Challenger: The Untold Story

After seeing our first shuttle launch, I have developed a deeper appreciation for the space program and what NASA is able to accomplish; yet, while I stand in wonder and awe of our atronauts and the shuttles they skyrocket in, I realize that not all missions end in glory.

Getting ready to view the launch caused me to reflect on the Challenger tragedy and relive the moments just before and after the shuttle exploded. In my fourth grade classroom we watched in utter silence as the launch took place and we watched in horror as the screen erupted in a puff of white smoke. Even at the tender age of nine, it was apparent to us that all of the astronauts had been killed.

Below is a quite lengthy documentary on the Challenger. You can watch it in segments and I think it tells the story quite well.