—The Space Shuttle Challenger—
On January 28th, 1986, Mom, Nana, and I gathered around the TV to watch the launch of the space shuttle “Challenger.”
I had broken my leg in two places while riding my BMX bike and had to stay home and get homeschooled for six weeks.
My instructor had left for the day, and we were going to watch the liftoff and then eat Chinese food.
Back then, everyone was excited about America’s space program, and everybody watched the liftoffs. Schools would even bring the TV into the classroom so the students could watch the launch.
I remember being in the restroom trying to hurry up so I could watch the launch.
Mom had to help me in the bathroom because my cast went all the way up my left leg. So it was hard to change my diaper. — Spina Bifida, a diaper, along with a cast, did not go well together.
I remember my grandmother, “Nana,” hollering, “Y’all are missing the launch, T-minus 10 seconds!”
Mom and I tried to hurry as fast as we could. Then, finally, I washed my hands, got my crutches, and got myself into the living room.
Once in the living room, all I could see was a ball of fire on the TV.
I couldn’t see the space shuttle at all.
Finally, Nana said, “I think it blew up. Something’s not right.” I asked where the space shuttle was, and Nana replied, “It blew up, I think.”
The newscaster broke in and let the world know that the space shuttle Challenger had indeed blown up. My heart sank. I remember saying, “That teacher was on board.”
“Christa McAuliffe,” a teacher, was onboard and was supposed to be the first teacher in space. NASA selected Mrs. McAuliffe from over eleven thousand applicants to fly into space on the space shuttle.
Mom and I were silent.
Nana kept saying, “It just blew up.”
We watched as boats and aircraft went out to the site on the water, searching for anything they could find.
I remember the newscaster saying the area of the shuttle that the crew was in is like a container, and it may have survived. I believe the newscaster was saying anything he could to give us viewers hope — Anything to provide us with confidence that the crew had survived.
Hours went by.
We finally got up and went to eat Chinese at the only Chinese restaurant nearby. I remember that I got Beef with Broccoli. A favorite then and a favorite now. During the meal, nobody said a word.
That night, President Reagan came on TV, giving a speech about the tragedy.
We knew that all the crew had died.
I remember tearing up when I heard the President say, “they slipped the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God.” To this day, when I listen to President Reagan’s space shuttle Challenger speech and hear him say, “slipped the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God,” I tear up.
(I’m tearing up now typing it)
Tony, my brother, who kept up with America’s space program, came home from school with tears in his eyes. He said they had watched it at school.
Tony was visibly upset. We all were. All of America was.
