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January 28, 2009

President Reagan's Challenger Speech

Nineteen years ago, almost to the day, we lost three astronauts in a terrible accident on the ground. But, we've never lost an astronaut in flight; we've never had a tragedy like this. And perhaps we've forgotten the courage it took for the crew of the shuttle; but they, the Challenger Seven, were aware of the dangers, but overcame them and did their jobs brilliantly. We mourn seven heroes: Michael Smith, Dick Scobee, Judith Resnik, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Gregory Jarvis, and Christa McAuliffe. We mourn their loss as a nation together. For the families of the seven, we cannot bear, as you do, the full impact of this tragedy. But we feel the loss, and we're thinking about you so very much. Your loved ones were daring and brave, and they had that special grace, that special spirit that says, 'Give me a challenge and I'll meet it with joy.' They had a hunger to explore the universe and discover its truths. They wished to serve, and they did. They served all of us. We've grown used to wonders in this century. It's hard to dazzle us. But for twenty-five years the United States space program has been doing just that. We've grown used to the idea of space, and perhaps we forget that we've only just begun. We're still pioneers. They, the members of the Challenger crew, were pioneers. And I want to say something to the schoolchildren of America who were watching the live coverage of the shuttle's takeoff. I know it is hard to understand, but sometimes painful things like this happen. It's all part of the process of exploration and discovery. It's all part of taking a chance and expanding man's horizons. The future doesn't belong to the fainthearted; it belongs to the brave. The Challenger crew was pulling us into the future, and we'll continue to follow them... There's a coincidence today. On this day 390 years ago, the great explorer Sir Francis Drake died aboard ship off the coast of Panama. In his lifetime the great frontiers were the oceans, and a historian later said, 'He lived by the sea, died on it, and was buried in it.' Well, today we can say of the Challenger crew: Their dedication was, like Drake's, complete. The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honoured us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for the journey and waved goodbye and 'slipped the surly bonds of earth' to 'touch the face of God.'

God Speed.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at January 28, 2009 12:30 PM

Comments

It's one of those moments that you never forget where you were when you heard what had happened. Thanks for the reminder.

Posted by: Julie at January 28, 2009 06:24 PM

I remember exactly where I was when it happened.
Not to be cynical,but the US no longer has a space program.
We now are an international space program.The US manned space program no longer exists.It is international,just as IBM has laid off thousands recently, moving everything overseas.Someone I know
will be laid off tomorrow after 25 years service by
IBM.Her job has been out sourced.

Posted by: greg newson at January 28, 2009 10:17 PM

I remember exactly where I was. I remember the first thing I said when someone told me (I visualized a fire, on the ground): "They got the astronauts out OK, right?" The person shook her head sadly.

I was a junior in high school. (Private high school, so they could do this:) during the lunchtime announcements, the headmaster asked us to pray for the families of the astronauts.

Posted by: ricki at January 29, 2009 08:54 AM

Ghastly way to go, ghastly memories thinking about it even after all this time.

Posted by: tree hugging sister at January 30, 2009 12:18 AM