Personal Narrative: The Challenger Disaster

I vividly remember the day of the Challenger Disaster. I was five years old and in kindergarten. My teacher, Ms. Epton, brought us outside to watch the shuttle launch; something many kids have to watch on television, but those of us living on the coast got to witness firsthand. I remember seeing the fiery glow of the shuttle, the gasps by the adults, and quickly being hurried back into the classroom. Not much was said about what had happened, it was not until later that I fully understood.
Space exploration was magical for my generation. If you asked any child, especially boys, what they wanted to be when they grew up, many would proudly announce “An astronaut!”. That does not seem to be the case with the youth of today as our space program is not the glory we once knew. For the majority of Americans, the Challenger Disaster was just that, a disaster. After watching the documentaries and listening to the opinions expressed by both experts and those actually in charge of the lethal decisions in the launch, my views have changed. It is hard to imagine money and appearance were the driving motives to launch a shuttle with known complications. The fact the space program
It takes a strong individual to separate from the pack, and speak freely, defending their own ideals. The Challenger Disaster is a prime example of groupthink; although Thiokol made specific recommendations to halt the launch if the temperature did not reach at least 54°F, those in senior positions influenced the engineers, dismissed their concerns, and ultimately killed seven human beings. A common saying, “Go with your gut” applies to many facets of life. The engineers at both NASA and Thiokol knew there would be grave implications if the launch proceeded but lacked the scientific evidence to back up their recommendation. Ultimately, corporate prowess won, and the launch was