As NASA plans to send humans to the moon and Mars, today the space agency remembered those who were lost pursuing exploration of the heavens.
NASA observed its annual Day of Remembrance today honoring those who lost their lives in the pursuit of space exploration.
The annual event is held in January the month we lost the crews of Apollo 1 and the Space Shuttle Challenger.
January 28th will mark the 39th anniversary of the Challenger disaster.
Apollo I was scheduled to launch in February of 1967, but a fire killed the crew during a pre-launch test on January 27th.
Kennedy Space Center Acting Director Kelvin Manning asked the NASA family to keep the memory of those lost close and honor their sacrifice by committing to safety and excellence in future missions.
“On NASA’s Day of Remembrance, we pause to reflect on the bravery, dedication, and selflessness of the extraordinary individuals who pushed the boundaries of exploration and discovery,” said NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free. “Their legacies remind us of the profound responsibility we have to carry their dreams forward while ensuring safety remains our guiding principle.”