roberts@csd4.milw.wisc.edu (Timothy Roberts) (02/23/89)
I saw the landing of the Columbia at Edwards on July 4th, 1982 when Pres. Reagan gave his speech about the future of the U.S. Space program. The Columbia had just landed with Mattingly and hartsfield as crew. This was the "last" test flight (STS-4) of the shuttle. Reagan addressed the crowd from the wing of the Enterprise flanked by the newly earthbound crew. As a Hollywood touch he gave the go for the 747 with the spanking new Challenger on the back to take off for Florida. The crowd drowned out his speech as the crafts flew by. I watched the pair circle the 14 mile long dry lake bed for a second pass as the President spoke on. At the perfect moment he said "Let us watch as Challenger begins her flight into the future." The 747 went by only hundreds of feet away and above the deck. Then the pilot stood that 747 on its starboard wing - I mean a complete 90 degree roll! - and the only thing visible was the Challenger on its back! I suddenly realized the entire crowd was screaming - for joy. I cried it was so un- believable. The pair leveled out and disappeared into the sky over Cali- fornia. I will never forget that day. The tears I shed that day were beaten only by the hours spent crying after watching her destroyed. No single events have affected my life so. Watching Apollo 11 land wasn't close. Which brings me to my point - The Irish gentleman who posted the sophomoric Challenger joke last week needs to consider others before he speaks his petty mind. I could discuss in a light fashion the Irish killed by terrorist each month but will let the gravity of the topic speak for itself. Thank you for listening, Timothy Patrick Phillip Roberts a serious irish american
csvon@mtsu.UUCP (Von Hall) (02/25/89)
From another fellow challenger follower, and lover.....Thank you for posting an article with some sensitivity for the readers of the net that are repulsed by the joke that was posted. It got an A for insesitivity but an F for taste. Von Hall Computer Science MTSU