Grim Anniversary

Thirty-seven years ago, I was a sophomore in college and dating a computer science major who dearly loved NASA and even had simplified schematics that were in available for the shuttle. He was pole-axed by the explosion, and we watched it over and over as it was replayed for hours. He pointed to a section of debris as it fell and said that it was the crew cabin and that they were alive during that part of the fall. He was right--that came out some time later.

Remembering those who died that day: F Richard Scobee [Commander], Michael J Smith [Pilot], Ronald McNair [Mission Specialist], Ellison Ozinuka [Mission Specialist], Judith Resnik [Mission Specialist], Gregory Jarvis [Payload Specialist], and teacher Christa McAuliffe [Payload Specialist]. Because McCaullife was participating in the Teacher in Space Project, children were watching the launch on television all over the world and saw the explosion live. I did not, I'd been in a lecture, but heard about it at the Student Center at UK and went straight to the TV room with my boytfriend. The Space Shuttle programme was paused for years, resuming eventually until it was finally shelved for good after the Columbia disaster in 2003.

The three worst disasters in the American space programme all happened within a single week in different years. The Apollo 1 fire killed three astronauts in a test on January 27 (1967). The Challenger happened on January 28 (1986). The Columbia shuttle, which broke up on re-entry was on February 1 (2003). We are approaching the 20th anniversary of the Columbia disaster.

Remembering the men and women who sought to touch the stars and their loved ones at this time.

Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster.

A week of remembrance for space pioneers

January 27, 1967: Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger B. Chaffee died in the Apollo 1 fire on the landing pad.

January 28, 1986: The Challenger disaster--where Dick Scobee, Michael J. Smith, Judith Resnick, Ellison Onizuka, Ronald McNair, Gregory Jarvis, and Christa McAuliffe (meant to be the first civilian and teacher in space) died shortly after lift off.

February 1, 2003: A second space shuttle, Columbia, suffers disaster as it breaks up on re-entry. Killed are: Rick D. Husband, William C. McCool, Michael P. Anderson, Ilan Ramon, Kalpana Chawla, David M. Brown, and Laurel Clark.

All three of the great NASA disasters happened within one calendar week, in different years, of course. I was born the year of the Apollo 1 disaster. Before 9/11, the Challenger disaster is the one galvanising moment in my lifetime, the type where people know exactly where they were when they experienced or found out about an event. I remember that day vividly and the emotions that went with it. The Columbia disaster was equally distressing.

These men and women were pioneers, and their accomplishments should be remembered. Moreso, learning from the tragedies can help prevent further deaths as mankind continues to reach for the stars.