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I was sitting in Mrs. Jackson's 8th grade English class at Ferris Junior High. I remember them rolling the TV's into the classrooms, and combining classes so that everyone could watch the news reports after it happened (We didn't have enough TVs to go around).

I think they made an announcement over the PA system as this was going on, but I don't remember the build-up. I do remember that we spent the rest of the day watching news reports and talking about in classes.

After all these years, I still can't watch the feed of that explosion without feeling an iron fist in the pit of my stomach.

I was student teaching Math at Richardson North Jr. High (my last semester in college). I don't remember if we started watching the launch, but we did roll in TVs and watch it for quite a while when we learned about the explosion. That was surreal day.

I was only 3½ years old. Don't remember anything about it from then.

Do remember the Exxon Valdez 6 years later though.

C-dub wrote:http://www.history.com/this-day-in-hist ... r-explodes

At 11:38 a.m. EST, on January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger lifts off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and Christa McAuliffe is on her way to becoming the first ordinary U.S. civilian to travel into space. McAuliffe, a 37-year-old high school social studies teacher from New Hampshire, won a competition that earned her a place among the seven-member crew of the Challenger. She underwent months of shuttle training but then, beginning January 23, was forced to wait six long days as the Challenger‘s launch countdown was repeatedly delayed because of weather and technical problems. Finally, on January 28, the shuttle lifted off.

Thirty years ago today I was sitting in my barracks watching this launch on the barracks television in The Navy. Where were you?

I was in the day room of the Bachelor Officer Quarters on Ray Barracks, Friedberg, FRG, where I was stationed as Assistant Operations Officer for 2/27 Field Artillery, 3rd Armored Division. I wanted to watch the launch, but the Armed Forces Network (AFN) was not carrying it. Leaving the TV on, I stayed in the day room and read a book. The quiet of the room was shattered when AFN suddenly switched to the explosion. The first image showed the smoke trails of the solid fuel boosters as they continued on. Confusion set in as my brain tried to interpret the images. Then denial as the announcer explained the tragedy. Finally acceptance as the day wore one. 2003 brought a jarring feeling of deja vu when Columbia broke up over Texas. Several of my soldiers in the Texas National Guard picked up pieces. Little pieces.

Astronaut is a dangerous profession.

I was off that day and was watching at home. Very emotional moment, a feeling of disbelief, helplessness and immense sadness.