Today is that day. I’m of the generation that was not quite old enough to have strong memories of the assassination of John F. Kennedy. It’s this moment that plays out for me still with throat-tightening sadness. The images of them walking to the transport vehicle. The proud faces of Christa McAuliffe’s parents in the viewing stands. The announcer’s voice saying “clearly a major malfunction.”
There is video of the brief flight out there. I’m not including it. There are also recent articles offering to tell you “the most horrible thing about the Challenger disaster.” I’m not reading them. So far as I’m concerned, the crew of the Challenger, like the crew of the Columbia and the men of Apollo 1, are still up there. They always will be.