Wouter Hindriks
Wendy NatherI’ve been afraid to watch a live launch ever since Challenger.
noplasticshower@wendynather I understand that completely. That was very traumatic to watch.
ADHDeanASL@wendynather It hits differently. Yet another generational scar.
Kiki Buber@wendynather And in this enshittified era there’s less reason to hope for a well run operation
Pauliehedron ✅ 
@wendynather I avoided today for that reason
Celia@wendynather same here. I remember it so well and where I was and what I was doing.
undeadI remember being in middle school class when that happened live on screen. Everyone was speechless.
Emily Gladstone Cole@wendynather Same, big time. But also I want to bear witness.
The awful dichotomy of wanting to support/be aware and wanting to protect my mental health.
Pseudo Nym
C.W. Williams 🇺🇦 🌊🇨🇦🦑🇬@wendynather
I was working alone in the lab, through lunch, when H walked in and said, directly, "the Space Shuttle blew up."
He was an inveterate prankster, so I said something like "Get out".
It was true, though. I watched the comprehensive coverage on McNiel-Lerher that night, so I was delay-traumatized.
The repetitive clips of the explosion, camera cutting to the families reaction in the viewing stand is still too much.
Columbia hit me hard too.
I was working alone in the lab, through lunch, when H walked in and said, directly, "the Space Shuttle blew up."
He was an inveterate prankster, so I said something like "Get out".
It was true, though. I watched the comprehensive coverage on McNiel-Lerher that night, so I was delay-traumatized.
The repetitive clips of the explosion, camera cutting to the families reaction in the viewing stand is still too much.
Columbia hit me hard too.
@TidalFlats I was in the office, and we were all gathered around an EA’s desk, watching it. We were all stunned and dazed.
TL Jordan@wendynather
I was in 5th grade. We had a school assembly. It was a Catholic school, so they herded us out of the auditorium and back to our classrooms, where we prayed.
I was in 5th grade. We had a school assembly. It was a Catholic school, so they herded us out of the auditorium and back to our classrooms, where we prayed.
I cheered so hard watching the "7 minutes of terror" for the Mars lander.
But it hits different when people are onboard.
Looks like about to release the t-10 minute hold. Everyone signing off on it.
Jon Martin, Ph.D. 🦕@wendynather Yeah. I stayed home from school that day, but got out of bed to watch it. Pretty sure that's the longest I've ever waited for my parents to get home...
(As a bonus, Columbia was on my birthday, while I was overseas by myself. So, yeah, I totally get it.)
@jon Oh, that’s awful … both times.
@wendynather Yeah... for everyone's sake, I think I'll catch the launches (and returns) on NASA TV after the fact...
Nix is Ready for Spring@wendynather SAME. Strongly.
Davie Duck@wendynather @adhdeanasl I have a friend who, as a journalist, covered the Challenger launch. She was with the families of the astronauts when the explosion happened.
Avi Rappoport (avirr)@wendynather I also happened to watch that live and it was traumatic. Was watching today with apprehension, but yay!