned.idk

Posted by: torabora at January 28, 2016 01:29 PM (1UbrR)

187 I remember Richard Feynman's epic takedown of NASA bureaucrats during the investigation.

God I miss Richard Feynman.

Posted by: Bat Chain Puller at January 28, 2016 01:29 PM (SCcgT)

188 DID YOU GET THAT RASH LOOKED AT?

Posted by: Lauren at January 28, 2016 01:29 PM (Kqit+)

189 Clean up on Aisle 170, please.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at January 28, 2016 01:29 PM (LUgeY)

190 181 Seat mate is HAWT!
Posted by: Diogenes at January 28, 2016 01:28 PM (F7bMH)

Pics or you are really sitting next to Pelosi.

Posted by: rickb223 at January 28, 2016 01:29 PM (dnQ1L)

191 >>They made the booster nose cones and aft skirts in Huntsville. I got to tour the facility that made them. Fascinating stuff.

We do business with NASA so I got to do a backstage tour of the Cape Canaveral a few years ago. Even got to drive along the road that the crawler used to carry the rockets to the launch pad from the hanger. It was also the road where the pilots used to race their Corvettes back in the day.

A very, very cool place.

Posted by: JackStraw at January 28, 2016 01:30 PM (Hxh2/)

192 In the 70s, even more so than now, 7th graders were too cool for school and very jaded. Seriously, the 70s were horrid.

Except for [name redacted] who actually stood next to me in the Honor Society induction in 7th grade. SHE WAS AWESOME.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 28, 2016 01:30 PM (659DL)

193 #184 The current POTUS kept over 9 sticks of choom from extinguishing themselves.

Posted by: torabora at January 28, 2016 01:31 PM (1UbrR)

194 I remember Richard Feynman's epic takedown of NASA bureaucrats during the investigation.

A glass of ice water and O-ring material.

Devastating.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 28, 2016 01:31 PM (659DL)

195 7 It was the beginning of the end of manned missions to space. We may never regain our courage, especially the republicans party leadership.

It's too dangerous, and the money would be better spent helping the poor and oppressed minority peoples.
Posted by: Sigurd Askr at January 28, 2016 12:39 PM (meisE)

A huge irony, I guess that, the technological leaps and bounds of two World Wars and the Space Program, made possible by evil Capitalism; have done more to alleviate more actual poverty, worldwide, than anything else.

Ever.

I overlook the Soviets because almost nothing trickled down to the masses.

Posted by: 98ZJUSMC Staring at the Lake in the rain at January 28, 2016 01:32 PM (WWdgA)

196 In the 70s, even more so than now, 7th graders were too cool for school and very jaded. Seriously, the 70s were horrid.

I vaguely remember being yelled at by the teacher for talking during the JFK procession so we were wiseacres too.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at January 28, 2016 01:32 PM (FkBIv)

197 DID YOU GET THAT RASH LOOKED AT?

WE RECEIVED THE LAB RESULTS. THE CDC, FBI AND RINGLING BROS WILL MEET THE FLIGHT, WHICH IS BEING DIVERTED TO SCRANTON PA. BECAUSE THEY DESERVE WHAT THEY ARE ABOUT TO GET.

Posted by: This is why Morons can't have nice things at January 28, 2016 01:32 PM (326rv)

198 Evidence recovered shows they survived the explosion. When the crew cabin broke away they were separated from their oxygen supply. Several emergency air packs were found and they had been turned on. They only supplied breathing air not 100% oxygen under pressure needed if the cabin was breached and were to be used for emergency egress on the launch pad. Activating the air packs would have been an instinctive act if they could not breathe.

Also some switches on pilot Mike Smith's side of the cockpit were out of position as he might have been trying to restore power.

Time of useful consciousness would have been measured in seconds seconds at altitude. The explosion happened at 48,000 feet and the crew cabin continued upward to 60,000 feet before falling into the ocean.

IIRC the crew most likely passed out due to lack of oxygen several seconds after the explosion and were killed when the crew cabin impacted the ocean. No one will ever know if any of them regained consciousness as the crew cabin fell into the dense lower atmosphere.

Posted by: Alf767 at January 28, 2016 01:32 PM (VtSj9)

199 Ladies and gentlemen...FRANCE, FUCK YEAH!!!!!

Lunch between the French and Iranian leaders is CANCELLED after President Hollande refused to take wine off the menu for his meeting with Muslim counterpart Rouhani

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 28, 2016 12:55 PM (659DL)

As Italy covers it's nude artwork in deference to muslim sensibilities.

Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at January 28, 2016 01:32 PM (fWAjv)

200 Pics ehh? Now that's a challenge.
Usually seat mate has SPIKE tattooed on his forehead from his last stretch in SingSing.

Posted by: Diogenes at January 28, 2016 01:33 PM (F7bMH)

201 A glass of ice water and O-ring material.

Devastating.

Yeah. The difference between educated and smart with two props on a desk.

Posted by: Bandersnatch, Opus/Bill the Cat 2016 at January 28, 2016 01:33 PM (1xUj/)

202 BOMB

Posted by: Soona at January 28, 2016 01:33 PM (Fmupd)

203 You have Zika??

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at January 28, 2016 01:34 PM (FkBIv)

204 A glass of ice water and O-ring material.

Devastating.

Thank Congress for that. Cost constraints (what a concept!) required that the crew and vehicle were expendable in the first two minutes of flight.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at January 28, 2016 01:34 PM (LUgeY)

205 Rush is going to play a sound bite that's not about him!

Posted by: Carol at January 28, 2016 01:34 PM (sj3Ax)

206 Where's the part where he apologizes to Muslims and thanks them for all their contributions to space exploration?

Posted by: RKae at January 28, 2016 01:34 PM (xiHNC)

207 BOMB POP...I'M EATING ONE

Posted by: This is why Morons can't have nice things at January 28, 2016 01:34 PM (326rv)

208 I was a high school English teacher at the time and was quite affected by the Challenger disaster and Regan's words. I remember we had been studying Auden's "Musee des Beaux Arts" and I was struck by the lines
"But for him it was not an important failure . . . a boy falling out of the sky" and wrote this poem in tribute.

Homecoming
In focused alphabetical detail,
fell fragments of a thought
that couldn't escape--
a plan exploited along unresisting seams
in an irony of Nature's complicity:
the land of sun
becoming the land of ice
meeting the frailty of metal.

The future sensed
a threshold collapse,
felt the gelid cry,
the dry soundless splash,
and swallowed a warm
wavering wetness.

It was an important failure:
a dream falling out of the sky.
--FK

Posted by: Frank K. at January 28, 2016 01:34 PM (niene)

209 As Italy covers it's nude artwork in deference to muslim sensibilities.
Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA

Remember when John Ashcroft was ridiculed for doing something similar?

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at January 28, 2016 01:35 PM (FkBIv)

210
Cause Rouhani couldn't do what a normal person does when they don't like or don't eat or drink something on the menu and just say "no thank you" when the sommelier comes around?

It's much more pleasing to watch the kuffir abase themselves.

BTW, I quickly saw a headline of the dog-eating crackhead saying, "I, too, am a Jew." That he wasn't instantly smited into a pile of cinders is a very good argument against there being a God.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at January 28, 2016 01:35 PM (X6fMO)

211 157 I saw the Space Shuttle at Andrews AFB when I was a teenager. It was on the back of a 747. I think it had come from CA or was being sent there. That things was enormous.
Posted by: Jubal Anderson Early at January 28, 2016 01:22 PM (RdP/w)

It used to stop overnight regularly at Kelly AFB in my town, on its way back to Florida. I only saw it from the highway a few times though.

My sister in law grew up near NASA and her parents had lots of astronaut friends, including Dick and June Scobee.

Posted by: stace at January 28, 2016 01:35 PM (CoX6k)

212 If only the West cared about its culture as much as the Frogs care about wine.

Posted by: Pappy O'Daniel at January 28, 2016 01:35 PM (oVJmc)

213 Posted by: This is why Morons can't have nice things

The steward...errr...Flight Attendant is not happy about having to get me a cloth to wipe off the coffee I just spewed onto my keyboard.

Posted by: Diogenes at January 28, 2016 01:35 PM (F7bMH)

214 "Evidence recovered shows they survived the explosion."

I had really forgotten about this debate, the crew surviving the initial explosion. I had always assumed they were killed/knocked out by the blast.

I guess maybe more "hoped" so.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at January 28, 2016 01:36 PM (LA7Cm)

215 >>It's about control.

Submission.
Making the infidels follow sharia law.

Posted by: Lizzy at January 28, 2016 01:36 PM (NOIQH)

216 192 In the 70s, even more so than now, 7th graders were too cool for school and very jaded. Seriously, the 70s were horrid.

Yeah, but even the Rocks seeped up more, knowledge by osmosis, from a stable learning environment, than these 'tards do today.

Won't even mention the leftist indoctrination that was still, some years away.

Posted by: 98ZJUSMC Staring at the Lake in the rain at January 28, 2016 01:36 PM (WWdgA)

217 I was in in 5th grade. And what I remember was about 3 minutes after everyone found out about it, the jokes were already making rounds.

What does NASA stand for? and so forth

Posted by: Monsieur Moo Moo at January 28, 2016 01:37 PM (0LHZx)

218 SHARING THE ARMREST MEANS THAT YOUR SEATMATE WANTS YOU

Posted by: This is why Morons can't have nice things at January 28, 2016 01:37 PM (326rv)

219 In the 70s, even more so than now, 7th graders were too cool for school and very jaded. Seriously, the 70s were horrid.

----

Maybe in your neighborhood!

My 1970s were amazing! Loved every minute of it! Want to do it all again! (And this time see Emerson, Lake & Palmer live!)

Posted by: RKae at January 28, 2016 01:37 PM (xiHNC)

220 Frank K @ 208 - thank you.

Posted by: Cheri at January 28, 2016 01:37 PM (oiNtH)

221 LIKE A VIKING

Posted by: This is why Morons can't have nice things at January 28, 2016 01:37 PM (326rv)

222 Remember when John Ashcroft was ridiculed for doing something similar?

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at January 28, 2016 01:35 PM (FkBIv)

Yep. And justifiably ridiculed in my opinion.

Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at January 28, 2016 01:37 PM (fWAjv)

223 Huh. So, 8 MILLION fewer people signed up for Ocare than was forecast. Unexpectedly. So, Obamacare will be a sinking ship, crewed by the chronically ill. Kept afloat by stuffing my tax dollars into the holes. The genius of these people.

Posted by: Brave Sir Robin at January 28, 2016 01:38 PM (5buP8)

224 http://tinyurl.com/gvmcwnd

Here is link that Faux News exec daughter works for Rubio.

Posted by: Carol at January 28, 2016 01:38 PM (sj3Ax)

225 Yep. And justifiably ridiculed in my opinion.

Seconded.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 28, 2016 01:38 PM (659DL)

226 218 SHARING THE ARMREST MEANS THAT YOUR SEATMATE WANTS YOU

Posted by: This is why Morons can't have nice things at January 28, 2016 01:37 PM (326rv)

WITHIN SEVEN SECONDS!

Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at January 28, 2016 01:38 PM (fWAjv)

227 198 Evidence recovered shows they survived the explosion.

_____

Wow. Is this actual "evidence" or evidence like steel doesn't melt.

Posted by: Monsieur Moo Moo at January 28, 2016 01:38 PM (0LHZx)

228 I remember them letting us outside at school to look at the smoke cloud and trail that was left behind. Whole thing was very surreal.
Posted by: Insomniac - Pale Horse/Death 2016 at January 28, 2016 12:51 PM (kpqmD)

Wow.

I guess this is the date yourself thread but I was in elementary school watching live. Scary thing for a bunch of kids.

Posted by: Lea at January 28, 2016 01:39 PM (lIU4e)

229 OK...letting down now into San Diego.
Later gang. Its business card time.

RIP to the Shuttle Crew.

Posted by: Diogenes at January 28, 2016 01:39 PM (F7bMH)

230 MINI MOO WANTS TO BUY EVERYONE ON YOUR FLIGHT A DRINK

Posted by: This is why Morons can't have nice things at January 28, 2016 01:40 PM (326rv)

231 Remember when John Ashcroft was ridiculed for doing something similar?

IIRC, he did so after the press kept running pics taken at angles that always included some interesting anatomy in the background. He finally got tired of pictures showing stone nipples poking him in the ear and just covered them up.

Never saw the pics myself, but that is what I heard later on.

Posted by: Grey Fox at January 28, 2016 01:40 PM (bZ7mE)

232
The steward...errr...Flight Attendant is not happy about having to get me a cloth to wipe off the coffee I just spewed onto my keyboard.-----Diogenes

Rusty on your Jive?

Posted by: Tilikum Cruel Assault Whale at January 28, 2016 01:40 PM (+aCe4)

233 Scary thing for a bunch of kids.

Pffft, running from the room panic stricken when told "America is under attack" would have been better for them. Or something.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 28, 2016 01:41 PM (659DL)

234 NASA flew the Shuttle Enterprise around Huntsville on the 747 transport two or three times before they landed at Marshall. Everybody pulled off the side of the road to see it.

I took a picture of BBoy^2 in his stroller underneath her wing when it was on public display.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at January 28, 2016 01:41 PM (LUgeY)

235 IF YOU USE LANDING GEAR YOU'RE A SISSY

Posted by: This is why Morons can't have nice things at January 28, 2016 01:41 PM (326rv)

236 IT'S BUSINESS~~CARD~~ TIME

FIFY

Posted by: Lauren at January 28, 2016 01:41 PM (Kqit+)

237 My 1970s were amazing! Loved every minute of it! Want to do it all again! (And this time see Emerson, Lake & Palmer live!)
Posted by: RKae at January 28, 2016 01:37 PM (xiHNC)

I had a blast. Lots of relatively inexpensive muscle cars available, fun fun and more fun.

Well, then ......Boot Camp.

Posted by: 98ZJUSMC Staring at the Lake in the rain at January 28, 2016 01:41 PM (WWdgA)

238 I have a question. Satellites require maintenance and sometimes need to be bumped back into a stable orbit if they are not out of their useful lifespan. Our shuttle program served that mission. Since we no longer send shuttle up to perform this kind of work anymore, who is continuing that work? Is it the russians? Do we have some clandestine program that continues the work? Serious question.

If there is no longer any satellite maint. being done, then are all future satellites just considered "disposable," and all current satellites are counting down to reentry?

Posted by: ChocoCheese at January 28, 2016 01:41 PM (OvUux)

239 223 Huh. So, 8 MILLION fewer people signed up for Ocare than was forecast. Unexpectedly. So, Obamacare will be a sinking ship, crewed by the chronically ill. Kept afloat by stuffing my tax dollars into the holes. The genius of these people.
Posted by: Brave Sir Robin at January 28, 2016 01:38 PM (5buP

______

Only 50% of visa holders leave when their visas expire

Only 60% of Obamacare estimated sign ups happened

Govt in action.

Posted by: Monsieur Moo Moo at January 28, 2016 01:42 PM (0LHZx)

240 229 OK...letting down now into San Diego.
Later gang. Its business card time.

RIP to the Shuttle Crew.
Posted by: Diogenes at January 28, 2016 01:39 PM (F7bMH)

-----------------

Don't forget to wave to the people on the balconies as you fly by.

Posted by: Soona at January 28, 2016 01:42 PM (Fmupd)

241

The steward...errr...Flight Attendant is not happy about having to
get me a cloth to wipe off the coffee I just spewed onto my
keyboard.-----Diogenes

NEED A BIB, GRAMPS?

Posted by: Pappy O'Daniel at January 28, 2016 01:42 PM (oVJmc)

242 Not a word about Challenger but TFG did send this out

http://tinyurl.com/zrc9rqu

Fucking twerpy little shit

Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at January 28, 2016 01:42 PM (fWAjv)

243 184

Is Sleepy Hollow that bad? Wife and I are binge-watching on Hulu and are a few episodes into Season 2. We like the historical stuff, which has a National Treasure feel, as well as the fish-out-of-water bits.

We needed something to watch while waiting for The Walking Dead and Supernatural to come back.

Posted by: Stu Podaso at January 28, 2016 01:43 PM (ufFCO)

244 New thread about guns.

Posted by: ALH at January 28, 2016 01:43 PM (JrKKc)

245 Huh. So, 8 MILLION fewer people signed up for Ocare
than was forecast. Unexpectedly. So, Obamacare will be a sinking ship,
crewed by the chronically ill. Kept afloat by stuffing my tax dollars
into the holes. The genius of these people.

Posted by: Brave Sir Robin at January 28, 2016 01:38 PM (5buP

They are running the Obamacare "please sign up" commercials ALL THE TIME on cable here. They have more than a whiff of desperation in them too. It kinda makes me happy that they are not only failing but failing spectacularly.

Posted by: redbanzai at January 28, 2016 01:43 PM (OrI3J)

246 @245: I've seen Obamacare "please sign up" ads here on the HQ, which is a catastrophic waste of taxpayer money.

Posted by: Ian S. at January 28, 2016 01:44 PM (znyNk)

247 Alf767,
Thank you.

Posted by: Carol at January 28, 2016 01:45 PM (sj3Ax)

248 "If there is no longer any satellite maint. being done, then are all future satellites just considered "disposable," and all current satellites are counting down to reentry?"

There is some suspicion that the X-37 is doing a lot of work with satellites from what I've read. What is anyone's guess.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at January 28, 2016 01:45 PM (LA7Cm)

249 Not a word about Challenger but TFG did send this out

http://tinyurl.com/zrc9rqu

Fucking twerpy little shit
Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA

Is that his Zika shot?

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at January 28, 2016 01:45 PM (FkBIv)

250 "Pffft, running from the room panic stricken when told "America is under attack" would have been better for them. Or something."

Well while we're dating ourselves...

I was in highschool on 9/11 and they made an announcement over the PA that "a plane flew into a building in New York."

So, of course, we all imagine some dumb ass crashing his small plane into a building like what happened a few years back. And we laugh because teenagers are terrible people.

Obviously that was short lived when we came to understand what really happened.

Posted by: Lauren at January 28, 2016 01:45 PM (Kqit+)

251 "Is Sleepy Hollow that bad? Wife and I are binge-watching on Hulu and are a few episodes into Season 2. We like the historical stuff, which has a National Treasure feel, as well as the fish-out-of-water bits.
"

It's not that it's bad, but rather that it's not as good as it could be IMO. The first episode was the best.

Posted by: Lauren at January 28, 2016 01:46 PM (Kqit+)

252 Emerson Lake and Palmer played Huntsville on the Works Tour. First show after they fired the orchestra, IIRC. Loudest sound system I've ever heard in my life.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at January 28, 2016 01:46 PM (LUgeY)

253 Thank you for reminding us what a REAL president was.

Posted by: Pete at January 28, 2016 01:47 PM (Uj126)

254 246 @245: I've seen Obamacare "please sign up" ads here on the HQ, which is a catastrophic waste of taxpayer money.
Posted by: Ian S. at January 28, 2016 01:44 PM (znyNk)

______

I watch a lot soccer on the Spanish channels and holy shit those ads are on every fucking commercial break. I'm sure it's only intended for US citizens and not illegals though since I was assured illegals were not eligible.

Posted by: Monsieur Moo Moo at January 28, 2016 01:49 PM (0LHZx)

255 Well while we're dating ourselves...

I was in highschool on 9/11 and they made an announcement over the PA that "a plane flew into a building in New York."

I had been at my current job for 12 years already. Watched the loop over and over.

Posted by: rickb223 at January 28, 2016 01:49 PM (dnQ1L)

256 Hey ace can we get some canine elbows up in here? i can't wait until tomorrow.

Posted by: Jasper at January 28, 2016 01:51 PM (3dOE/)

257 Nood

Posted by: rickb223 at January 28, 2016 01:51 PM (dnQ1L)

258 Weird thing with me when it happened. Most of you may not remember, but Voyager 2 was having it's flyby of Uranus at the same time. I had been watching and recording Voyager 2 since the Saturn flyby.

So instead of the local PBS station in L.A. covering Saturn, we now had the NASA channel covering both Voyager and the shuttle. I had been waiting to record the morning press conference for Voyager but NASA did the shuttle launch.

So as they started the countdown a little voice in my head said "Record this". So I caught it live on VHS. One interesting thing. The camera kept following one or two pieces of debris as they fell. I now figure they were trying to track the Command Module. And yes, apparently most if not all of the crew survived the initial explosion. That fact came out later.

Posted by: HH at January 28, 2016 01:53 PM (DrCtv)

259 Hey ace can we get some canine elbows up in here? i can't wait until tomorrow.

Posted by: Jasper at January 28, 2016 01:51 PM

Abe Vigoda's sock goes zombie, another takes its place. All is well.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at January 28, 2016 01:53 PM (bzd8I)

260 251

Thanks. We'll probably keep watching, does have a neat premise. We liked Forever as well, but it was round-filed after one season.

Posted by: Stu Podaso at January 28, 2016 01:55 PM (ufFCO)

261 #195 actually water from the broken heating system in the 10 story concrete apartment building tricked down on their heads from the light fixture above them.

Posted by: torabora at January 28, 2016 01:57 PM (1UbrR)

262 If the whole thing wasn't a big grandstanding ploy by the Reagan White House (teacher in space) and that the SOTU speech included stuff about her, and that thing was going to be in space during SOTU, that thing never gets launched that day.

I don't just factor in the administration's push. I consider the whole thing their fault.
-----
And Regan caused AIDS too, right?

Posted by: Ghost of kari - WAR at January 28, 2016 01:59 PM (xuouz)

263 Reagan was the first Manspreader. That half-wit alzheimatard started it all.

Posted by: ChocoCheese at January 28, 2016 02:01 PM (OvUux)

264 I went out to a bar with a friend that evening because we both needed a drink - we were shocked and upset by the news. I remember watching the footage over and over again while sitting at the bar and the really haunting thing was watching the expressions on the faces of the spectators, including the family members, go from joy and pride to horror in a few seconds.

I was too stupid to appreciate Reagan while he was actually in office. My admiration of him came later.

Posted by: Donna and V. (sans ampersands at the present time) at January 28, 2016 02:04 PM (u0lmX)

265 227 198

The evidence is two fold.

1) Oxygen consumption could be measured in the emergency oxygen supplier. ISTR an EEBD bottle.

2, The pilots threw all of the right switches for the emergency. It just was too much to cope with.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at January 28, 2016 02:05 PM (u82oZ)

266 Less than 5 hours after the accident he did this, 30 years ago today and then took off for Las Vegas to play golf and attend a fundraiser....Oh, wait.

Posted by: centralscrutinizer at January 28, 2016 02:10 PM (vI+F1)

267 I was in highschool on 9/11 and they made an announcement over the PA that "a plane flew into a building in New York."

I was significantly out of high school, and on the west coast I woke up after the fact. The people online were talking about this horrific crash and I was downplaying it, because the media always hypes things incredibly. Then I saw the footage on Fox or CNN and couldn't believe my eyes. It was worse than people were describing.

I was so enraged I could barely contain myself. I was playing EverQuest back then and had a really high level wizard. It was stupid and pointless but I went into a low level area called Castle Crushbone and obliterated orcs for like an hour straight to get some of that fury out of my system. Better that than punching random people on the street I guess.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at January 28, 2016 02:28 PM (39g3+)

268 >>>Remember when John Ashcroft was ridiculed for doing something similar?

He couldn't catch a break.

Had he left the statures uncovered, he'd have been mocked. As it is, he covered them and was mocked.

He'd have been better served my pulling a Trump and not showing up.

Posted by: An Poc Ar Buile at January 28, 2016 02:30 PM (bpn7O)

269 Something must have stirred up some dust in my office.

Posted by: flycolonel at January 28, 2016 03:02 PM (5hjXu)

270 160 As I recall it, each astronaut had their own voice recorder. I remember after their recovery, some of the content allegedly leaked. Now, these may have been lies, but if so, they were well written and plausible

Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie!, with purchase of commenter of equal or greater value at January 28, 2016 01:22 PM (rwI+c)

I remember seeing it in the National Enquirer. All I can say is if was a hoax, it was an extremely good one. It sure read like a real transcript to me.

Posted by: rickl at January 28, 2016 03:38 PM (zoehZ)

271 I remember where I was that day.
I remember that speech.

We lost fine astronauts that day but we had a leader.

Today we got affirmative action man.

Posted by: The Man from Athens at January 28, 2016 03:53 PM (ka+/x)

272 Such sincerity and strength. Gravitas. What a contrast to our current leader.

Posted by: Utr13 at January 28, 2016 04:22 PM (05FfA)

273 (Poem #1162) Almighty Ruler of the All
Almighty ruler of the all
Whose power extends to great and small,
Who guides the stars with steadfast law,
Whose least creation fills with awe -
Oh grant Thy mercy and Thy grace
To those who venture into space.
-- Robert A Heinlein

Posted by: Richard Aubrey at January 28, 2016 05:58 PM (lePNR)

274 Richard Feynman dicusses his service on the Investigation Board in part ii of his memoirs. ("What do you care what other people think...") Very interesting and that along with Volume 1 ("Surely you're joking Mr Feynman...") are worth a read.

I was a Freshman in Engineering at CU Boulder when this happened. What they launch in the commons after breakfast and before my physics recitation. We started walking out of the room after launch and Max-Q, and just caught the explosion as we were walking out. I relayed what had happened to the folks in my Physics recitation and they were incredulous. The teach showed up later and confirmed what had happen along with this quote: "I know a lot of people are upset about the astronauts who died, but I have friends with experiments on board -- now all their time was wasted." Unbelievable...

Posted by: Fritz (not Fritz) at January 28, 2016 07:15 PM (jpm+0)

275 I just had my first chance to rewatch that. Tears again. I remember where I was. I'm scared we will never have a President with so much class and warmth.

RIP Mr. President

Posted by: Infidel at January 28, 2016 09:27 PM (gB6T6)

276 http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/challengr.htm

Posted by: David at January 29, 2016 03:13 AM (D4jnm)

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