www.csua.org/u/vqh -> news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/first-amateur-video-challenger-shuttle-explosion-revealed-185802006.html
newly released video, taken by Jeffrey Ault, and licensed from Ault by the Huffington Post, offers a closer and more intimate view of the tragedy than have other video reports previously released by the news media. Ault was part of a live audience gathered to watch the Challenger take off from the Kennedy Space Center, less than 10 miles from the launch site. He shot the video on his Super 8 home video camera, and it sat for 26 years in a box in his house. "I was hoping to see an event that I would remember for the rest of my life," Ault told the Huffington Post in an email. Unfortunately, it became one of those long lasting memories for all the wrong reasons." The initial explosion happens at around the 1:20 mark in the video. And it's clear the spectators don't grasp what is happening right away, with one person in the background whispering, "Oh, that's beautiful," as the shuttle's contrails split in two and begin descending back toward the ground below.
Steve Nesbitt can be overheard announcing from the Mission Control Center: "Flight control is here looking very carefully at the situation. And finally, at the 2:50 mark, Nesbitt can be heard announcing that the Challenger has exploded. The Challenger accident brought all US shuttle flights to a halt and ignited a debate at the time about whether the shuttle program should even continue.
Accidents Happen," which garnered a lot of attention back then for addressing the accident in a timely manner. In the episode, Punky gives a school presentation on why she wants to become an astronaut. A devastated Punky is later consoled by astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who stops by to pay her a visit and encourages her to stay interested in the space program.
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Phoenix, Arizona o 8 hrs ago Richard Scobee was the flight commander, veteran of Vietnam conflict as an Air Force combat pilot and awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Later became a test pilot eventually being selected by NASA to fly the shuttle. He was one of the few pilots capable of flying the 747 that piggybacked the the very shuttle he would fly. He too was a Vietman era Navy combat pilot and also the recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross. Accident investigators determined that Smith managed to stay awake and lucid during, and directly after, the explosion detached the shuttle cabin intact. Electrical switches on his side of the cockpit were found to be moved into positions that indicated a courageous though futile attempt to restore power to systems. Judith Resnik was a misson specialist with a PHD in electrical engineering. She was recruited into NASA by Nichelle Nichols of Star Trek fame. Accident investigators believe Judith Resnik survived the initial explosion and had the presence of mind to activate the emergency air packs of two other crew members including pilot Mike Smith. Elison Onazuka was also a mission specialist but one with a fairly extensive amount of space flight time. Graduating with a Masters in Engineering, he went on to become a prolific test pilot in the Air Force. His previous shuttle flight time included military payloads. Investigators believe he also survived the initial explosion and possibly activated others emergency air packs as well. Ronald McNair was a mission specialist with previous shuttle experience. Graduating with a PHD in physics from MIT he was selected out of a group of ten thousand for NASA training. Christie McAuliffe was a civics high school teacher selected out of a group of over eleven thousand applicants after a nationwide competition. She was to be the public face and voice for the "Teacher in Space" program. Gregory Jarvis was a payload specialist with extensive experience in satelite systems for both military and commercial payloads. Just thought I'd remind that we lost an unbelievably talented group of really dedicated folks that day.
Galesburg, Michigan o 11 hrs ago I remember watching this live on TV at school in 7th grade. STILL gives me chills and goosebumps thinking about it... I can recreate the whole event in my head, though I haven't watched the video in YEARS - much like somebody who watched the Kennedy assassnation live on TV can probably recall, in vivid detail, all of the events.
Bowling Green, Kentucky o 10 hrs ago The points in History will always be burned into my mind . Kennedy assassination 1963 , Challenger explosion 1986 and 911 in 2001 .
Morgantown, West Virginia o 11 hrs ago Those seven astronauts were my heroes and role models. Commander Scobee and Pilot Michael Smith were highly decorated vietnam veterans before challenger. Thank you Mr Scobee and Mr Smith for your service to our great country and may they all rest in peace.
Roofus Ruckus o 10 hrs ago Remember how proud of our nation we were back then? Red or Blue didn't seem to matter much and we lifted ourselves above our differences for a greater purpose.
DoubleL o 10 hrs ago We could see the shuttle launches from Florida's west coast and were watching the Challenger go up during lunch break at work. We could clearly see it was not a normal launch from 100 miles away. I'll never forget it and can still see it in my mind's eye.
Tampa, Florida o 10 hrs ago I was in the 4th grade in central Florida at the time of this. The whole school was allowed to go outside and watch the launch of the 1st teacher in to space.
San Francisco, California o 9 hrs ago I was working at Lockheed at the time. It was the first and only time the speakers were used to make an announcement. Years later, I was one of the people who worked on analyzing the Columbia shuttle images/video during launch. but, with the complexities involved in the equipment, it's unavoidable.
I was not there, but my sister-in-law taught in the same high school Christa was from. In the aftermath, businesses closed, parents picked up their kids, and everyone cried. They had been so proud of Christa being chosen as the first teacher in space.
Harold o 11 hrs ago I lived and worked in Florida at the time and was eyewitness to that tragic event. I immediately realized what had happened before it was announced on TV. That memory has remained as clear as the day it happened. I had previously attended one of the Columbia space launches from the viewing stand located one mile from launchsite. At that time that was the closest the public was allowed to be.
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