Since I was little I have always been fascinated by the Space Program.

My early interest was piqued by reading books like the one shown here: Rockets, Satellites and Space Travel by Jack Coggins and Fletcher Pratt

Later, visits to the Cosmospere in Hutchinson, Kansas fueled my interest.

I also saved newspaper clippings and other items about the Space Program. Today I decided to look at my collection for the first time in many years.

I resisted the urge to sit down and leaf through the entire collection. Instead I pulled out the first few pieces about the Challenger tragedy.

The Challenger Shuttle tragedy happened 28 years ago today. At the time I was in college in Dallas. I can vividly remember going down to the student commons between class and seeing everyone gathered around the TV screen watching the events unfold. It was a sad day and one that I will always remember.

My scanner is not large enough to give the big headline that was in the Dallas Times Herald the next morning.

The main headlines were:

Shuttle explosion kills crew

Seven die as Challenger disintegrates after launch

The main picture on the first page was provided by CBS News and had the following caption:

Space shuttle Challenger explodes in a ball of fire Tuesday, 71 seconds after liftoff from Cape Canaveral

It was the first of many clippings that I saved about the Challenger tragedy.

I saved many clippings about the investigations into the tragedy. I have a connection to one of the members of the investigation board, but that story will have to wait for a future post.

My Dad subscribed to U.S. News and World Report and he saved the issue that first covered the Challenger tragedy. I am having good memories as I type this of reading and discussing news with my Dad when I was in High School.

My parents also subscribed to Reader’s Digest. My mom saved an article that appeared a few months later, and added it to my collection.

I also get my interest in the Space Program from my Grandma. She also saved things about the Space Program and I have shared a few pieces from her scrapbooks in previous posts:

Moon Landing

Friendship 7

Sputnik

Even though I am remembering the sadness of the Challenger tragedy today, I am also having good memories of following the Space Program through the years.

Do you remember where you were that day?

Steven