I hear from Launch Control he vehicle has exploded. Thats the orbiter itself. The Shuttle Challenger has exploded. We must assume that the crew is not alive. This is unheralded in the history of the space program. Ladies and gentlemen, i have covered Space Shuttle launches since the very first launch, since before the first launch itself, going way back, and nothing like this has ever happened. [ woman screams ] it was a sad day for all americans. This was our space program. This was our national space program. And here they lost their lives doing it for our country. When i thought about challenger, i talked to michael. I said, you know what . Youre doing what youre doing, and im glad youre loving it and liking it, but you got a wife and two little kids here if something happens