Big hole in my memory

[BmorePat87]

As we age, it's harder for our brains to reconnect what is stored. Like a hard drive, it can deteriorate overtime and become more difficult to pull up.

More emotional experiences are imprinted more clearly and easier to bring up. It's possible that you did not have as big of a reaction to Columbia as you did Challenger. A large portion of the population was watching the Challenger launch and the presence of the teacher made it more tragic to some as she was a civilian. The high stakes of the still on going Cold War and the importance of space added to it too.