By: Danielle Sempsrott
NASA’s Kennedy Space Center
During NASA’s Annual Day of Remembrance, Kennedy Space Center employees and guests gathered at the Space Mirror Memorial at Kennedy’s Visitor Complex in Florida, Feb. 7, 2019, to honor all astronauts who have given their life in the pursuit of space exploration. The observance pays tribute to the crew members of Apollo 1, space shuttles Challenger and Columbia, and all other members of the NASA family other astronauts who have perished in the line of duty.
Thad Altman, president and chief executive officer of the Astronauts Memorial Foundation (AMF), opened the ceremony stating that every year “we gather to remember those who have paid the ‘ultimate sacrifice,’” but that we also work every day of the year for them.
“We stop and remember, but we continue to fight and work toward the destiny they stood for and the dream of human exploration,” he said.
During the ceremony, Altman quoted Gus Grissom, former Apollo 1 astronaut who perished during a preflight test when a fire broke out in the command module in 1967, on the risks of spaceflight and the importance of perseverance.
“’If we die, we want people to accept it. We’re in a risky business, and we hope that if anything happens, if it happens to us during flight, that we will not delay our program. That we will continue. The conquest of space is worth the risk.’”
Also speaking during the ceremony was Center Director Bob Cabana, who recognized those heroes and stressed the importance of continued space exploration.
“Many of the names on that mirror were close friends of mine, and I miss them. But they’re not forgotten” said Cabana. “It’s really important we continue to move forward and explore; that we don’t stop.”
This year’s ceremony was hosted by the AMF, which was founded after the shuttle Challenger accident in 1986 to honor the sacrifices of fallen astronauts each year, as well as inspire future generations through hands-on science, technology, engineering and mathematics or STEM learning activities. The AMF also built and maintains the Space Mirror Memorial, a 42-foot-high by 50-foot-wide granite monument that displays the names of the fallen astronauts from Apollo 1, shuttles Challenger and Columbia, as well as others who have lost their lives while on NASA missions or in training. In 1991, the memorial was dedicated as a national memorial by Congress and President George H. W. Bush.
During the ceremony, a memorial wreath was placed at the Space Mirror Memorial by Cabana, Altman, Kennedy Deputy Director Janet Petro, Kennedy Associate Director Kelvin Manning, Mike Leinbach, former shuttle launch director, and Sheryl Chaffee, daughter of Apollo 1 astronaut Roger Chaffee and AMF vice chair. The ceremony also included a presentation of colors by the Brevard County Fire Rescue Honor Guard, followed by the national anthem sung by retired Army Lt. Col. Cynthia Watkins.
This year marks 52 years since Apollo 1, 33 years since the shuttle Challenger and 16 years since the shuttle Columbia accidents. With the development of three new spaceflight vehicles underway (two of which are part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program), Cabana emphasized the importance of crew safety, open communication, and learning, while never forgetting the past as NASA works to return human spaceflight to the United States.
“It’s critically important that we fly crews to the International Space Station on a U.S. rocket from U.S. soil this year,” Cabana said. “We have to make that happen. But we have to do it right.”