Challenger Disaster

[Monty3038]

It's been 25 years today since the Challenger disaster. I remember the day well, my Science teacher at the time, Dr. Nicholas Frankovitz was one of the runners up in the contest to be the first teacher in space. We watched the shuttle launch and disaster live on television in my school, as my school was also very close to Astronaut Judith Resnick's home.

One memory that stands out is how immediately after, Dr. Frankovitz petitioned NASA, both by phone the next day as well as in writing for many months, to continue the 'Teacher in Space' program and put him on, he was ready to go...

Though not as dramatic in imagery, it is one of my generation's flashbulb moments, one many people my age remember from their school days.

[a500lbgorilla]

Where were you that Dr. Frankovitz was teaching you the power of science?

I was not yet born for this.

All in all, if you look back at even the successful space missions, it's pretty incredible the sorts of bullets they dodged along the way.

[swiggidy]

I asked my mom how many space ships blew up because I thought the replays were new shuttles that were also exploding

[a500lbgorilla]

Where were you that Dr. Frankovitz was teaching you the power of science?

I was not yet born for this.

All in all, if you look back at even the successful space missions, it's pretty incredible the sorts of bullets they dodged along the way.

And beyond that, the list of people willing to attempt a 1-way trip to Mars, along with people like your teacher, is a testament to one of mankind's greatest gifts - our need to explore.