25 years ago, the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after launch. The disaster had a profound impact on our space program and just about anyone involved in engineering and the way they dealt with risks.
The quote below from the Boston Globe summarizes some of feelings in America at the time.
Quote:
A quarter-century after the Challenger disaster, the memories are still clear for those who witnessed the shocking loss of seven astronauts.
At a time when space shuttle flights had become fairly routine, the Challenger mission was intended to inspire a generation of students by putting the first teacher in space. TVs were turned on in classrooms nationwide on the morning of Jan. 28, 1986 so kids could watch Christa McAuliffe and her six crewmates begin their adventure. A New York Times poll estimated that nearly half of the 9- to 13-year-olds in America watched the launch at school.
Their shared celebration turned to stunned disbelief 73 seconds after liftoff.
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