I was in class, and over the loudspeakers, the principal announced to the school that the Space Shuttle had exploded.

The principal was old, near retirement, and a little off. So I certainly didn't believe him. Space Shuttles don't explode. I thought it was like when you're overseas and on the news they say earthquake in Los Angeles, when it was really in Palm Springs or Bakersfield, somewhere hours away where nothing really happened.

My second period class was telelvision production, so everone in class ran to the tv sets as soon as the previous class had ended, and started watching the coverage.

No one could believe it.

This just didn't happen.

There's always dangers associated with bravery and exploration. At the point where we really start taking that for granted is when it comes back to haunt us. It's an amazing person who volunteers and spends their life training and working in such dangerous occupations, and I salute every one of you.