BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Thursday marked a day of special significance for NASA.
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Day of Remembrance, a time to honor astronauts who lost their lives to expand our knowledge. The day also serves as a reminder not to repeat the mistakes of the past.
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The last Thursday in January has become a time to reflect on three of the most tragic moments in NASA’s history: the Apollo 1 fire on Jan. 27, 1967, the Challenger disaster on Jan. 28, 1986 and the loss of the space shuttle Columbia on Feb. 1, 2003.
“It’s important to humanity that we explore, and I just want to make sure that we do it in the best way possible, and that we do not repeat the mistakes of the past,” NASA associate administrator Bob Cabana said.
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See photos of today’s event in the gallery below.
NASA Day of Remembrance NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy hugs NASA Associate Administrator Bob Cabana during the NASA Day of Remembrance Employee Safety Town Hall, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber) (NASA/Keegan Barber/(NASA/Keegan Barber))
NASA Day of Remembrance Members of the Viera High School JROTC Honor Guard observe a minute of silence during the Day of Remembrance ceremony at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida on Jan. 26, 2023. The event honored the crews of Apollo 1 and space shuttles Challenger and Columbia, as well as other astronauts who lost their lives in the pursuit of spaceflight. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Columbia tragedy. This year’s ceremony was hosted by the Astronauts Memorial Foundation, which was founded after the shuttle Challenger accident in 1986 to honor the sacrifices of fallen astronauts each year. (NASA/Kim Shiflett/NASA/Kim Shiflett)
NASA Day of Remembrance Kennedy Space Center workers and guests attend the Day of Remembrance at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida on Jan. 26, 2023. The event honored the crews of Apollo 1 and space shuttles Challenger and Columbia, as well as other astronauts who lost their lives in the pursuit of spaceflight. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Columbia tragedy. This year’s ceremony was hosted by the Astronauts Memorial Foundation, which was founded after the shuttle Challenger accident in 1986 to honor the sacrifices of fallen astronauts each year. (NASA/Kim Shiflett/NASA/Kim Shiflett)
NASA Day of Remembrance Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro makes remarks during the Day of Remembrance on Jan. 26, 2023, at nearby Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. The event honored the crews of Apollo 1 and space shuttles Challenger and Columbia, as well as other astronauts who lost their lives in the pursuit of spaceflight. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Columbia tragedy. This year’s ceremony was hosted by the Astronauts Memorial Foundation, which was founded after the shuttle Challenger accident in 1986 to honor the sacrifices of fallen astronauts each year. (NASA/Kim Shiflett/NASA/Kim Shiflett)
NASA Day of Remembrance Kennedy Space Center workers and guests placed flowers at the Space Mirror Memorial at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida during the Day of Remembrance on Jan. 26, 2023. The event honored the crews of Apollo 1 and space shuttles Challenger and Columbia, as well as other astronauts who lost their lives in the pursuit of spaceflight. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Columbia tragedy. This year’s ceremony was hosted by the Astronauts Memorial Foundation, which was founded after the shuttle Challenger accident in 1986 to honor the sacrifices of fallen astronauts each year. (NASA/Kim Shiflett/NASA/Kim Shiflett)
NASA Day of Remembrance Sheryl Chafee, Astronauts Memorial Foundation (AMF) Board of Directors chairperson, at right, accompanied by NASA Associate Administrator Bob Cabana, and Kennedy Space Director Janet Petro, lay a wreath in front of the Space Mirror Memorial during the Day of Remembrance on Jan. 26, 2023, at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. The event honored the crews of Apollo 1 and space shuttles Challenger and Columbia, as well as other astronauts who lost their lives in the pursuit of spaceflight. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Columbia tragedy. This year’s ceremony was hosted by the AMF, which was founded after the shuttle Challenger accident in 1986 to honor the sacrifices of fallen astronauts each year. (NASA/Kim Shiflett/NASA/Kim Shiflett)
NASA Day of Remembrance Sheryl Chafee, Astronauts Memorial Foundation (AMF) Board of Directors chairperson, center, accompanied by NASA Associate Administrator Bob Cabana, and Kennedy Space Director Janet Petro, lay a wreath in front of the Space Mirror Memorial during the Day of Remembrance on Jan. 26, 2023, at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. The event honored the crews of Apollo 1 and space shuttles Challenger and Columbia, as well as other astronauts who lost their lives in the pursuit of spaceflight. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Columbia tragedy. This year’s ceremony was hosted by the AMF, which was founded after the shuttle Challenger accident in 1986 to honor the sacrifices of fallen astronauts each year. (NASA/Kim Shiflett/NASA/Kim Shiflett)
NASA Day of Remembrance NASA Associate Administrator Bob Cabana, makes remarks during the Day of Remembrance on Jan. 26, 2023, at nearby Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. The event honored the crews of Apollo 1 and space shuttles Challenger and Columbia, as well as other astronauts who lost their lives in the pursuit of spaceflight. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Columbia tragedy. This year’s ceremony was hosted by the Astronauts Memorial Foundation, which was founded after the shuttle Challenger accident in 1986 to honor the sacrifices of fallen astronauts each year. (NASA/Kim Shiflett/NASA/Kim Shiflett)
NASA Day of Remembrance The Space Mirror Memorial is in view before the start of the Day of Remembrance ceremony at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida on Jan. 26, 2023. The event honored the crews of Apollo 1 and space shuttles Challenger and Columbia, as well as other astronauts who lost their lives in the pursuit of spaceflight. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Columbia tragedy. This year’s ceremony was hosted by the Astronauts Memorial Foundation, which was founded after the shuttle Challenger accident in 1986 to honor the sacrifices of fallen astronauts each year. (NASA/Kim Shiflett/NASA/Kim Shiflett)
NASA Day of Remembrance Kennedy Space Center workers and guests observe a minute of silence during the Day of Remembrance at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida on Jan. 26, 2023. The event honored the crews of Apollo 1 and space shuttles Challenger and Columbia, as well as other astronauts who lost their lives in the pursuit of spaceflight. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Columbia tragedy. This year’s ceremony was hosted by the Astronauts Memorial Foundation, which was founded after the shuttle Challenger accident in 1986 to honor the sacrifices of fallen astronauts each year. (NASA/Kim Shiflett/NASA/Kim Shiflett)
NASA Day of Remembrance NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, second from right, answers a question from staff during the NASA Day of Remembrance Employee Safety Town Hall as NASA Press Secretary Jackie McGuinness, left, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, second from left, and NASA Associate Administrator Bob Cabana, right, look on, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber) (NASA/Keegan Barber/(NASA/Keegan Barber))
NASA Day of Remembrance Kennedy Space Center workers and guests place flowers at the Space Mirror Memorial at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida during the Day of Remembrance on Jan. 26, 2023. The event honored the crews of Apollo 1 and space shuttles Challenger and Columbia, as well as other astronauts who lost their lives in the pursuit of spaceflight. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Columbia tragedy. This year’s ceremony was hosted by the Astronauts Memorial Foundation, which was founded after the shuttle Challenger accident in 1986 to honor the sacrifices of fallen astronauts each year. (NASA/Kim Shiflett/NASA/Kim Shiflett)
NASA Day of Remembrance NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, left, delivers remarks during the NASA Day of Remembrance Employee Safety Town Hall as NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, center, and NASA Associate Administrator Bob Cabana, right, look on, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber) (NASA/Keegan Barber/(NASA/Keegan Barber))
NASA Day of Remembrance Members of the Viera High School JROTC Honor Guard present colors during the Day of Remembrance ceremony at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida on Jan. 26, 2023. The event honored the crews of Apollo 1 and space shuttles Challenger and Columbia, as well as other astronauts who lost their lives in the pursuit of spaceflight. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Columbia tragedy. This year’s ceremony was hosted by the Astronauts Memorial Foundation, which was founded after the shuttle Challenger accident in 1986 to honor the sacrifices of fallen astronauts each year. (NASA/Kim Shiflett/NASA/Kim Shiflett)
PHOTOS: NASA Day of Remembrance honors lost astronauts
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