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@jfmezei@mstdn.ca
January 28, 1986, 40 years ago. Challenger exploded during launch killing the 7 crewmembers. Ron McNair was set to record saxophone aboard the shuttle to be included into a Jean-Michel Jarre record. I
Network/IT guy, started work on VAX computers. Author of Petition to Governor in Council to overturn UBB decisions at CRTC. was/is jfmezei on Twitter. From greater Montréal, Québec, Canada, Earth area
mstdn.ca
Network/IT guy, started work on VAX computers. Author of Petition to Governor in Council to overturn UBB decisions at CRTC. was/is jfmezei on Twitter. From greater Montréal, Québec, Canada, Earth area
mstdn.ca
@jfmezei@mstdn.ca
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Jan 28, 2026
Our office downtown had just gotten cable and a big TV in conference room so took a few minutes to watch the Space Shuttle launch and to my horror saw it explode.
Not long after thatI had appointement to have a cast replaced and the folks at hospital didn't beleive me when I told then the shuttle had exploded. They didn't have any TVs at reception.
Without evidence, NASA quickly said all crewmembers died instantly in explosion and this helped justify not sending search and rescue tothe debris zone in ocean. But once recovery began, it was done with upmost secrecy and the debris was eventually burried and encased in concrete so the evidence could never be uncovered.
The thinking was that the crew cabin and crew survived the explosion but died when cabin hit ocean. Survival of cabin and crew would have contradicted NASA statements and this would explain why none of the debris was ever made public.
Post Challenger, crews had launch suits, and emergency egress added to Shuttles.
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