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Readers Reflect on Challenger Disaster 40 Years Later
Memories of the tragic Space Shuttle Challenger explosion that killed all 7 crew members in 1986.
Jan. 28, 2026 at 5:47pm
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On January 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart just 73 seconds after launch, killing all seven crew members on board. The Kingsport Times News asked its Facebook followers to share their memories of that fateful day, with readers recounting where they were and how they reacted to the shocking tragedy that unfolded on live television.
Why it matters
The Challenger disaster was a pivotal moment in American history that shook the nation and the global space community. Forty years later, the event remains seared in the memories of those who witnessed it, serving as a somber reminder of the risks and sacrifices involved in space exploration.
The details
Readers from across Tennessee and beyond shared their personal accounts of the Challenger disaster. Many were students at the time, watching the launch unfold in their classrooms or at home. Others were at work or going about their daily lives when the tragic event unfolded on live television. Respondents described the confusion, shock, and heartbreak they felt as they watched the shuttle break apart, with some recalling the physical tremors and the way the explosion shook their homes.
- The Space Shuttle Challenger launched on January 28, 1986.
- The Challenger broke apart 73 seconds after launch, killing all 7 crew members.
The players
Deborah Mullins Collette
A reader who was 15 years old at the time and was watching the launch from home when the disaster occurred.
Rob Walters
A reporter at The Bakersfield Californian who covered shuttle landings at Edwards Air Force Base and immediately drove there to interview NASA employees after the Challenger disaster.
Randy Randy
A reader who was watching the launch from his backyard in Kissimmee, Florida and felt the ground shake when the Challenger exploded.
Wes Carter
A reader who was a high school senior in Hawkins County, Tennessee and was watching the launch on television when the disaster occurred.
Kay McKenzie Salyer
A reader who was an elementary school student in Lake Hamilton, Florida and was outside watching the launch when the Challenger exploded.
What they’re saying
“I was 15. School was closed because of snow. I was mad because my Dad wanted to watch the launch (we only had one TV). I was in the kitchen and heard my Dad say, 'oh dear Lord.'”
— Deborah Mullins Collette
“I watched Kingsport native John Palmer break into NBC network programming to report the news. I was a reporter at The Bakersfield Californian. My beat included covering shuttle landings at Edwards Air Force Base. I immediately drove to Edwards to interview NASA employees who knew crew members.”
— Rob Walters, Reporter
“It was a snow day from school so I was at my dads watching my step brothers. We were all just kids watching this terrible thing happen on tv.”
— Kerry Amy Trinkle Lee
“I lived in Hawkins County and was a senior in high school. It was a snowy January, so we were out of school that day. I was watching television and it happened on live TV. I remember the announcer saying there appeared to be a malfunction, but it was obvious that the shuttle had exploded.”
— Wes Carter
“I lived in Lake Hamilton, FL and was attending elementary school. It was a school thing to go out and watch the space shuttles take off, but this one was extra special, it had a teacher on it! We were all outside watching when we saw it explode and we all knew something [wasn't] right because that was unlike any other launch we had witnessed. When we all went back inside to our classrooms, it was all over the TV. A day I will never forget.”
— Kay McKenzie Salyer
The takeaway
The Challenger disaster remains a poignant and indelible memory for those who witnessed it, serving as a somber reminder of the risks and sacrifices involved in space exploration. Forty years later, the event continues to resonate, with readers recounting their personal experiences and the lasting impact it had on their lives.
