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NASA
pays tribute to fallen astronauts at the annual Day of Remembrance ceremony held at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex with KSC Director and former astronaut Bob Cabana and NASA officials at the Space Mirror Memorial on Feb. 7, 2019. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com |
Ken Kremer —
SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM — 8 February 2019
SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM — 8 February 2019
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER VISITOR
COMPLEX/TITUSVILLE, FL – We Remember the Fallen Space Heroes on NASA’s Day of
Remembrance at ceremonies held annually each year at this time that honors the
lives and legacies of the astronauts lost in the noble pursuit of the
exploration of space since the agency’s founding 60 years ago.
NASA remembers the
fallen astronaut crews of the Apollo 1 and Space Shuttle Challenger and Columbia tragedies as
well as others who lost their lives while
on NASA missions or in training starting in the1960s and spanning to this century.
Their 24 names will be
forever remembered and are carved into the iconic Space Mirror Memorial at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor
Complex where a tribute ceremony was held on Thursday, Feb. 7 with KSC Director
and former space shuttle astronaut Bob Cabana spoke as the keynote speaker.
“Many of the names on
the mirror were friends of mine. And I miss them. But they are not forgotten,”
said Kennedy Space Center Director and astronaut Bob Cabana, at the Space Mirror
Memorial on Feb. 7.
“Now more than ever it’s
important we pause and remember the crews of Apollo, Challenger and Columbia.
COMPLEX/TITUSVILLE, FL – We Remember the Fallen Space Heroes on NASA’s Day of
Remembrance at ceremonies held annually each year at this time that honors the
lives and legacies of the astronauts lost in the noble pursuit of the
exploration of space since the agency’s founding 60 years ago.
NASA remembers the
fallen astronaut crews of the Apollo 1 and Space Shuttle Challenger and Columbia tragedies as
well as others who lost their lives while
on NASA missions or in training starting in the1960s and spanning to this century.
Their 24 names will be
forever remembered and are carved into the iconic Space Mirror Memorial at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor
Complex where a tribute ceremony was held on Thursday, Feb. 7 with KSC Director
and former space shuttle astronaut Bob Cabana spoke as the keynote speaker.
“Many of the names on
the mirror were friends of mine. And I miss them. But they are not forgotten,”
said Kennedy Space Center Director and astronaut Bob Cabana, at the Space Mirror
Memorial on Feb. 7.
“Now more than ever it’s
important we pause and remember the crews of Apollo, Challenger and Columbia.
Cabana was joined in a
wreath laying ceremony by NASA officials, Space Shuttle Launch Director Mike
Leinbach, Sheryl Chaffee, daughter of lost Apollo 1 astronaut Roger Chaffee and
Thad Altman, of the Astronaut Memorial Foundation.
wreath laying ceremony by NASA officials, Space Shuttle Launch Director Mike
Leinbach, Sheryl Chaffee, daughter of lost Apollo 1 astronaut Roger Chaffee and
Thad Altman, of the Astronaut Memorial Foundation.
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KSC Director and former
astronaut Bob Cabana participated in wreath laying at Day of Remembrance tribute to fallen astronauts along with Space Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach, NASA officials and Sheryl Chaffee at the Space Mirror Memorial at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on Feb. 7, 2019. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com |
Check out our gallery of
Space UpClose photos from the tribute held at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor
Complex Space Mirror Memorial.
The ceremony included
guests and was open to the general public. Attendees bowed their heads in a
moment of silence and placed roses and carnations of a variety of colors at the
memorial wall.
Space UpClose photos from the tribute held at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor
Complex Space Mirror Memorial.
The ceremony included
guests and was open to the general public. Attendees bowed their heads in a
moment of silence and placed roses and carnations of a variety of colors at the
memorial wall.
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NASA pays tribute to fallen astronauts at the annual Day of
Remembrance ceremony held at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex with KSC Director and former astronaut Bob Cabana as keynote speaker at the Space Mirror Memorial. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com |
The iconic Space
Mirror Memorial is a 42-foot-high by
50-foot-wide granite monument that displays the names of the fallen astronauts
from Apollo 1, space shuttles Challenger and Columbia, as well as others who
have lost their lives while on NASA missions or in training.
“Each year, Kennedy
employees and guests gather with others throughout NASA to honor those
astronauts who have fallen in the pursuit of space exploration,” say KSC
officials.
Mirror Memorial is a 42-foot-high by
50-foot-wide granite monument that displays the names of the fallen astronauts
from Apollo 1, space shuttles Challenger and Columbia, as well as others who
have lost their lives while on NASA missions or in training.
“Each year, Kennedy
employees and guests gather with others throughout NASA to honor those
astronauts who have fallen in the pursuit of space exploration,” say KSC
officials.
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KSC Director and former
astronaut Bob Cabana participated in wreath laying at Day of Remembrance tribute to fallen astronauts along with Space Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach, NASA officials and Sheryl Chaffee at the Space Mirror Memorial at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on Feb. 7, 2019. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com |
“Today, we honor the Apollo 1,
Challenger and Columbia crews, as well as other members of the NASA family who
lost their lives supporting NASA’s mission of exploration. We are deeply
grateful to all of them and will always strive to honor their legacy,” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine in a statement.
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KSC Director and former
astronaut Bob Cabana participated in wreath laying at Day of Remembrance tribute to fallen astronauts along with Space Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach, NASA officials and Sheryl Chaffee at the Space Mirror Memorial at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on Feb. 7, 2019. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com |
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Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com
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Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com
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We must never forget
the sacrifices of the lost astronauts who inspire us on new bold journeys of
exploration.
We must be ever vigilant
in remembering the lessons learned so as to not repeat the mistakes from the
past tragedies.
We must ensure the
safety of the astronauts lives and the reliability and robustness of new launch
vehicle hardware, rockets and spaceships.
NASA and its
contractors are developing 3 new human space launch systems – SLS/Orion, Falcon
9/Crew Dragon and Atlas V/Starliner – as we forge forward to send astronauts on
journeys deeper into space than ever before.
“At NASA we’re
developing 3 new human spaceflight vehicles and that’s a unique time in our
history,” said Cabana at the ceremony.
“We can never forget
the lessons from Apollo, Challenger and Columbia as we move forward and work to
remain safe,” Cabana told Space UpClose in an interview after the ceremony.
“We have to keep open
communication for anyone with a concern to express their opinion!”
“I speak to new
employees every two weeks. And safety is part of the flow as we develop the new
human space launch systems,” Cabana told me.
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Forever
Remembered Tribute to crews of Shuttles Challenger and Columbia at Space Shuttle Atlantis Exhibit at NASA KSC Day of Remembrance ceremony Feb. 7, 2019 at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com |
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Forever
Remembered Tribute to crews of Shuttles Challenger and Columbia at Space Shuttle Atlantis Exhibit at NASA KSC Day of Remembrance ceremony Feb. 7, 2019 at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com |
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Space
Mirror Memorial and tribute wreath for fallen astronauts at NASA KSC Day of Remembrance ceremony Feb. 7, 2019 at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com |
Below is the complete
text of the Day of Remembrance 2019 Message from NASA Administrator Jim
Bridenstine
……………
— Message
from NASA’s Administrator —
from NASA’s Administrator —
NASA’s Day of Remembrance inspires
thoughtful reflection and gratitude on behalf of the entire NASA Family, the
nation and the world. Each time women and men board a spacecraft, their actions
carry great risk along with the opportunity for great discoveries and the
chance to push the envelope of human achievement. Today, we honor the Apollo 1,
Challenger and Columbia crews, as well as other members of the NASA family who
lost their lives supporting NASA’s mission of exploration. We are deeply
grateful to all of them and will always strive to honor their legacy.
thoughtful reflection and gratitude on behalf of the entire NASA Family, the
nation and the world. Each time women and men board a spacecraft, their actions
carry great risk along with the opportunity for great discoveries and the
chance to push the envelope of human achievement. Today, we honor the Apollo 1,
Challenger and Columbia crews, as well as other members of the NASA family who
lost their lives supporting NASA’s mission of exploration. We are deeply
grateful to all of them and will always strive to honor their legacy.
On this Day of Remembrance, I will
take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery with
family members of our lost friends and colleagues. Across the country, all
flags at NASA Headquarters and the NASA centers will be flown at half-staff in
memory of our colleagues lost in the cause of exploration.
take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery with
family members of our lost friends and colleagues. Across the country, all
flags at NASA Headquarters and the NASA centers will be flown at half-staff in
memory of our colleagues lost in the cause of exploration.
NASA has learned hard lessons from
each of our tragedies, and we will keep that knowledge at the forefront of our
work as we continuously strive for a culture of safety that also enables us to
still reach for the stars. What President Reagan said of the Challenger crew
applies to each of our fallen colleagues, who “honored us by the manner in
which they lived their lives.”
each of our tragedies, and we will keep that knowledge at the forefront of our
work as we continuously strive for a culture of safety that also enables us to
still reach for the stars. What President Reagan said of the Challenger crew
applies to each of our fallen colleagues, who “honored us by the manner in
which they lived their lives.”
The invaluable lessons from our
past, and our determination to pay tribute to our crews’ achievements, continue
to shape our path forward. Later this year, we will have another way to honor
and learn from the tragedies we have faced. In April, NASA’s Apollo Challenger Columbia
Lessons Learned Program, in partnership with the Office of Chief Engineer and
Academy of Program/Project and Engineering Leadership, will launch the Space
Shuttle Columbia National Tour at the Kennedy Space Center. For the first time
ever in this format, artifacts of the Space Shuttle Columbia will tour our NASA
centers across the country on a new mission to inspire, engage and educate. It
is the heartfelt goal of this tour to pay tribute and honor each of our fallen
crews by sharing their stories and what we have learned from them so that a
whole new generation of leaders and explorers can stand on their shoulders. I
hope all of you will have a chance to see it when it visits your region.
past, and our determination to pay tribute to our crews’ achievements, continue
to shape our path forward. Later this year, we will have another way to honor
and learn from the tragedies we have faced. In April, NASA’s Apollo Challenger Columbia
Lessons Learned Program, in partnership with the Office of Chief Engineer and
Academy of Program/Project and Engineering Leadership, will launch the Space
Shuttle Columbia National Tour at the Kennedy Space Center. For the first time
ever in this format, artifacts of the Space Shuttle Columbia will tour our NASA
centers across the country on a new mission to inspire, engage and educate. It
is the heartfelt goal of this tour to pay tribute and honor each of our fallen
crews by sharing their stories and what we have learned from them so that a
whole new generation of leaders and explorers can stand on their shoulders. I
hope all of you will have a chance to see it when it visits your region.
The legacy of those we have lost is
present every day in our work and inspires generations of new space explorers.
Every day, with each new challenge we overcome and every discovery we make, we
honor these remarkable men and women. Please join me in working to fulfill
their dreams for the future.
present every day in our work and inspires generations of new space explorers.
Every day, with each new challenge we overcome and every discovery we make, we
honor these remarkable men and women. Please join me in working to fulfill
their dreams for the future.
Ad astra,
Jim Bridenstine
Jim Bridenstine
………………
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Space
Mirror Memorial and tribute wreath for fallen astronauts at NASA KSC Day of Remembrance ceremony Feb. 7, 2019 at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com |
Watch for Ken’s
continuing onsite coverage of NASA, SpaceX, ULA, Boeing, Lockheed Martin,
Northrop Grumman and more space and mission reports direct from the Kennedy
Space Center, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida and Wallops Flight
Facility, Virginia.
Stay tuned here for Ken’s continuing Earth and Planetary science
and human spaceflight news: www.kenkremer.com –www.spaceupclose.com –
twitter @ken_kremer – email: ken at kenkremer.com
Dr. Kremer is a research
scientist, journalist and photographer based in the KSC area.
………….
Ken’s photos are for sale and he is available for lectures and outreach events
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Space
Mirror Memorial and tribute wreath for fallen astronauts at NASA KSC Day of Remembrance ceremony Feb. 7, 2019 at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com |
