@davidalanarnold: After 40 years, it still hurts to watch. The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster occurred on January 28, 1986, when the NASA shuttle Challenger (mission STS-51-L) broke apart 73 seconds after launch from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The tragedy killed all seven crew members aboard, including teacher Christa McAuliffe, who was set to be the first teacher in space. The cause was the failure of an O-ring seal in one of the solid rocket boosters. Unusually cold temperatures (around 36°F / 2°C at launch) reduced the O-ring’s ability to seal properly, allowing hot gases to escape, damage the external fuel tank, and trigger the vehicle’s rapid breakup. The disaster, witnessed live by millions, led to a 32-month suspension of the shuttle program, major safety reforms, and the Rogers Commission investigation that highlighted both technical flaws and serious organizational issues at NASA. President Ronald Reagan addressed the nation: “The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and “slipped the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God.” #NASA #SpaceShuttle #Accident

Tonga✝️ :

fun fact: i wasnt born then

🚘 :

So thats why this never lainches normally

at927 :

Ronald McNair, a Black Astronaut, who was a graduate of NC A&T was onboard.

FOODGUY :

I never heard about this until now

💜 :

Why is he so calm sounding?

Just me :

my class was watching

Cee :

Damn from the comments people have no clue there was a world before 2007

Iceman8386 :

86..senior year .. now we have à elementary school named in her memory and honor in my hometown

therookiez58 :

Wish the background music wasn’t playing.

blessednate :

I remember this like it was yesterday, I’m 56 now.

Christy :

I was watching it on TV I remember it

Tik Tok :

Why did Beyoncé put part of this audio in the beginning of “XO”?…

Logan :

I hope they’re ok

jinx96 :

Watched this in school. I was in 2nd grade then. We were all confused but we all knew what happened especially when we saw our teacher crying. The F'd thing was that school went on as normal, no teacher or administrator talked to us about it at all. I talked to my parents about it after school and I was so sad.

Whittney Burns :

This was devastating. Watching people die in Real Time.

jennamen197 :

I remember watching in elementary school. Our city built a jr high school they named after Challenger, Challenger Jr High School and we were the first class that went there.

Maria :

That was a sad day. Hard to watch to this day.

Ella :

"obviously a major malfunction" is an understatement

Peggyliuzza :

so sad

DeeC07 :

we still aint been to the moon 🤔

Sam Flores :

Greatest1ueverknw :

I was in 4th grade I remember watching it on tv in class

Deb Eckerd :

I remember very well

KingYat210 :

in class watching..I was so confused 😕