Previously Unreleased Amateur Video of the Challenger Disaster

[Cumulonimbus]

Rare film of the 1986 Challenger explosion, taken by Jeffrey Ault of Orange City, Fla., has emerged. It is perhaps the only amateur recording of the event on film, and online it has been made available exclusively to The Huffington Post.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...n_1333794.html

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[Billthegravedigger]

I remember when this happened. I was at home sick, and was watching it on live tv. As young as I was then, I knew that nobody survived the entire inncident. Even if they survived the break up of the shuttle, they would not have surrvived hitting the ocean from that great of a height.

[DiamondSmiles]

It happened on one of my birthdays. Sad day!

[BryanXavier]

Was the cockpit recording ever released?

[Cumulonimbus]

I recall coming home from second grade and seeing this on TV. I remember that day clearly.

Bryan, I don't believe anything legitimate has been released. I have seen a manuscript purported to be the last words of the crew as they plummeted to ocean (crying, praying, etc.), but I believe it was debunked.

[xstunt1ngx]

Originally Posted by Cumulonimbus

I recall coming home from second grade and seeing this on TV. I remember that day clearly.

Bryan, I don't believe anything legitimate has been released. I have seen a manuscript purported to be the last words of the crew as they plummeted to ocean (crying, praying, etc.), but I believe it was debunked.

Wouldn't they have died right after the explosion? imagine the heat as well, damn.

[Cumulonimbus]

Originally Posted by xstunt1ngx

Wouldn't they have died right after the explosion? imagine the heat as well, damn.

Actually, there are NASA reports stating that they likely could have survived the initial explosion, as the crew compartment was intact.

Check out this NASA page. Loads of information.
http://history.nasa.gov/sts51l.html

[Azimuth]

I was a junior in high school, I'll never forget that day.

[Billthegravedigger]

NASA said a coulpe of them did survive the explosion. They had grabbed their masks and put them on, and they could not do that if they were dead. The impact with the ocean at 200 mph got any remaining people.

[Cumulonimbus]

Ah yes, I do recall reading about the masks, now that you mention it. Thanks for the info, Bill.