Kai Ryssdal

Flight school, NAS Pensacola
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RT @RexChapman
January 28, 1986:

37 years ago today.

The Space Shuttle Challenger exploded.

I was in a civics class. Watching live. Will never forget it. Where were you?
https://twitter.com/RexChapman/status/1619551591505494017

Rex Chapman🏇🏼 on Twitter

“January 28, 1986: 37 years ago today. The Space Shuttle Challenger exploded. I was in a civics class. Watching live. Will never forget it. Where were you?”

Twitter
Jan 29, 2023 at 4:06pmWeb
Show thread🧢📚🚵‍♂️⚙📈☕Jan 29, 2023
@kairyssdal HS math class
Show threadWinnipeg Guy: Jan 29, 2023
@kairyssdal I was in a first year University class, prof walks in visibly upset and said the Space Shuttle had an accident, there would be no class that day…
Show threadBrian RieckJan 29, 2023
@kairyssdal German class in my senior year of High School. We were not watching live but they made an announcement over the school PA. We had a TV in the room so turned on the coverage immediately. When they first started to make the announcement I thought it was just going to be about a teacher making it to space but it became apparent quickly that it was very bad news.
Show threadPatrick McLaughlinJan 29, 2023

@kairyssdal

Working — tech writer — at the Morton Thiokol plant in Utah. Watching, along with hundreds of others who’d worked on it directly—or indirectly. And got blamed for it — when the failure was entirely due to *completely8 political decisions over the repeated objections of engineering management.

I remember people weeping in the halls.

Bean counters and politicians made that decision, and people died.

Show threadJordanosaurusJan 29, 2023
@kairyssdal I was in English class and went the bathroom. In the bathroom was a kid from the science class and they were watching live. I went back to the science class and watched for about 10 minutes, then returned to my English class. My teacher was concerned (and annoyed) but when I told her, she asked me to tell the class with her. Delivering that news to a classroom was intense. I don’t remember too much from the rest of the day, just all the face looking at me.
Show threadAaron K.Jan 29, 2023
@kairyssdal Was in high school at the time. Thing I remember the most was the never ending stream of appalling jokes mostly around Christa McAuliffe being spread all over the place. I hope high schoolers are better these days.
Show threadD. AddlesJan 29, 2023
@kairyssdal 4th grade classroom. Afterwards we were all crying. I remember not understanding why I was crying and someone else asking why we were so upset, “we didn’t know them…”. We were so young we didn’t fully understand our shared humanity and grief.
Show threadcoyotestardust 🇺🇦Jan 29, 2023

@daddles_sfo @kairyssdal I had literally the same experience (including having been in 4th grade). I was too young to really comprehend the risks of space missions, and I think I had an idealized sense of wonder about space and astronomy. I don’t recall if I cried, but I recall being confused.

When Columbia burned up in the atmosphere 17 years later, I heard it on NPR while driving, pulled over, and sat in a parking lot in shock while listening to the coverage. Definitely waterworks that time.

Show threadwiredogJan 29, 2023

@kairyssdal

Camp Hovey Korea with the 2nd Bde 2nd Inf Div.

Show threadMark StollJan 29, 2023
@kairyssdal Where was I? At work, I suppose. I didn't own a TV in 1986.
Show threadRichard K Jan 29, 2023
@kairyssdal I don't remember exactly where I was, but I was in high school. I don't think I saw it live. One of the relevant engineers, though, was related to two French teachers at my high school:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Boisjoly
Roger Boisjoly - Wikipedia

Show threadStephen SjolanderJan 29, 2023
@kairyssdal Commuting to work. I heard it on the radio.
Show threadBruce WalnJan 29, 2023
@kairyssdal I was getting a physical. The nurse had taken my temp and some other prelim things and I'd undressed. Then I waited and waited. I realized it was really quiet outside my room so I snuck a look and there was no one in the halls at all! I sat back down for a minute but then decided to get dressed and see if I was in an episode of the Twilight Zone. I walked out to the lobby to find everyone watching a large TV as they played and replayed the launch and explosion...
Show threadWillJan 29, 2023
@kairyssdal in kindergarten, watching live. The next day, I was the only kid who still wanted to be an astronaut
Show threadthereelrayJan 29, 2023
@kairyssdal pearsontown elementary home room
Show threadHudJan 29, 2023
@kairyssdal Economics class, Oklahoma State University.
Show threadChrispyCritterJan 29, 2023
@kairyssdal Charleston Naval Base.
Show threadB’Mal SujJan 30, 2023
@kairyssdal
I was a small child... blissfully unaware.
Show threadTrish McCabeJan 30, 2023
@kairyssdal Sophomore in high school, about to get changed for gym class. I couldn’t wrap my head around the idea that the shuttle had exploded. I thought people were mistaken.
Show threadthemitchcohenJan 31, 2023
@kairyssdal Pushing bolts of cloth and racks of dresses around the Garment District, walked into the lobby of a building for a delivery. There was a small crowd watching the launch on the tv at the front desk.