The vast majority of people did not watch the Challenger explosion as it was only available to watch live via satellite. So when Gen Xers say that, it’s either a false memory or they went to some insanely expensive private school.
Replies
Nice try, Mandala! I see you and your Rick Sanchez dimension hopping.
apr 20, 2025, 3:22 pm • 0 0 • view
Those false memories must have formed pretty quickly, because an article written the month after the disaster mentions 2.5 million children watching the satellite broadcast and that it was carried live on cable. www.edweek.org/leadership/t...
apr 20, 2025, 4:46 am • 3 0 • view
Yes, I said people watched it via satellite. 2.5 million sounds like a lot but only 5 percent of Americans saw it live. As for false memories forming quickly, I feel compelled to point out another touchstone of Gen X: the McMartin Preschool.
apr 20, 2025, 1:44 pm • 0 0 • view
They likely didn’t watch the Challenger explosion live (unless they were at school that arranged for the satellite broadcast), but news channels did show replays of it after it happened. They most likely watched the replay and misremembered it.
apr 20, 2025, 2:45 am • 6 0 • view
I knew someone who said the principal announced it over the intercom. I’m sure hearing that was shocking and they imagined what it looked like, which would probably be more horrifying than watching the actual footage.
apr 20, 2025, 3:40 am • 2 0 • view
No. All they needed was cable TV service. Very common even in those days.
apr 20, 2025, 3:01 pm • 0 0 • view