27 January is the anniversary of the Apollo/Saturn 204 fire tragedy. This was the first time that the program had lost astronauts in their vehicle. There they were, in the spacecraft, wearing spacesuits, and no one saw it coming. Forty years ago...
28 January is the anniversary of the Challenger accident. This was caught on TV and burned into our consciousness as a nation. Spaceflight was becoming routine... what could go wrong? Twenty-one years ago...
01 February is the anniversary of the Columbia loss. They were on their way home, and we all thought there was nothing that could go wrong. Four years ago...
Throughout history, the future is discovered by those bold enough to venture into the unknown. And sadly, throughout history, many of our lessons on how to venture safely are written in the blood of those who've gone before us.
And the most amazing thing about us is this: Everyone can see the blood spilled before; everyone can see the danger of the unknown (or sometimes the not knowing of the danger); And we STILL find people to venture into the unknown and to make the unknown known.
Which perhaps is the best Honor paid to those who've taught us where the dangers are... learning the lesson and moving forward.
Apollo/Saturn 204 ("Apollo 1")
Virgil "Gus" Grissom
Edward White, II
Roger Chaffee
STS-51L Challenger
Frances "Dick" Scobee
Michael J. Smith
Judith Resnick
Ellison Onizuka
Ronald E. McNair
Gregory Jarvis
Christa McAuliffe
STS-107 Columbia
Rick D. Husband
Willie McCool
Michael Anderson
Kalpana Chawla
David Brown
Laurel Clark
Ilan Ramon
3 comments:
Forty years have flown by in my life. I remember the phone call about the Apollo Tragedy as if it were yesterday. All those Astronauts from day one were/are some of the bravest people I ever heard of - to risk their lives not for defense, but for exploration and knowledge.
I had just moved to CA when shortly thereafter, while at my first job, we assembled to watch the launch of Challenger. Back then, it was still special. We were, like everyone, stunned and heart-broken as we watched it disintegrate in the sky. If it might be of some comfort to you to know, the company I worked for at the time had the honor to be selected to make arrangements for the continuing care of their spouses and children. They were generously provided for and that's the most I'm allowed to say.
I, too, often find comfort and amusement in the fermament. Remember The Thunderbirds? Well, maybe you've seen it on TV Land, in re-runs? I loved that puppet show.
Absolutely right on Miss Birdlegs in AL. Too many people don't realize all the good those brave pioneers have done for mankind. Everytime I hear someone ask "what has ever come out of the space program, what?" I reply "the transistor" and walk away and can only hope they will look into it and that they know I'm not talking about a radio.
Warmest hugs and heartfelt prayers for you and your children, dear Reid.
Hello Reid and Family, I hope you are busy with duties quotidien and silly. I just realized that my previous post about The Thunderbirds was a little incoherent. Sorry. I was babbling about the marionette show about space ships and spying and covert ops and fabulous, futuristic travel and shiny uniforms and, well, we could still see the strings and the lines where the chin part of the head would move separately....
Anyway....
I hope you are remembering Ellicia in your dreams and that you can remember the dreams when you wake up (if they're not too odd).
Sweet dreams tonight to you and your lovely children and kittycat,
you are in mine prayers and on my mind,
alexa kim
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