Challenger Explodes in Flight

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Challenger Explodes in Flight Dining hall workers - page 6 VOL XX, NO: 7<}. WEDNESDAY,JANUARY 29, 1986 J an independent student newspaper serving Notre Dame and Saint Mary's Challenger explodes in flight; seven aboard presumed dead A.88oclated Pre88 astronauts who had gathered at Many cried after the explosion, Cape Canaveral and by millions friends hugged one another and CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Space more around the country who parents quickly cleared children off shuttle Challenger exploded into a viewed the launch on television. the viewing bleachers and aboard gigantic fireball 75 seconds after lif­ President Reagan postponed last buses. toff yesterday, apparently killing all night's State of the Union speech for McAuliffe's parents, Ed and Grace seven crew members, including one week and sent Vice President Corrigan, of Framingham, Mass., schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe. George Bush to the Cape to observe stood silently during the launch, arm Fragments of the SI.2 billion the investigation. in arm. A NASA official climbed the spacecraft, one of four in NASA's Reagan told reporters at the bleachers, walked to them and said shuttle fleet, fell into the Atlantic White House that "it's a horrible "the vehicle has exploded." Ocean 18 miles southeast of the thing all of us have witnessed. I can't Mrs. Corrigan looked back at him. Kennedy Space Center launch oad. rid myself of the thought of the "The vehicle has exploded?" she More than two hours after the sacrifice of the families who were asked. He nodded silently and the accident, officials said no announce­ there at the Cape and watching this Corrigans were quickly led away. ment on the fate of the crew would tragedy also. I can't help but think McAuliffe, 37, had been selected be made until all search-and-rescue what they must be going through." from 1 l, 146 teacher applicants to efforts were exhausted. But it Bush, after his arrival at Kennedy be the first to fly in NASA's citizen-In­ seemed virtually impossible that Space Center, said "today's tragedy space program. anyone could survive such a reminds us that danger awaits all The launch had been delayed cataclysmic explosion. who push back the frontier of space. repeatedly, most recently because No American astronaut had ever It reminds us that the great ad­ offears that Icicles on the launch pad been killed in flight before yester­ venture of space travel requires men this morning could harm the shuttle. day. and women of spirit and bravery." It was the first in-flight disaster in APPhoto The explosion occurred as Chal­ Among those who witnessed the 56 U.S. manned space missions, al­ Ablwe: The space shuttle Challenger blasts skyward seconds lenger was 10.35 miles high and explosion were McAuliffe's husband though three astronauts were killed before a huge explosion destroyed the spacecraft. Below: The Chal­ 8.05 miles downrange from the Steve and their two children, Scott, in a launch pad fire during a test - 19 lenger's crew pose in uniform before their last flight. From left to Cape, speeding toward orbit at 9, and Caroline, 6. Also on hand years ago Monday. In January 1967 right: Ellison Onizuka, Michael Smith, Christa McAuliffe, Francis 1,977mph. were members of Scott's third grade astronauts Virgil "Gus" Grissom, Ed- Scobee, Gregory jan1is, Ronald McNair, andjudith Resnik. See story The shocking spectacle was wit­ class from Concord, N.H., displaying rlgbl. nessed by family and friends of the a large "Go Christa" banner. see SHUTTLE, page 3 State of Union address rescheduled by Reagan which Reagan spoke, the president expressed confidence in those run­ WASHINGTON President ning the space program and said Reagan yesterday postponed the those aboard were aware of the risks State of the Union address he had they were taking. planned for last night and instead Asked what he would tell the na­ prepared to address the nation on tion's schoolchildren, who watched the space shuttle tragedy. this flight more closely than others "The president, like all Americans, because a teacher was aboard and watched this on television," many special projects were planned presidential spokesman Larry for them, Reagan said "you have to Speakes said. "He felt very keenly be out there on the frontier taking the emotion that must be felt by the risks. Make it plain to them that life families down there, who have must goon." watched this in person, and very Speakes said Vice President keenly what the American people George Bush and Reagan's national must be feeling. security adviser, Vice Admiral John "He consulted with the con­ Poindexter, interrupted the meeting greesional leadership, and the con­ between Reagan and senior aides to sensus of opinion of the executive tell him of the explosion. and legislative branches was that it was appropriate to postpone" the The spokesman added that "quite speech, his fifth annual address of frankly, the president stood there In the state of the union. almost stunned silence as he So, Speakes said, Reagan will watched the television." HPC discusses parietals survey deliver the speech to a joint session of the Senate and the House next Reagan had been scheduled to By ALEX PELTZER are too severe and none thought also be used in his presentation Tuesday. host a luncheon for television Copy Editor they are too lenient. to the CLC. Reagan had been scheduled to, in anchors and network White House •Only 4 percent thought that Another issue brought up at the words of one aide, "redefine the correspondents in the Roosevelt An overwhelming majority of reduction of minimum penalties the meeting was the ability of hall role of the government for the next Room near his office. But the prin­ Notre Dame students believe the would greatly hinder the obser­ members to have parties decade and into the next century." cipal anchors hastily left the White penalties for parietals violations vance of the parietals code, while restricted to those 21 years of age Speakes also said Reagan was House when they learned what had are too severe, according to tab­ 36 percent thought it would not or older. Stanford Hall President delaying three days of campaign· happened, and Reagan, after first ulated student reponses to the at all. Jim Crandall said that he had the style speech-making he had planned postponing his appearance, can­ parietals survey presented to the •70 percent thought that the okay from Vice Presdient for to buttress his State of the Union. celied to await further reports, Hall Presidents' Council last parietals code does not enhance Resident Life John Goldrick to President Reagan halted an Oval leaving Chief of Staff Donald T. night by Bruce Lohman. the growth of responsible young have a party in his dorm at which Office meeting with top aides when Regan to begin the luncheon Lohman, who is serving as adults. alcohol could be served. he learned the shuttle carrying the meeting late. director of the survey, said it had Lohman said that these results Crandall told the council teacher he sent into space had ex­ As for the impact of the explosion a total of 227 responses out of would "provide a solid support about the ability to rent out the ploded and stood in "stunned on the future of the space program, 500 polled. He said the survey to take to the CLC (Campus Life party room of a dorm. "Treat it silence" as he watched a television including future civilian participa­ was taken before Christmas Council)." Lohman is one of the like you're renting out a space off replay of the fiery disaster. tion in flights, Speakes said such break. representatives who works with campus," he said. "It's a terrible thing," Reagan told questions were "premature." The survey found that: the CLC concerning the parietals Crandall reminded the council reporters. "I just can't get out of my "I'm sure It will not affect the • I 46 of the 227 asked agreed question. of the rules for a "21 party." He mind her husband, her children, as United States' determination to con­ with the concept of parietals, Lohman also said the same sur­ said that every dorm participat­ well as the families of the others on tinue the exploration of space," he but... vey taken of rectors, assistant rec­ ing had to provide a bartender, board." added. •H3 percent thought that tors and faculty members had not In an account provided by an In­ "The United States has met adver­ penalties for parietals violations been tabulated yet but would see HPC, page 5 dependent News Network cor­ sity many times before in the space respondent who attended a lunch at program," the spokesman said. r----- r TheObserver Wednesday, january 29, 1986- page 2 r r Of Interest ND students make Noise The Wednesday lunch fast begins today. The about musical alternatives fast, which had sign-ups last week, will run every Wednesday until April 30. The fast is sponsored by the World Hunger Coalition.- The Whoever said Notre Dame was a cultural wasteland? The usual musical options offered to the Notre Dame Observer community-- the boring, predictable top 40 ofU93 and Dan "The Habit of Being" by Flannery O'Conner will be ZIP-I 04 -- are being challenged by a new campus discussed by Ann Kimble Loux of the Saint Mary's English Depart­ publication which features music most stations refuse McCullough to play. The Replacements. Black Flag. Husker Du. The ment today at 12:15 p.m. in LeMans Hall's Stapleton Lounge. The News Editor discussion is being sponsored by the Center For Spirituality, and is present.
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