NASA will observe its annual Day of Remembrance on Thursday, January 22, to honor the fallen heroes of exploration. This includes commemorating the crews of Apollo 1 and the space shuttles Challenger and Columbia. The event is traditionally held every year on the fourth Thursday of January, as all three astronaut accidents happened around the end of the month.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman expressed, “On NASA’s Day of Remembrance, we pause to honor the members of the NASA family who lost their lives while pushing the boundaries of exploration and discovery.” The observance is not to shy away from risk, but to acknowledge and learn from it. The sacrifice of these brave individuals and the resilience of their families serve as a source of inspiration for ongoing space exploration efforts.
The day will include a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, at 1 p.m. EST, led by Isaacman. This will be followed by observances for the Apollo 1, Challenger, and Columbia crews. Additional commemorations will take place at various NASA centers across the country.
At Johnson Space Center in Houston, a commemoration will be held at 10 a.m. CST at the Astronaut Memorial Grove. The event will feature remarks by Center Director Vanessa Wyche, NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, and Cheryl McNair, widow of Challenger astronaut Ronald McNair. Activities include a moment of silence, a NASA T-38 flyover, musical performances by the Texas A&M Squadron 17, and a flower procession at memorial trees for Apollo 1, Challenger, and Columbia.
Meanwhile, NASA Kennedy in Florida and the Astronauts Memorial Foundation will host a ceremony at the Space Shuttle Atlantis building at Kennedy’s Visitor Complex at 11 a.m. EST. The ceremony will feature musical guests, a bell ringing commemoration, a moment of silence, and the laying of wreaths. Kelvin Manning, deputy director at NASA Kennedy, and Bob Cabana, former NASA associate administrator and Kennedy center director will also be present to pay tribute.
Original Source: NASA