If you're like me, you remember where you were 25 years ago when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded. I was in Mr. Wood's 9th grade science class. We were watching the launch on the TV. It was especially exciting because school teacher, Christa McAuliffe, was on board. What a shock & horrible surprise it was when the shuttle exploded! We were all stunned!
I remember President Ronald Regan coming on TV & addressing the Nation. I posted the video of his speech above. His words were so poignant & comforting. The ending line of his speech is something I've never forgotten. Talking about the astronauts he said they, "Slipped the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God". How beautiful! Later on in life I found out this is a quote from the poem, "High Flight", by John Magee.
Here's the whole poem:
High Flight
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air. . . .
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or ever eagle flew —
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
— John Gillespie Magee, Jr
I wanted to add this picture of the Challenger crew:
The Challenger Shuttle Crew
Back row, from left: mission specialist Ellison S. Onizuka, Teacher in Space Participant Sharon Christa McAuliffe, Payload Specialist Greg Jarvis and Mission specialist Judy Resnik.
Front row, from left: Pilot Mike Smith, Commander Dick Scobee, and Mission specialist Ron McNair.
Back row, from left: mission specialist Ellison S. Onizuka, Teacher in Space Participant Sharon Christa McAuliffe, Payload Specialist Greg Jarvis and Mission specialist Judy Resnik.
Front row, from left: Pilot Mike Smith, Commander Dick Scobee, and Mission specialist Ron McNair.
