Today is the 40th anniversary of the loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger, 73 seconds into its 10th mission.
I was working at the gym in Robinson Gymnasium at the University of Kansas. My job was to hand out equipment and launder towels. I was listening to the launch on KANU, the university radio station.
When the shuttle exploded, I was absolutely shocked. It was just after 10.30, so the gym was fairly busy with students and professors who had a break between classes.
As I stood at my counter with a stunned look on my face, people began to ask me what the matter was. I could only reply, "We just lost the Challenger with all hands on board." Within minutes, my counter was surrounded by people, listening to the radio, as we all attempted to process what we were hearing.
It is one of the few things in my life that I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when it happened.
Here is a video from Grunge explaining why it should never have happened.
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