It was 11:38 am on January 28^th 1986, when the Challenger space craft finally took off from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., after its 3 day delay.  The 7 people on board where anxious to be going, but 73 seconds after take off the space shuttle started having problems and plumes of smoke started coming out of its side.  Suddenly, without warning, the Challenger erupted into a fireball and exploded into the ocean leaving the startled viewers trying to absorb the devastation that just took place. 

After a 2 hour delay caused by ice and a failed fire-protection device, the Challenger was finally prepared to go on its 10^th mission into space.  All who where watching hushed into momentary silence as if not to disrupt the take off of the space shuttle.