...Today is the 20th anniversary of the challenger explosion [AP]. Occasionally I talk to my co-worker Pierre, who was the staff photographer on site that day. He often says it was one of the worst experiences he'll ever had and it was a very cold day, even for January. He'll always remember the phrase "obviously a major malfunction", which was said immediately at the time of explosion.

I remember coming home from school in Brooklyn and hearing the news, more than the explosion I remember the kids in Christa McAuliffe's school and how excited and loud they were when the shuttle took off and quiet it was when it exploded. No tears, no screams, no noise at all, just an auditorium full of kids in complete shock.

Where were you the morning of January 28, 1986?

These pictures are brought to you by an longtime co-worker and a good man who has left us way too soon. You'll be missed Tony.

Tony Ranze (1961-2006)