Perhaps the BEST B1G Forum anywhere, here at College Football Fan Site, CFB51!!!

Although I was in 1st or 2nd grade for that, I don't have the clearest memory during that time.  But I know for a fact we did not watch the Challenger launch in class.  Which is kind of odd, because it seems like the kind of thing they would've wheeled in a TV for.  

However, even though I didn't watch it, I've been plagued by a vague anxiety over shuttle-launches ever since.  It doesn't affect me to the point where anyone would notice, but I have a gnawing sense of dread for the crews of those missions.  

I think the Discovery was the next shuttle launch I remember after Challenger, and we did watch that.  I was still pretty young, and at that time my stomach was in knots and I was half fit to be tied.  It was worse back then.  

Anxiety, man.  

Using SRBs to launch is a bit dicey.

youtube artemis compared with apollo 8 - Google Search

Pretty neat video on actual trajectories.

youtube artemis compared with apollo 8 - Google Search

Pretty neat video on actual trajectories.

Apollo 8 was a superb mission. They sent The full Apollo CSM Saturn V stack around the moon on its very first launch.  They did this because the Soviets were very close to sending a manned capsule around the moon ( Zond). They had already successfully sent a Zond test flight around the moon with animal passengers. The 2nd and 3rd Zond failed without humans, but we didn’t know that yet. Once we went to the moon and came back there was no longer a reason for Zond. It couldn’t support a lander or I believe multiple crew members. 

Also,Apollo 8 actually orbited the moon. They had to fire up the CSM main engine and do a breaking maneuver. 
8 months later, Neil and Buzz walked on the moon. 

BTW. Not sure if you’ve followed that all, but the new NASA administrator, Jared Isaacman, seems to be doing a very good job. For those that don’t know , he’s a self-made billionaire. Founded payment company Shift 4, and also a 2x private astronaut.