January 28, 1986 might not ring a bell with a lot of  folks, but for Danny Olan Alexaner of Little Rock, it is a date which will haunt him for the rest of his life. Danny, like millions of other Americans sat on the edge of his seat with his eyes glued to the television as the space shuttle Challenger lifted of the launch pad at Cape Canaveral. A liftoff he had wanted so very badly be aboard. BUT! Seventy four seconds after liftoff something went horribly wrong. The spaceship exploded sending seven astronauts to their deaths. Danny said the sight of the rocket exploding was like a “punch to the gut.” “That was the very flight I worked for and prayed for.” Danny said.

 

Danny had always wanted to be an astronaut but that never happened. But in 1985, his dream of a lifetime almost came true. A group of science teachers from seven states were selected to attend a NASA workshop at the Marshall Space Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Danny Alexander was one of two teachers selected from Mississippi. The workshop was a hands on learning experience where Danny was tested for his tolerance to excessive G-forces and other tests astronauts must endure before being elevated to the next level. Danny passed them all with flying colors and was added to a list of one million-one hundred thousand potential teachers to fly on the Space Shuttle Challenger. Needless to say, with that kind of numbers, the competition was stiff.

 

After even more tests, Danny received news that he was still on the  list to train for the Challenger mission. One million one-hundred thousand was soon cut to one hundred thousand.  Danny was required to complete what seemed like an endless trail of paperwork. The application was long and painstakingly detailed and even tricky to complete. Danny worked  his way through the paperwork and tests until finally the last cut was getting close. The list was cut to174 applicants. Danny survived another round of tests. His name was one of the 174.

 

Danny’s wife Cookie knew the risks involved but supported her husband’s efforts one hundred percent. His mother was not quite as enthusiastic. The philosophical Danny told his mother not to worry. If something happened up there, he would be that much closer to the Golden Gates. Mom was not amused by Danny’s logic, but eventually gave her support to her son.

 

When the final cut was announced, English teacher Christa McAuliffe was chosen. One might assume that Ms. McAuliffe was chosen because she was a woman. Ironically, that was not the case. She was chosen because she was an Englich teacher rather than a science teacher, which could be somewhat perplexing. Why an English teacher over a science teacher? The purpose of having a teacher on the flight was to have someone relate the experience of space travel to students. Science teachers are more matter-of-fact in their explanations, whereas English teachers are more verbal. The theory being that English teachers would better explain the experience than a science teacher.

 

Those of us who know Danny Olan Alexander were not surprised that Danny was chosen as candidate for the space mission. Danny has aways had a quest for excellence and the fortitude to tackle any project with determination. He graduated from Beulah Hubbard at the top of his class in 1965. He eventually earned a BS degree in science education from the University of Southern Mississippi and master’s degree in secondary education from Mississippi State University. He taught science for a combined total of thirty-four years at Meridian High School and at Lamar Academy. Danny Olan Alexander’s dream of space flight crashed into the Atlantic Ocean and he was not on board. Garth Brooks said it best in his song, “Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.”

 

Ralph Gordon from Union is a freelance writer and past President of the Mississippi Writers Guild you may contact him at regordon47@gmail.com.