Space Shuttle Challenger wreckage found

A large section of the ill-fated shuttle, which exploded in 1986, has been found in the Atlantic. ABC’s Andrea Fujii has the video and reaction from NASA.

[derrickleachman]

I was in middle school when the Challenger exploded. I really felt bad for our social studies teacher, Mr. Shelton. For weeks before the launch, it was all he talked about and he wanted his students to have the same enthusiasm as he did. He had reserved a TV from the library weeks in advance for the event, and on the day of the launch, our class watched in horror as the shuttle exploded. Mr. Shelton was devastated and he was never the same for the remainder of the year.

[joekev]

The worst part about the Challenger incident is finding out the crew most likely didn't die in the explosion. I believe there is evidence the crew survived the explosion and tried to activate some emergency oxygen or other energy systems before the capsule hit the ground ultimately killing the crew.

[sidewinder]

I will never forget those Astronauts. I was a kid watching this in school. It exploded at exactly 11:36 AM. I cried for so long and it still breaks my heart.

[Layuth]

Lost a friend of my family in that disaster. My grandfather worked with and was close friends of the father of Judith Resnik. RIP to them all.

[damilkk]

I can't imagine what this was like being a school child and watching the challenger crash in real time. Must have been surreal

[kennethiman]

An engineer warned them it was too cold to launch. Management was not held accountable. This was not an accident. This was negligence.

[farmcat]

"The O-ring will not function at that temperature!" That's one of my favorite lines to use in engineering discussions when someone is planning something disastrous.

[tomrodgers]

I remember exactly where I was when it happened. It is one of those things that sticks with you for life. R.I.P. crew.

[TGOPoma]

I heard from a friend of mine who was present that day that the man next to him at that launchpad saw the explosion, turned to him, and said "We just watched 7 people die."

He said to this day that sentence chills him to his core.

[jeffalvich]

Let's just straighten out some facts. To start with this was no accident which was caused by unforeseen engineering. Both my wife and myself worked at Hughes aircraft at the time which is also where Dr Jarvis and the other physicist from Hughes Research Labs in Malibu we're on board also.

My father was the engineer who designed the o-rings in those rockets back in the fifties and knew the limitations on those rockets engines.

The morning of the launch I called home asked if my mom and dad were watching the launch, my mom said and I quote,

"Your father is hot footing it around this house"

In the background I could hear my dad, and I quote,

"They're not going to launch, they're not going to launch it's too cold, it's too damn cold"

My dad was one of the engineers who Dr Malcolm Curry called to get his input on the launch Dr Curry was president at that time of Hughes Aircraft Company and had been asked by the POTUS to lead the accident investigation.

My dad now long retired, drove to El Segundo California to speak with a handful of the engineers who were just beginning to assemble the investigation. To quote my dad,

"You don't need me, we all know what happened and why it happened"

I'm paraphrasing here, but having watched both internally and externally of what went on at NASA, it was

"Power, Greed and an Untenable launch schedule that failed to take into consideration external impactors"

This is something that the launch director and the NASA administrators will have to live with the rest of their lives and unfortunately hundreds of people are living with the impacts of their decision

Enough said

[casanovafrankenstein]

I'll never forget, it was winter, 1986, I was home from school for the week due to a bad case of chicken pox and my mom was home also, recovering from minor surgery. I just remember being upstairs and hearing this loud cry, I ran down to see if she was OK and then I realized what had happened, the shuttle had just exploded. I'll never forget that and how upset my mom was.

[carsilk]

My sister's elementary school was named Challenger after this shuttle, and it was one of the first disasters I learned about as a little kid. What a way to go. Decades later I was going to school in Orlando and one of my instructors had us all go out side to catch a small glimpse of STS-135 after launch, and as it was NASA's final mission we were all a little bummed. I really hope we can find a way to reach further out. There doesn't seem to be enough exploration lately.

[tsgorman]

01:13 I was a 7th grade student when this happened. The voiceover refers to "Six astronauts and one teacher"...Lets give Christa Mcauliffe the respect she deserves and call her an Astronaut as well.

[kathyjuneart]

RIP. I remember this vividly and still think of it from time-to-time. I was 12 and all the kids were very interested in the space program. I was home sick that day and watched live for hours. I cried. We all did that day.

[ROOKTABULA]

1:22 It wasn't a _sacrifice, _ it was an avoidable disaster created by callous beuracracy.

[brycechristensen]

One of my clearest early memories. I was in 2nd grade. I remember watching the launch in the school media center, and quietly walking back to class. I remember the librarian being very emotional. I remember wondering if the astronauts had parachutes.

[stereodreamer]

I was a Junior in college when this happened. It was the only time in my entire education, when I intentionally skipped class. A bunch of us skipped class to watch it in our dorm. A bunch of us guys (mostly STEM majors) were all sitting around the TV, with chips and soda, making a little party of it, and then the explosion happened. We were all completely dumbfounded and in shock. I think we all cried a little when we realized what had happened. It was devastating to everyone...

[timadams]

I was at the Challenger launch, the video most folks have seen was filmed by a student from our college who was standing beside me at the time. It's hard to believe it's been 36 years since.

[CrystalTwinStar]

I was a senior in high school and our class was called to the library to watch the coverage.
I was forever impacted. I never forgot the date and have thought of them every single year.
🙏🙏🙏

[dbt]

They all knew about it too. Cheap bastards knew the seals couldn’t perform in the cold.