They rolled a TV into our math class and several teachers and faculty came in to watch as well. It was definitely live for us, because we watched for what seemed an interminably long time (at least it seemed that way to my impatient 11 year old mind) as the commentators rambled on pre-launch. We saw the launch and thought the flames were part of it. We didn't really get it until a teacher started crying and ran out of the room.

Wolfram, you're only a year older than I am?? I thought you were older than that.

I also remember that the whole thing about the astronauts surviving for a few minutes longer than supposed was part of the public record even in 1986, because it's the only detail about which I had nightmares afterwards.

My memories of Challenger exploding are vague. Watched it in class, no idea if it was first run (unlikely in the UK). I mean, I can tell you where I was sitting in which room an that the TV was over there on the cart, but all I can recall of my responses is "Huh. They're dead, right? Huh. But she was a teacher, not an astronaut. That's not fair."

Gods I feel old. I was working at a press clipping agency at the time, was walking through an area, saw a TV showing the blast and went "what?"

I was monitoring taped radio broadcasts. Given the time delays of the job, I didn't receive the tapes for that until a couple of days later. There was a broadcast in the middle of the night before the launch--2 AM network feed--that said a routine measurement of the temperature of the boosters showed a significant difference between the two booster, showing that the main tank was leaking somewhere and spraying onto one of the boosters. NASA hadn't decided if that was sufficient to delay the launch but they were reluctant to delay again and have to deal with all the media harrassment. That was the only time I ever heard that piece of information, from a network radio feed that went out in the middle of the night.

Nutty, that's funny I always thought you had a couple years on me.

Unfortunately I remember too many "jokes" about the incident too.

I remember where I was when Reagan was shot, Challenger exploded, Rabin was shot, and 9/11. But I can't remember why I went back into the kitchen this morning, when it seemed so important in the living room.

Peeps - MI-5? Is A&E still planning on showing it?

I somehow expected it to be happening already.

I remember where I was when Reagan was shot,

My dorm room. Some guy ran in. No wait - that was John Lennon's death.

Challenger exploded,

At work, watching on the TV with Christopher Knight (aka, Peter Brady)

Rabin was shot,

Don't recall.

and 9/11.

Saw it first on my computer when I checked my email.

Not terribly clear, but what the hell. Whale v. Shark

Not terribly clear, but what the hell. Whale v. Shark

Heh. Not only do Orcas kick the great white shark ass, they do it as casually as a suburban Mom picking up a tasty snack for their youngster.

Watched it in class, no idea if it was first run (unlikely in the UK)

probably not, since it was probably late afternoon GMT.