Challenger STS-51L

Twenty-five years ago today Orbital Vehicle 099 Challenger exploded just after lift-off with all hands lost.  Seven souls gone, seven lights extinguished and never to light this world again.  It was a stunning day, and one that is hard to put into context of life in 2011 when politicians are shot at supermarkets, and we here almost daily of suicide bombers and police officers shot in the line of duty. 

What strikes a cord with me is that the crew of Challenger didn't put themselves in danger to save lives as police, fire and military servicepeople do.  Astronauts put themselves in danger for the pursuit of science and exploration, ideals that are very different than protecting life or democracy.  Science and the pursuit of knowledge are not ideals that everyday people tend to think of as things that are worth laying down ones life for, but every Astronaut, Cosmonaut and Taikonaut does.  Putting your life at risk so that others may benefit is as close to a definition of "hero" as I can think of, and so I honor the crew of Challenger as heroes. 

Commander Francis R. Scobee

 Pilot Michael J. Smith

Mission Specialist 1 Judith A. Resnik

MS2/Flight Engineer Ellison Onizuka

Mission Specialist 3 Ronald E. McNair

Payload Specialist 1 Gregory B. Jarvis

Payload Specialist 2 Sharon Christa McAuliffe

Godspeed