[SlashDot]New Video of Challenger Disaster Surfaces After 24 Years

Assuming the crew module structural integrity failed, they would have lost conciousness VERY quickly due to pressure loss. However, the crew module is a pretty serious piece of design - I would find it hard to believe it was impacted. The windows might have been damaged, but even those have three layers of protection, and the middle sheet is ~1.5 inches thick IIRC.

The crew module continued to go up ballistically after the STS came apart.

EDIT: There was no real "explosion" - the large cloud was released hydrogen and oxygen, and at cryogenic conditions it does not really "explode" per say.

 

I was born in 86 so I don't remember this.. but I can relate..

I was a sophomore in study hall at CHS when 9/11 happened.. still remember the teacher and the people in my class....

 

I was in 8th grade when the Challenger accident happened and the Columbia accident happened on my wedding day.

 

Yeah, I was at a highschool with astronauts kids at the time. I remember our physics teacher running in crying to announce what had happened.

Very emotional to watch that video. "That's trouble of some kind, George."

There's a great memorial south of houston, near Friendswood -- a really calm and beautiful park, with elevated walkways out over these serene swampy wetlands.

 

I remember when it happened. I was in 3rd grade and the teacher pulled out the TV/VCR on the rolling cart. When it happened all the teachers started freaking out, I was shocked but not old enough to really understand the impact of what had just happened. It was a sad day indeed.

 

Remember watching this live in class as well...such a sad sad day.

 

I was in 7th grade. I don't think any of us really knew anything about shuttles missions or anything. The teacher told us that the Challenger blew up and a bunch of us laughed. The teacher got really mad (rightfully so) but it didn't register to us. We had no idea what that meant.
But yeah, it's one of those things where you remember exactly where you were when you heard about it.

 

I remember it clearly. I was older than most of you. I had just finished a night shift at work, and went to my girlfriend's house to sleep while she went to work. I was laying on the couch, casually watching the launch, when it happened. Needless to say, I was suddenly wide awake for hours after that.

 

i was being conceived.