Thu 9 Aug 2007
Teacher In Space
Posted at 13:00 +1000
Mixed emotions when I read this morning that the latest Space Shuttle mission had launched succesfully and reached orbit.
January 29, 1986, when the Challenger shuttle exploded was one of those moments when I'll always remember exactly what I was doing.
For people of my parents' generation, it was things like where they were when John F Kennedy was shot, or Harold Holt disappeared (not quite as distinct, even for Australians, since it wasn't a single moment in time in the end), or Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. For me, the first space shuttle disaster is a very powerful memory.
I was 15 at the time, living in semi-rural Victoria, and had been up during the night with a stomach ache, passing time in the lounge room watching television. Very quietly, since we had a fairly open house and it was 3:00 a.m. Fortuitously, one of the five television stations was showing the launch live, since it was such a big event, even in Australia (the first couple of shuttle launches and landings had been broadcast, but then it became "routine" and non-newsworthy). After the launch — the whole rocket blasting off thing still impresses me — and the explosion, I remember clearly thinking "did that just happen, or did I dream it?" Continued viewing convinced me it really had exploded and I was in a slight daze until the rest of the family woke up.
What I hadn't known, until a bit earlier this year, was that the designated backup for Christa McAuliffe — a teacher by the name of Barbara Morgan — remained in her role as designated "teacher in space" (Education Mission Specialist) and finally now has her chance to complete the job. 21 years later! Imagine the thoughts going through her head in her quieter moments.
So, here's hoping all goes smoothly. Accidents happen and in a risky business like space flight (attach humans to top of big explosive, stand well back, ignite) accidents and oversights are catastrophic. The post-mortem findings of Challenger are still useful as a number of lessons in engineering, management, presentation and PR techniques and, particularly, failings. Hopefully there are less distressing ways to learn those in the future.