Challenger Explosion, Challenger Disaster, Christa

The Latest News About: City Still Mourning 25 Years After Challenger Explosion,Space Shuttle Challenger: Where Were You During Challenger Explosion,challenger, apollo 1, challenger disaster, christa mcauliffe, space shuttle challenger: Jon McBride, retired NASA astronaut, lectured on his personal experience and the life of late Challenger crew member Ronald McNair Thursday at West Virginia University in an event hosted by the McNair Scholars Program.

McBride, a Beckley, W.Va., native, was a friend and classmate of McNair during their time at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

McBride said he was watching during a training session on Jan. 28, 1986, when the Challenger tragedy occurred.

Four of the Challenger crew members were McBride's own classmates. McBride said had they been alive today and approached with flying another mission, they would have all accepted without hesitation.

"One of the things we found out on that day was that we were working people too hard," McBride said.

Provost Michelle Wheatley said she could remember exactly what she was doing 25 years ago when the Challenger launched. She was an assistant professor in Florida at the time, and she remembers watching the launch with some of her colleagues, she said.

"Of course, more than half of the people who are here tonight are under the age of 25," Wheatley said.

All seven members of the Challenger crew died when the spaceship exploded on Jan. 28, 1986, shortly after it was launched.

Challenger Explosion, Challenger Disaster, Christa