I came across this video on the AOL/Netscape news scan – yes I know I am one of the eight or so people who still go to that site. Anyway, it is pretty interesting, but I don’t know who this guy is or if this is a hoax or for real. I will let you decide.
I was in the Air Force when the Challenger exploded. We were all out in front of base operations for a dress inspection, oddly the only one we had in Hawaii during my nearly six years stationed there. For those not in the military, dress inspection is no fun. You stand at attention for hours as senior officers walk by each of your units trying to find something wrong with the way you are dressed. If you stand properly at attention for ten minutes you will pass out. You lock your legs at the knees and blood stops flowing. So for an hour or two you try to look like you are not moving, while slightly moving your knees back in forth. If you pass out, which people always do, you get in big trouble.
The General was just starting his walk-through inspection when everyone stopped. They announced on the loudspeaker that the Challenger had exploded with no survivors. We did a five minute period of silence, and the rest of the inspection was canceled. I had friends in the Air Force’s First Space Command. They worked with NASA on the shuttle back then, so this story kind of rings true to me. Unlike the reporter, I like the fact we have unmanned weapons and observation platforms in space in case things get out of hand with our fellow nations. Better to the be the windshield than the bug.
Michael Bradley - Time Traveler 