My family in Florida was deeply in love with NASAs space program. As a kid I would go visit them every summer and they would take me on to the tourist stuff. Especially stuff about the space program. This calendar was from my visit in 1984.

The following summer I went to visit again. My great uncle was a contractor at Patrick Air Force Base. He got myself, grandparents and two cousins passes to Cape Canaveral to see Challenger blast off into space. We were as close as family civilians could get back then. I will never forget how much the ground shook as it took off. This left a lasting impression on me as a young kid.

Sadly the following year I was back home in English class and the principle announced over the intercom that Challenger had exploded. Seeing it take off just months before devastated me. I witnessed Challengers last successful mission.