posted 01-20-2022 09:47 AM               

NASA Pays Tribute to Fallen Heroes with Day of Remembrance

NASA will honor members of the NASA family who lost their lives while furthering the cause of exploration and discovery, including the crews of Apollo 1 and space shuttles Challenger and Columbia, during the agency's annual Day of Remembrance Thursday, Jan. 27. This year's NASA Day of Remembrance also marks 55 years since the Apollo 1 tragedy.

"NASA's Day of Remembrance is an opportunity to honor members of the NASA family who lost their lives in our shared endeavor to advance exploration and discovery for the good of all humanity," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. "Every day, we have an opportunity to further uplift the legacies of those who gave their lives in pursuit of discovery by taking the next giant leap, meeting every challenge head-on, as they did. In doing so, we also must never forget the lessons learned from each tragedy, and embrace our core value of safety."

Nelson will lead an observance at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, which will begin with a traditional wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, followed by observances for the Apollo 1, Challenger, and Columbia crews.

Shortly after the Arlington event, Nelson will join NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy and Associate Administrator Bob Cabana in moderating a panel discussion with agency employees on the topic of safety and lessons learned from the agency's tragedies. The panel will air live on NASA Television, the agency's website, and the NASA app beginning at 3:30 p.m. EST.

Various NASA centers also will hold observances for NASA Day of Remembrance. Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, this year's events across the agency will be limited to invited guests and closed to media.

Kennedy Space Center, Florida

NASA Kennedy, in partnership with The Astronauts Memorial Foundation, will host a Day of Remembrance ceremony at the Space Mirror Memorial at Kennedy's Visitor Complex with limited in-person invited guests. The ceremony will feature remarks by Kennedy Center Deputy Director Kelvin Manning, as well as Astronauts Memorial Foundation President and CEO Thad Altman. The ceremony will livestream at 10 a.m. on Kennedy's Facebook channel.

Johnson Space Center, Houston

NASA Johnson will hold a commemoration at the Astronaut Memorial Grove with limited in-person invited guests. The ceremony will feature remarks by Johnson Center Director Vanessa Wyche, as well as NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik and former Johnson Center Director George Abbey.

Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama

NASA Marshall will observe Day of Remembrance with a prerecorded observance featuring remarks from Marshall Center Director Jody Singer and Bill Hill, director of Marshall's Office of Safety & Mission Assurance, as well as a moment of silence. The event will appear on Marshall's YouTube channel and will be shared on the center's social media account.

Glenn Research Center, Cleveland

NASA Glenn will observe Day of Remembrance with a virtual observance for Glenn staff only.

The agency also is paying tribute to its fallen astronauts with special online content, which will be updated on Day of Remembrance.

posted 01-24-2022 02:49 PM               

Annual NASA Day of Remembrance at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Thursday, January 27, 2022

NASA, in partnership with the Astronauts Memorial Foundation and Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, will host NASA's Day of Remembrance on Thursday, January 27. The ceremony will take place at the Space Mirror Memorial in the visitor complex and will honor all astronauts who have sacrificed their lives while furthering the cause of space exploration and discovery.

Scheduled to speak at the ceremony are Thad Altman, president and CEO of the Astronauts Memorial Foundation and Kelvin Manning, deputy director, NASA Kennedy Space Center. The commemoration will include a wreath laying ceremony and attendees will be given flowers to pay respects to our fallen heroes.

As always, the health and safety of employees and guests is the highest priority for Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. In accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) recommendations, the visitor complex has implemented safety protocols to ensure a trusted space. Additional details are available here.

The ceremony will be streamed live on Kennedy Space Center's Facebook page at 10 a.m. ET on Thursday, Jan. 27.

posted 01-27-2022 09:28 AM               

On Thursday, Jan. 27, we will honor members of the NASA family who lost their lives while furthering the cause of exploration and discovery, including the crews of Apollo 1 and space shuttles Challenger and Columbia, during NASA's annual Day of Remembrance.

In partnership with The Astronauts Memorial Foundation, our Day of Remembrance ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. ET. The memorial event will feature remarks by Kennedy Center Deputy Director Kelvin Manning, as well as Astronauts Memorial Foundation President and CEO Thad Altman.

posted 01-27-2022 07:04 PM               

Lowell Grissom, brother of fall astronaut Virgil "Gus" Grissom, speaks during a ceremony at the Center for Space Education at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

From left, Lowell Grissom, brother of Virgil "Gus" Grissom; Sheryl Chafee, daughter of Apollo 1 astronaut Roger Chafee; and Kathie Scobee Fulgham, daughter of Challenger Commander Francis R. Scobee, place carnations on the fence in front of the Space Mirror Memorial at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

posted 01-27-2022 07:08 PM               

NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, left, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, and NASA Associate Administrator Bob Cabana, along with McCool Family Representatives Jane Tani, Dan Tani, visit the Space Shuttle Columbia Memorial during a wreath laying ceremony that was part of NASA's Day of Remembrance, Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, left, along with NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, lay flowers at the grave markers of Virgil "Gus" Grissom and Roger Chaffee, from Apollo 1, as NASA Associate Administrator Bob Cabana looks on.