MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. – A crowd gathered Thursday morning at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center visitor complex to observe the agency’s annual Day of Remembrance.
Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro spoke at the commemoration, along with Thad Altman, president and CEO of the Astronauts Memorial Foundation.
“This day, our Day of Remembrance, is a solemn and sacred time in our agency, and in a community that frequently commemorates some milestones and achievements made possible through the teamwork and contributions of so many, today is a different kind of observance, a day to recognize and to honor those who have lost their lives in the pursuit of knowledge, it’s a day to step back, to pause, reflect on our pursuits, and also on our history,” Petro said. “We gather in remembrance of the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in their quest to discover and explore, not for personal gain, but on behalf of humanity.”
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The event at the Space Mirror Memorial was meant to honor the fallen astronauts of the Apollo 1, Challenger and Colombia missions.
Feb. 1 will mark 20 years since the loss of the Colombia Crew.
See the commemoration again in the video player below:
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