Zoomer30 - 26/2/2007 6:54 PMI had never seen the CNN coverage of the Challenger 51-L liftoff. Back in 1986 we did not have cable at our house and by that time in the shuttle flight program the only place that carried it was CNN (and perhaps CSPAN). It seems more real when you see it "as it happened". I can say this: CNN has gotten a lot better science reporters over the years, the guy on the tape did not even seem to undertand what he was looking at.
Zoomer30 - 26/2/2007 4:54 PMthe guy on the tape did not even seem to undertand what he was looking at.
John Holliman, God rest his soul, did a great job of the launches, after Tom Mintier and Tony Clark. You could tell John was really into it. Miles O'Brien does a great job of filling his shoes.
Austin - 26/2/2007 9:50 PMQuoteZoomer30 - 26/2/2007 4:54 PMthe guy on the tape did not even seem to undertand what he was looking at.Seems to me he knew what had just happened -- he said that it appears the boosters had blown away in "some kind of an explosion."QuoteJohn Holliman, God rest his soul, did a great job of the launches, after Tom Mintier and Tony Clark. You could tell John was really into it. Miles O'Brien does a great job of filling his shoes.I was really sorry when I heard that Holliman had died in a car crash. I agree, he did do a good job. And don't forget good old (steady as she goes) John Zarella, who still does a good job occasionally helping with the launch coverage. I have to say though, that as far as overall knowledge of the space program, Miles O'Brien is the best.The best way to view a shuttle launch, aside from actually being there however, is sans media coverage as well as PAO. Just everybody shut up and let me listen in on the loop, and I'm a happy camper.
shuttlefan - 27/2/2007 6:47 AMYa, I DID remember John Zarella. I also like just listening to the loop. Sometimes the reporters don't shut up until the final seconds and I find that very annoying.... :cool:
nathan.moeller - 27/2/2007 6:29 AMMy friend Gary and I watched the STS-116 launch via FOX News
Austin - 27/2/2007 8:53 AMQuotenathan.moeller - 27/2/2007 6:29 AMMy friend Gary and I watched the STS-116 launch via FOX News My apologies!!
nathan.moeller - 27/2/2007 12:02 PMQuoteAustin - 27/2/2007 8:53 AMQuotenathan.moeller - 27/2/2007 6:29 AMMy friend Gary and I watched the STS-116 launch via FOX News My apologies!! It wasn't as bad as the CNN coverage I saw later. They were saying stuff like 'Now will the external tank separate with the solid rocket boosters gentlemen?' and 'Look at those boosters! Faaabulous!' Yeah...headache. You'd think they'd know it themselves and know that we know. That way they wouldn't feel compelled to talk. That's why NASA PAO is there.
gordo - 27/2/2007 10:21 AMI've got and hour or so of UK coverage from a few mins after it happend. Will dig it out and put it up in the next day or 2.Tim Furness got the cause spot-on a few hours later on a TV news Special, he picked up the plume from the SRB.
that many spectators where cheering as they thought it was a nominal staging event.
astronaut23 - 13/3/2007 8:47 AMQuotethat many spectators where cheering as they thought it was a nominal staging event.Thats pretty damn sad that people were cheering a launch failure.They hadn't paid very much attention to previous shuttle launches because SRB's don't just wander off in a Y shaped pattern from the nominal exhaust trail and they certainly don't separate from the vehicle that soon.At either rate its pretty obvious thats not a nominal event.