One of my jobs after I retired from the USAF was working with NASA on different projects.  One of those tasks was being on the launch crew of the last Challenger mission on January 28, 1986..

The Challenger crew:

These are five photo's I took of the last Challenger flight.

> On the way to the launch pad 2 weeks before launch (notice full-sized van at bottom left).  Fatal solid rocket booster is shown on right attached to the "external tank" filled with liquid oxygen and nitrogen.

> The actual launch.  Dark smoke trail was immediately identified by NASA experts as a "bad burn".

> Shot taken a few seconds after the final words : "Challenger, go for throttle-up".

>  About 2 minutes after the explosion (zoom at 15 miles away only on 4X).

> Finally, as the cloud grew I took this final photo.  Notice the position and number of the Geese - 5 leading and 2 following.  Since there were 5 male and 2 female astronauts on board, does this picture conjure up and thoughts?