[Porsche-O-Phile]

I remember it like yesterday. I had just gotten out of a midterm exam when another student told me "hey the space shuttle just blew up". I had a reputation as being an aerospace nut so I figured he was just yanking my chain for fun but I found out about 20 minutes later that it had actually happened (radio broadcast).

R.I.P. to all.

I've been by the "vault" on the way to the launch complex at KSC too (where all the wreckage is stored). Pretty sobering to see that with the launch pad that they departed from in the background.

Space travel - like air travel - is never "routine". It will always come with some degree of risk. As with air travel it's unfortunately through the sacrifice of early pioneers like the Challenger crew that gives us the knowledge and experience to make it safer (but never completely safe). NASA took a lickin' for it (and deservedly so!) and unquestionably learned a lot (just as with Apollo I and Columbia, etc...)