I was a senior in high school (yes I'm old) and my physics teacher gathered us in the school library to watch the space shuttle launch. At first I didn't know what was going on but the jittery camera angles searching the sky coupled with the uneven commentary from NASA control revealed that something was very wrong.
I can't remember the rest of the day. I think there was a general announcement to the student body.
One other thing I remember from the aftermath: some engineers were testifying in front of a select science committee on the flexibility of the solid-rocket booster O-rings in cold weather. On the committee was famed scientist Richard Feynman who simply took one of the O-rings, dumped it into an ice water pitcher on the committee table, and then applied a clamp. The O-ring was not flexible under those conditions, disproving in real time the testimony of the engineers present.
Debunked it right in front of the guy:
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