To mark the 25th Anniversary of the explosion of the Space Shuttle “Challenger”, I decided to share with you a paper that I wrote in high school two days after the tragedy. Because it was so long ago, some of the direct references to verify accuracy were lost. I have edited only to clarify the reading and some historical details regarding the crew.
Reaction in Remembrance of the Explosion of the Space Shuttle “Challenger”; January 28, 1986
January 27, 1967 6:31PM
“Fire, I smell fire”, Robert Chaffee reported to mission control.
“We’ve got a fire in the cockpit!” Second later Chaffee screamed.
“We’ve got a bad fire…let’s get out…we’re burning up” he yelled with fear.
Then a sharp cry was heard and then silence.
Nineteen years later, the space program was struck with its second tragic accident. This time, I’m remembering.
January 28, 1986 11:39AM
“Throttle is go…” said a crewman of the Space Shuttle “Challenger”.
There was a pause as the “Challenger” exploded.
Then mission control reported; “Obviously, a major malfunction.”
After several seconds; “Vehicle has exploded…we are checking with recovery forces to see what could be done” was heard.
Seventy-two seconds after launch and ten miles above the Florida coast, the United States Space Shuttle exploded with a crew of seven:
Christa McAuliffe, America’s first teacher is space
Francis “Dick” Scobee , Commander
Michael J. Smith, [Pilot]
Judith “Judy” Resnik , electrical engineer [Mission Specialist ]
Ellison Onizuka, [Mission Specialist]
Ronald E. McNair, Mission Scientist [Mission Specialist]
Gregory B. Jarvis, engineer for Hughes Aircraft [Payload Specialist]
I was shocked when I heard the news. It was lunchtime when S.T. relayed the message to us.
“The Space Shuttle blew up!” he exclaimed.
“Sure S., you’re joking…aren’t you?” We said with hope;
“No, Go see for yourself. It’s in the A.V. Room.”
I rushed to the library still in doubt. When I arrived there, I watched in horror as the television networks replayed the launch and explosion. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
As I watched, I began remembering what I’ve always been interested in since the third grade. I thought about memorizing the planets and looking at posters of rockets, satellites, and Voyager I, which went past Uranus two days before the accident. Then I recalled my sixth grade memories of watching live coverage of the second flight of the Space Shuttle “Columbia”. I kept up with the Shuttle Program with the first woman in space, the first spy satellite sent up, and Space Lab I, and then the first civilian in space.
The first civilian was on the doomed flight on January 28, 1986; along with the other six on the crew.
I really doubt anyone will ever forget what happened, but despite the accident, President Ronald Reagan put it all into perspective…
“We’ll continue our quest for space. There will be more shuttle flights and more shuttle crews and, yes, more civilians, more volunteers, more teachers in space. But, for now, we mourn seven heroes.”