Forty years ago I was working for a litigation support firm in a high-rise in Century City. I heard about the Challenger exploding and rushed down to the bar & grill downstairs, where I knew they had a television.

Little did I know that a year later, almost to the day, I would begin working as a temp on the Space Shuttle Main Engine program, where I mostly did data input on the FMEA/CIL document (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis/Critical Items List) prior to the shuttle being certified to return to flight.

A year after that I was hired in as a regular employee. I accepted an early severance package and retired 23 years later. I’ve never lost track of the reality that such a tragedy turned into the best job I’ve had in my life. I still mourn the loss of those seven brave souls who were lost that day.

Rest in Peace:

Francis R. “Dick” Scobee (commander)
Michael J. Smith (pilot)
Ronald E. McNair
Ellison S. Onizuka
Judith A. Resnik
Gregory B. Jarvis
Sharon Christa McAuliffe.