Among the hundreds of journalists present at last week's ill-fated launch of the space shuttle Challenger were two veteran TIME space watchers: Correspondent Jerry Hannifin and Photographer Ralph Morse. Between them they have logged nearly six decades covering the U.S. space program. As Morse peered through his telephoto lens at the swiftly rising Challenger, he remarked that the lift-off appeared sluggish. "Don't kid yourself," said Morse. "They're in trouble up there."
As the eerily silent orange-yellow blossom of flame suddenly appeared above them, Morse frantically searched through his lens for the speck that might be the separating shuttle, headed for an...
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