Challenger / Columbia From C-Band

[dfergie]

As an early C-Band adapter I could pick up NASA Select... I picked up a VCR today in order to archive some stuff before the tapes go bad, came across this.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Wow, amazing find and the video looks well kept.

That was a sad day.

 

[dfergie]

It was a sad day, I was at work and had the VCR set, my Brother had to record the launch for me as they had a hold...

 

[Frank Jr.]

Sad day indeed.

 

[goaliebob99]

You should digitise it and put it up on youtube.

 

[lakebum431]

Very sad indeed.

 

[Bob Haller]

I still remember that day and what I was doing. Too bad that nasa didnt add a real escape system to the remaining orbiters, it would of saved the columbia crew, and the program wouldnt be shutting down now, heck they might have got funding to either build some more orbiters or make enterprise space ready.

 

[dfergie]

CNN coverage... YouTube - 3210andLiftoff's Channel

 

[Bob Haller]

I think NASA should build a nice memorial display perhaps at the apollo one pad, if the burned capsule and some wreckage of challenger and columbia.

something dignified and respectful off the beaten path

 

[navychop]

 

[Ramy]

I remember being in school wathing it when it happened. I think it was 6th grade and we had just got televisions in the classroon that year.

 

[Tyralak]

I was in 3rd grade and we were watching it too. I remember the teacher running over and shutting it off.

 

[dfergie]

Archiving STS-3 Landing from VHS to my pc...

Launch:
March 22, 1982 - 11:00:00 a.m. EST. Launch was delayed one hour due to the failure of a heater on a nitrogen gas ground support line.
Landing:
March 30, 1982 - 9:04:46 a.m. MST at Runway 17, Northrup Strip, White Sands, New Mexico. Rollout distance was 13,732 feet. Rollout time was 83 seconds. Mission duration was 8 days, 0 hours, 4 minutes, 46 seconds. Landing occurred during the 130th orbit.
The landing site was changed from Edwards Air Force Base, California to White Sands due to wet conditions at the dry lake landing site at Edwards. High winds at White Sands caused a one-day extension of the mission.
Some brake damage occurred at landing and a dust storm caused extensive damage and contamination to Columbia. This was the only mission to land at White Sands.

Space Shuttle Chronology

 

[Claude Greiner]

I remember when I was 5 years old and came home from lunch during school. I had a little glass table and a chair and was sitting infront of the TV eating my lunch while Challenger blew up. I looked at my mom and asked her if that was suposed to happen and she started crying.

As far as Columbia, I was on my way to a Satellite install (I can still remember the customers name and house) and heard it as it was happening on the radio.

 

[dfergie]

A Co-worker made it to that landing, I figured surely it would land in NM again... nope. (except for maybe on the 747 transport)

 

[rockymtnhigh]

Thanks for posting this Don. Some amazing images.

I was a senior in high school, I had just seen Challenger on the pad, three weeks earlier, when I went on a Civil Air Patrol trip to KSC to see Columbia launch (the launch did not occur, it got delayed) but we saw both Columbia and Challenger on Pad's A and B at the same time. It was the first (and last ) time to the two shuttles were on launch pads simultaneously.

I had a final exam the day the Challenger exploded, I got home from school early, around and it had just occurred. I spent the day in shock watching the footage on ABC, and preparing a memorial for a Civil Air Patrol meeting that night. I used RUSH' song Countdown (off the Signals LP) for part of it.

Lit up with anticipation
We arrive at the launching site
The sky is still dark, nearing dawn
On the Florida coastline

Circling choppers slash the night
With roving searchlight beams
This magic day when super-science
Mingles with the bright stuff of dreams

Floodlit in the hazy distance
The star of this unearthly show
Venting vapours, like the breath
Of a sleeping white dragon

Crackling speakers, voices tense
Resume the final count
All systems check, T minus nine
As the sun and the drama start to mount

The air is charged
A humid, motionless mass
The crowds and the cameras,
The cars full of spectators pass
Excitement so thick you could cut it with a knife
Technology...high, on the leading edge of life

The earth beneath us starts to tremble
With the spreading of a low black cloud
A thunderous roar shakes the air
Like the whole world exploding

Scorching blast of golden fire
As it slowly leaves the ground
Tears away with a mighty force
The air is shattered by the awesome sound

Like a pillar of cloud
The smoke lingers high in the air
In fascination
With the eyes of the world
We stare...

 

[dfergie]

I have STS 4 on that same tape, Launch & Landing... archived also (July 4th landing at Edwards, final "test" flight) ... watched of course waiting on the eclipse... Enterprise & Challenger were also there that day (Challenger on a 747 ready to be flown to KSC)

 

[dfergie]

Check out the fancy graphics... and remember those commercials?

 

[dfergie]

 

[dfergie]

Added the above video to this thread copied from the pub, the above was recorded on VHS the morning of the event from NASA select... I was at work.