The Perfect Focus
Finding focus in a blurry world…
January 28, 1986: Where were you?
Rich on : Thursday, January 29th, 2009We remember mission STS-51-L, the last flight of Space Shuttle Challenger…
Front row: Michael J. Smith, Dick Scobee, Ronald McNair; Back Row: Ellison Onizuka, Christa McAuliffe, Gregory Jarvis, Judith Resnik.
Where were you? Please share your memory…
I was 7-years-old, and likely in school that day. I remember the talk about the “Teacher in Space” and all the buzz that many of the nations schools had about this wonderful program. But at such a young age for the life of me I can’t recall if we actually watched the launch in school that day or not; or if we simply received word that something was wrong.
Share your thoughts, what do you remember, and how old where you?
Some Shuttle Facts:
- The Orbiter is 133-feet tall and it’s wingspan is 78-feet across.
- It has 2 solid rocket boosters, 3 main engines, 2 orbital thrusters.
- Each solid rocket boosters contain 1 million pounds of propellant and each provides 1,315 tons of thrust (at sea level)… They burn for a total of 2 minutes and 2 seconds.
- The Main engines utilize 603 tons of liquid oxygen and 101 tons of liquid hydrogen in the external tank. Each provides 170 tons of thrust (at sea level)… They burn for a total of 8 minutes. Maneuvering system engines provide 2.7 tons of thrust.
- Hottest skin temperature on re-entry 1,650 degrees Celsius, (thats 3000 degrees Fahrenheit)!!!
- Average shuttle speed to launch to orbit is 25,000 miles per-hour; Average shuttle speed in orbit is 17,000 miles per-hour.
- The shuttles nick-name on re-entry has been called “The Flying Brick“… Because the shuttle it self actually can not fly, it’s a glider.
8 Responses for "January 28, 1986: Where were you?"
Don’t hate me for this, but I wasn’t even born yet. 😡
However, I do remember where I was on Sept. 11th, during the sniper attacks, and when I found out my best friend died. Does that count?
Aww, you young thing… God that makes me feel OLD now.. Sorry about your friend.
Wow, I can’t believe it was that long ago but of course it was. I was in college. And I remember standing in our door room watching in shock as they kept replaying that awful scene where it blew up—and then the cameras panned the faces of the families, who were just realizing something had gone terribly wrong. I also know exactly where I was when I heard about 9/11 and when John F Kennedy Jr. died. These memories are burned into my brain.
Ah you are younger than I am. I was in 7th grade, and was watching the shuttle launch at school in Life Science. We really didn’t know what happened at first, but suddenly realized it was a disaster. I think it’s crazy sometimes to think we have been through two shuttle diasters, 9/11, Princess Diana’s death, Bombings, War, terrorists, and so much more than our parents saw. It makes you wonder what lies ahead.
I’ve thought of that as well, amazing really…
I was in the 3rd grade. One of the teacher’s from my school was a finalist so watching the launch was a big deal at my school. It was so crazy and shocking to see what happened and I’m sure at that age I didn’t really understand what had happened.
I was so in to space at that time in my life. I wanted to be an astronaut! Later that year, a friend of my parents’ gave me a picture he took of the Challenger just seconds before it blew up. It’s crazy to look at it – it’s so peaceful and serene looking – and know that just a second or two later it blew up!
I’m older than all of you – was working in a school that day – remember it well. The personal part was that my brother the rocket scientist was one (of thousands of) the design engineers for the Shuttle in the ’70s and ’80s. A great source of pride for the family. Much concern for him – did affect him quite a bit.
Now, my Hubby teaches at a Middle School named for Christa McAuliffe. Good of you to remember, Rich. Thank you.
Thanks Coley and Barbara… So many forget the past… A shame things like this barely get even a mention in school today.
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