25th Anniversary of the Challanger Disaster - Where were you when it happened?

I was changing a car transmission in my cousin's garage. We found out when we came in for lunch. Couldn't work the rest of the day.

I grew up in Florida on the Space Coast... was in 11th grade and watched from the open air lunch area as (in my teen mind) "yet another" went off.. As soon as it blew we all knew what had happened as we had seen satellites explode mid launch before (it happened ALOT when I was a kid). Spent the rest of the day talking about it and processing..

RIP Challenger Crew

I was 8 days away from being born, so I was inside my mum's womb. My mum watched it live on TV.

I was listening to Howard Stern and he said a woman's place is in the home!

I came home from school with bad allergies and a mild cold, too. I was 15 and was cheered by being able to watch the shuttle launch and was so sad and I cried with my dad.

I was with my dad too when 9-11 happened. My rock...

Working in Sarasota Florida where it was tradition then that some of the employees would go out in the parking lot and watch the launch while listening to the radio broadcast. We went out on a cool crisp but clear morning. We could see the actual plumes even though we were miles from the launch site. I remember my friend and I saying the same thing that something was very wrong when we say the splitting of the smoke trails into that famous Y shape we all remember from the TV bulletins. Then the news broadcast confirmed the worse case that the shuttle had completely exploded. A terrible moment in a life that I will always remember.

I had just opened my old copy of the Necronomicon in my college apartment, at that exact second my roommates screamed that the shuttle has exploded. Never opened that book again. True story.

happened on 15th b'day so i remember well.

working
the boss had a tv in his office. everyone gathered around. there was an eerie silence, as though no one was breathing. the boss closed up shop and sent everyone home.

what a crappy day that was.

I wasn't Alive lol

I was at work. I usually went to lunch at 11, but I told my boss I was feeling really "weird" and was gonna go to lunch at 10:30 and if I didn't feel better I was gonna go home sick...I had NEVER missed a day sick (in years). I got to the cafeteria just in time to see the Challenger explode. Sounds odd, but I knew that was why I felt bad and the "weird" feeling stopped immediately. I wasn't even interested in it and don't know why it affected me.

"Challenger go and throttle up"

Phrase sticks with me to this day. I was out on a snow day watching it on TV.

RIP

I was at our local small meat market that also had a section of frozen foods.
The radio was playing music as I was reaching for a package of frozen corn on the cob when the breaking news came over.
They owner raised the volume and everyone stood there stunned while listening.
Went home and became one of millions who mourned their tragic deaths.
Every time I see a package of frozen corn on the cob I drift back to that scene of reaching for the corn.

I was asleep. Just like with Oklahoma City and 9/11.