A World in Pictures

 

This picture was taken on January 28th, 1986, the day when the Space Shuttle Challenger launched into space. 73 seconds into its flight, the Challenger broke apart, eventually disintegrating over the Atlantic Ocean. All seven of the crew members, including teacher Christa McAuliffe, were killed in the horrible tragedy.

Because McAuliffe was to be the first civilian to go into space, the audience for the shuttle launch consisted of almost everyone in America. When the spacecraft broke apart, everyone who was watching was taken aback by shock and awe. Even though I wasn't born at the time, I can imagine the emotions that onlookers were feeling at this tragic moment in history. There was so much excitement and anticipation that was built up around this event and the sudden unpredictable turn of events surely horrified and surprised those who were watching. When I look at this picture today, I see the smoke from the explosion and I think about the seven people who were inside of the shuttle at the time. Thinking about the loss of life greatly saddens me and it enables me to get somewhat of a feeling for what the viewers of the accident, the families of the crew, and the NASA employees that conducted the launch were feeling. For me, this picture provokes thoughts about just how precious life is. Even in the midst of something great like the launching of a space shuttle, tragedy can strike and lives can be lost. On this somber day in history, Americans were shown just this, and I believe that many were moved to view life as a very valuable thing and to not take it for granted.