I was in fourth grade at the time. I remember one of the teachers running into the room and telling us. It was a very sad day for our community. We weren't watching when it happened, but I will never forget seeing the endless replays on TV when I got home that day. My father was friends with Ellison Onizuka, and my sister played on a soccer team with his daughter at the time. He also knew several of the other crewmembers.
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The seven crew members — including school teacher Christa McAuliffe — died instantly... ONE minute 15 seconds after takeoff Challenger exploded.
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I wish it had been that simple; it would have been better for the crew.
There was no "explosion". The SRB damaged the tank, which started breaking apart. The tank failed, releasing the fuel, which caused the fireball. It was more of a very quick burning of the fuel. The orbiter vehicle itself was not destroyed by the fireball. When the tank broke apart, the orbiter was turned sideways into the airflow, which tore it apart. The crew cabin separated from the rest of the debris, and subsequent investigation discovered that control switches had been moved from normal flight settings, and emergency oxygen supplies had been activated. At least some of that crew were aware there was a problem, and were alive when the cabin impacted the ocean.
to those brave men and women, of Challenger, Columbia, and Apollo 1.