We here at M A N T A R C T I C A would like to take this opportunity to mourn and celebrate those who have died in the service of all humanity. This week will mark the anniversaries of three of NASA’s greatest tragedies.
40 years ago on January 27, the fire on board Apollo 1 which killed Command Pilot Virgil I. Grissom, Senior Pilot Ed White, and Pilot Roger B. Chaffee.
21 years ago on January 28, an explosion 2 minutes after lift off destroyed the space shuttle Challenger killing Mission Commander Francis R. Scobee, Pilot Michael J. Smith, Mission Specialist Ronald E. McNair, Mission Specialist Ellison S. Onizuka, Mission Specialist Judith A. Resnik, Payload Specialists Gregory B. Jarvis, and teacher Sharon Christa McAuliffe.
4 years ago on February 1, upon reentry space shuttle Columbia broke up while returning to Earth from a 16 day mission killing Commander Col. Rick Husband, Pilot Cdr. William “Willie” McCool, Mission Specialist Dr. Kalpana “KC” Chawla, Mission Specialist Col. Ilan Ramon, Mission Specialist Lt. Col Michael “Mike” Anderson, Mission Specialist Cpt. David “Dave” Brown, and Mission Specialist Dr. Laurel Clark, MD.
These brave men and women risked their lives to better our understanding of the world around us and beyond us. It is our hope that despite these terrible events of the past, NASA and others continue their quest for the stars. We’re sure that these heroes would have wanted to see that spirt of exploration continue on.
Thank you for your ulitmate sacrifice in the hope that we may one day be out there, among the stars.
Godspeed.
