The mighty Challenger, the most flown vehicle in space at the time, and all seven members of its crew were lost 73 seconds into this mission when an O-ring on one of the solid rocket boosters failed, igniting the liquid fuel in the main tank and causing a terrible conflagration, an explosion that will echo forever in our hearts. Included among the losses was Christa McAuliffe, the "Teacher in Space."

The subsequent triumphs of NASA's human space program serve as a tribute, a memorial to the quest for knowledge and discovery that so filled the lives and hearts of these seven brave men and women. We must NEVER turn our backs on them or on our destiny in space. We owe it to them, and to ourselves and to the world, to continue our human exploration of the cosmos in honor of those who paid the price.

To the Crew and their Families,
We Thank You for Your Sacrifices.