We talk a lot on Daily Space about how “space is hard.” It’s a mantra of sorts when it comes to failed rocket launches and test flights. Unfortunately, we’ve lost people to the cause of advancing space science and engineering.

Today is NASA’s Day of Remembrance, and we honor the sacrifices and memories of those who gave their lives in the Apollo 1, Challenger, and Columbia missions.

First, we honor Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee, the Apollo 1 astronauts lost when a fire broke out in the Apollo capsule during a pre-launch test on January 27, 1967. 

Next, we honor the crew of the space shuttle Challenger, which broke apart 73 seconds after launch on January 28, 1986, 35 years ago today. Those astronauts were Mission Specialist Ellison Onizuka, Pilot Michael Smith, Payload Specialist Christa McAuliffe, Commander Dick Scobee, Payload Specialist Gregory Jarvis, Mission Specialist Judith Resnik, and Mission Specialist Ronald McNair.

Finally, we honor the crew of the space shuttle Columbia, who were lost on February 1, 2003, when the shuttle broke up upon re-entry. Those astronauts were Mission Specialist David Brown, Commander Rick Husband, Mission Specialist Laurel Blair Salton Clark, Mission Specialist Kalpana Chawla, Payload Commander Michael Anderson, Pilot William McCool, and Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon.

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Space is hard, and astronauts know they could die. They are a new kind of test pilot, and it is on us to never take them for granted or stop striving to over-engineer toward success. Their sacrifices led to improvements in spacecraft design and procedures for protecting future crews. As NASA’s Acting Administrator Steve Jurczyk writes: As we work to achieve our goals of putting the first woman and next man on the Moon and send the first humans to Mars, let us pause for a moment to remember…

[Please take a moment to pause and reflect on the sacrifices these astronauts made.]

More Information

NASA press release

NASA article