Transcripts For CSPAN3 Reel America 20160307

[clapping and cheering] the First Teacher in space. 30 years ago, january 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle challenger exploded 70 seconds after liftoff, taking the lives of the seven crew members pictured here. Up next on reel america, a nasa report detailing the causes of the disaster. The conclusions are the findings released on june 6 of 1986. But first, the nasa video of the shuttle launch, followed by president reagans remarks to the nation from the oval office five hours after the accident. T 15 seconds. T 10, 9, 8, 7, 6 we have main engine start. 4, 3, 2, 1, and liftoff. Liftoff, the 25th spatial mission has clear the towel tower. Confirmed. Challenger now heading downrange. Engines have begun throttling down now. 94 . Normal throttle for most of the plane. Will throttle down to 65 shortly. Engines at 65 , three engines running normally. Velocity, out the two, nautical miles, downrange distance three. Engine is throttling up. 104 . Challenger, go at throttle up. Roger. One minute 15 seconds. Altitude, nine nautical miles. President reagan ladies and gentlemen, i planned to speak to you about the state of the union. Todays events let me to change those plans. Today is a day for morning and remembering. Nancy and i share this pain with all the people of our country. This is truly a national loss. 19 years ago, almost to the day, we lost three astronauts in a terrible accident on the ground. But weve never lost an astronaut in flight. Weve never had a tragedy like this. Perhaps we forgotten the courage that it took for the crew of the shuttle. They were aware of the dangers, overcame them and did their jobs brilliantly. Michael smith, vic scobee, judith resnick, ronald mcnair, allison onizuka, gregory jarvis, we mourn their loss as a nation together. We cannot bear as you do the full impact of this tragedy, but we feel the loss and are thinking about you so very much. Your loved ones were daring and brave. They had that special grace, that special spirit that said give me a challenge and i will meet it with joy. They had a hunger to the 2 to explore the universe and its truths. They served all of us. Weve grown used to wonders in this century. Its hard to dazzle us. But for 25 years the United States Space Program has done just that. Weve grown used to the idea of space. Perhaps we forget that weve only just begun. We are still pioneers. Today the members of the challenger crew were pioneers. I want to Say Something to the schoolchildren of america who were watching the live coverage. I know its hard to understand, but painful things like this happen. Its all part of the process of exploration and discovery. Its all part of taking a chance and expanding mans horizons. The future doesnt belong to the fainthearted. It belongs to the brave. The challenger crew was pulling us into the future and we continue to follow. I have always had great faith in and respect for our Space Program. What happened today does nothing to diminish it. We dont hide our Space Program, keep secrets or cover things up. We do it all up front and in public. Thats how freedom is and we wouldnt change it. We will continue our quest into space. There will be more shuttle flights, civilians, and teachers in space. Nothing ends here. Our hopes and our journeys continue. I want to add that i wish i could talk to every man and woman who works for nasa or who worked on this mission and tell them that your dedication and professionalism have moved and impressed us for decades. We know of your anguish. We share it. On this day 390 years ago the great explorer, sir francis drake, died on board a ship off the coast of panama. His great frontiers in his lifetime were the oceans. Historians later said that he lived by the sea, died on it, and was buried in it. Today we can say of the crew of the challenger that their dedication was, like his, complete. The crew of the Space Shuttle challenger honored us. We will never forget them, nor slipping the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of god. Thank you