[ADXA] CHALLENGER DISASTER

[Michael Reynolds, NO6O]

Hi Don,

Has it been that long already?  I was working at the Sprint 
Communications Network Management Center, in Burlingame, CA.  I was a 
telecommunications technician, troubleshooting problems on the network.  
This was back when it was necessary to dial a local access number to 
choose a long-distance carrier, other than AT&T.  It's also when Sprint 
completed their nationwide fiber optic system.

I happened to hear the announcement of the Challenger explosion on the 
radio, and called out to everyone.  Someone found a TV, and we watched 
the live reports coming in.

As for the Space Center, I used to be stationed at Patrick Air Force 
Base (now Space Force), near Cocoa Beach, in Florida.  I was in a 
tactical mobile communications unit.  I lived just down the coast from 
the Space Center, in Cape Canaveral.  I was there to see both Voyager 1 
and 2 lift off.  That was the thrill of a lifetime, considering where 
they were headed.

Also, whenever a rocket happened to explode after take off, our unit 
would be deployed to search for debris.

Michael, NO6O


On 2026-01-28 2:28 PM, Don Banta wrote:
>
> I cannot believe the time has flown so fast, but today is the 40^th 
> anniversary of the space shuttle Challenger disaster.  Perhaps this 
> might be interesting to some of you:
>
> Do you remember where you were and/or what you were doing that day on 
> January 28, 1986?
>
> It isn’t hard at all for me to remember. – /I was there/…… at the 
> Kennedy Space Center visitor launch viewing area, 6 miles from Launch 
> Complex 39-B.
>
> I was treated to one of the greatest thrills I’ve ever experienced.  
> Viewing a shuttle launch live is like viewing a total solar eclipse 
> live…watching on television doesn’t even come close.  Unfortunately, 
> that thrill lasted only 72 seconds.  Within 10 minutes of the 
> explosion, we were herded back on the bus that had brought us to the 
> viewing area from the Kennedy Space Center visitor center.  We were 
> then instructed to leave immediately as the base was being closed.  I 
> had just enough time to sprint into the gift shop and gather a few 
> items for mementos.
>
> Although the racks were already almost bare, I was able to secure a 
> Challenger button, flight patch, and packet of official NASA 
> Challenger photos.  The next day before leaving our Orlando hotel, I 
> found and purchased a copy of the Orlando Sentinel newspaper and after 
> arriving back home had the front page laminated to preserve it.  A 
> couple of weeks later I purchased the issue of People magazine that 
> honored Christa McAuliffe:
>
>
> 	
> 	
> 	
>
> 	
> 	
>
>
> 	
>
>
> 73 – Don K5DB
>
>
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