[wondringaloud]

I don't think it's unreasonable to be surprised that a teenager (at least, an American teenager) isn't aware of such a thing. They've managed to get through school without once being shown a photo of the space shuttle? Not one blurb? Never seen it in a TV commercial? Photograph?

[zenexer]

It was certainly never mentioned when I was in school. I knew about it, but I bet some of my classmates didn't. And it hadn't even been retired yet.

Challenger was mentioned, but only because I brought in a newspaper clipping for the 20th anniversary.