On this day, 25 years ago-Challenger Shuttle Disaster

[Feuer Frei!]

ON this day 25 years ago, the world tuned in live and saw the launch of the space shuttle Challenger go horribly wrong.

The seven crew members — including school teacher Christa McAuliffe — died instantly as the shower of flame and smoke filled the Florida sky.
ONE minute after takeoff, Challenger reached a height of 9 nautical miles, a speed of 2900 feet a second and was about a mile off the Florida coast over the Atlantic.
ONE minute 15 seconds after takeoff Challenger exploded.
THE fireball became a trail of smoke as debris showered into the sea.
"Vehicle has exploded... we are awaiting word from any recovery forces down range..." came the voice of Mission Control just over a minute after takeoff.

The other crew members were: Commander Francis R. Scobee, 46; Judith Resnik, 36; Ronald E. McNair, 35; Ellison S. Onizuka, 39; and Gregory B. Jarvis, 41.
McAuliffe, 37, was handed an apple for the teacher as she entered the shuttle. Her parents and 18 of her students watched the launch from the ground at Cape Canaveral.
It was the first in-air disaster in 56 US manned space missions. Three astronauts were killed in a 1967 launch pad explosion during the Apollo program.
The $1.7 billion shuttle was under full power when the flash of flames and smoke could be seen in the sky.
President Reagan was not watching the takeoff live but was told immediately and went to a television set to watch rescue operations.
The mission's job was to release and retrieve one satellite to study Halley's Comet and launch another to become part of the space-based shuttle communications network.
All data including the debris had been impounded.
The review board would include senior members of NASA. A formal board would be set up later.
The investigation would include the impounded notes of the launch team.




Let us remember that fateful day, and remember those poor souls who vanished that day.
R.I.P.