Hi Scott,
Yes, I was thinking of Lee and Bassett’s T-38; I didn’t know about Freeman’s T-38. I also hadn’t thought about the accepted pronunciation of Gemini in relation to NASA. In English, the accepted pronunciation is with the hard “I”. In Latin (and as with most Latin words ending in “i”) the sound is, as you say, “ee.” In my youth, I knew nothing of Latin and hence never noticed. It didn’t occur to me since that NASA were striving for a more authentic pronunciation. I learn something new from The Mifnet community most days. All the best, DW David Wardell (757) 561-0582 [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> <https://wardell.us/url/b5s86> <https://wardell.us/url/s9qvz> From: F. Scott Wilson via Mifnet <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2026 2:46 PM To: [email protected] Cc: David Wardell <[email protected]>; F. Scott Wilson <[email protected]> Subject: [Mifnet 🛰 75271] Re: 40 Years After Challenger David When I read your reference to the two Gemini program fatalities, I had to look that up. It involved the 1966 crash of Elliot See’s and Charlie Bassett’s T-38 after it struck a McDonnell building in St. Louis where Gemini spacecraft were built. I am guessing these are the two to which you refer. Wikipedia also reports the death of Gemini astronaut Theodore Freeman in a T-38 crash near Houston (Theodore_Freeman <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Freeman> ). I had forgotten about both incidents (if I ever knew of the first one - I was only 8 years old when it occurred). Another thing I forgot if I ever knew it was that the correct pronunciation of the Gemini Program was for the last syllable of Gemini to be pronounced as a long e, not a long i. Scott On Jan 29, 2026, at 2:21 PM, David Wardell via Mifnet <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > wrote: Myself, I was sitting on the 15th floor of an office building in Maryland working on a project for British Airways. My late wife (an enthusiastic news hound) had just called and related what details were known early on. I recall thinking that the tragedy (for such it was) affected both individuals and society. The families of those involved were never the same. I was especially struck by the effect the tragedy would have on the school children who were following Challenger closely. I speculated that broad public interest in, and enthusiasm for, the space program would also never be the same. I was personally supportive of the Shuttle program. There were two major disasters during its run. These were the only lives lost during NASA program missions. Mercury was successful without loss of life (7 men were involved). Gemini lost 2 (during training) of 16 (12.5%). Apollo lost three (during testing) of 33 (9.09%). The Shuttle program lost 14 (two mission disasters) of 355 (3.94%). The numbers were higher, but also the total participants, resulting in a lower percentage of loss. The Shuttle was also a much more complex vehicle. It’s been observed in these pages that we knew the risks. Those who participated certainly did (or should have), as did those outsiders with the expertise to understand them (which the casual percentages I’ve shared do not adequately express), but I’m not sure that everyone did. One effect of the Shuttle program was to make space travel a more routine event (if that is the right term). So much so that individuals with very limited training and no experience were able to participate in missions. The ISS has seen 292 persons to date (impossible without Russian vehicles), of which 12 have lacked all but very basic training and having no experience. There have been no fatalities but some (very) serious incidents. Post Challenger, I think the feeling of regularity and acceptance largely evaporated—although proponents of space tourism try to revive it. Public interest in (realistic) space programs also declined. This is a loss. David Wardell (757) 561-0582 [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> <https://wardell.us/url/b5s86> <image002.png> <https://wardell.us/url/s9qvz> <image003.png> From: Tom Windmuller via Mifnet <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2026 1:07 PM To: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> Cc: Kathryn Creedy <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >; Tom Windmuller <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > Subject: [Mifnet 🛰 75267] Re: 40 Years After Challenger I was at a reception at the US Ambassador’s residence just south of Bonn, Germany when the news came through via his security detail. Rick had already developed a reputation for throwing some pretty lively parties. Let’s just say that this wasn’t one of them. However, it did earn the US considerable sympathy — sympathy that lasted longer than I had expected it would. tom w. On Thu, 29 Jan 2026 at 18:13 Kathryn Creedy via Mifnet <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > wrote: I had just arrived for a Washington Aero Club lunch. When I entered the room I saw people clustered around a TV which was unusual to have in the room. Then I saw the replay of the explosion. Deep sadness pervaded the lunch which continued. I've since read The Challenger by Higginbotham as I posted the other day. Dan Reed, thank you for sharing your experience. Very moving. Cheers -- Kathryn On Thu, Jan 29, 2026 at 11:14 AM Mike Borfitz via Mifnet <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > wrote: I was at work, FAA ACO Modification Branch Seattle. I had a desk with windows facing east looking over the runway 14/32 and I-5 in the distance. My son called & gave me the news. I just sat & stared east, toggling between shock/sadness and "This is space flight, we all know the risks." Still a bit of a gut punch. If anybody is curious about the FAA & commercial space flight. Go to 14 CFR Part 400. It's a really interesting read. As in, they avoided the word "passenger". They prefer: "Space flight participant means an individual, who is not crew or a government astronaut, carried on board a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle." AND check this out: 460.45 Operator informing space flight participant of risk. Link to an amendment published at 85 FR 79740 <https://www.federalregister.gov/citation/85-FR-79740> , Dec. 10, 2020. (a) Before receiving compensation or making an agreement to fly a space flight participant, an operator must satisfy the requirements of this section. An operator must inform each space flight participant in writing about the risks of the launch and reentry, including the safety record of the launch or reentry vehicle type. An operator must present this information in a manner that can be readily understood by a space flight participant with no specialized education or training, and must disclose in writing— (1) For each mission, each known hazard and risk that could result in a serious injury, death, disability, or total or partial loss of physical and mental function; (2) That there are hazards that are not known; and (3) That participation in space flight may result in death, serious injury, or total or partial loss of physical or mental function. From: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-III/subchapter-C/part-460/subpart-B/section-460.45 Mike Borfitz Cell 206-714-8797 Kilroy Aviation LLC <http://www.faaoda.com/> WWW.FAAODA.COM Kilroy is available for aviation regulatory and safety issues - Type & Production Certification, Continued Operational Safety - International validation & safety matters - Program & system management - FAA STC ODA On Wed, Jan 28, 2026, 6:27 PM David Wardell via Mifnet <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > wrote: https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/article/the-challenger-shuttle-disaster-that-killed-7-crew-members-was-40-years-ago-what-happened-and-how-theyre-being-remembered-220831002.html I recall the event and where I was vividly. I was certainly in no position to have predicted the disaster, but I had been silently concerned about the Laissez-faire attitude surrounding the shuttle program. I feeling I've experienced from other space programs of late. Where were you on this day in 1986, and do you have specific memories? Old Man Wardell -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revised: 20250507 You are receiving The Mifnet because you requested to join this list. The Mifnet is largely a labor of love, however the infrastructure isn't exactly cost-free. 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