posted June 05, 2004 07:41 PM               

Happy Trails, Mr. President.

posted June 06, 2004 10:43 PM               

History will look kindly on this wonderful American and what he accomplished. Whether you agreed with his politics or not, you do have to agree that he was a great leader with a vision of what America should be and how to get there. Sadly all Presidents since he left office have not filled his giant shoes.

posted June 07, 2004 08:32 AM               

Spaceflight Now: President Reagan dies

Florida Today: With acts and in words, Reagan advanced space

posted June 07, 2004 10:37 AM               

White House, Washington
January 28, 1986
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ladies and Gentlemen, I'd planned to speak to you tonight to report on the state of the Union, but the events of earlier today have led me to change those plans. Today is a day for mourning and remembering. Nancy and I are pained to the core by the tragedy of the shuttle Challenger. We know we share this pain with all of the people of our country. This is truly a national loss.

Nineteen years ago, almost to the day, we lost three astronauts in a terrible accident on the ground. But we've never lost an astronaut in flight; we've never had a tragedy like this. And perhaps we've forgotten the courage it took for the crew of the shuttle. But they, the Challenger Seven, were aware of the dangers, overcame them and did their jobs brilliantly. We mourn seven heroes: Michael Smith, Dick Scobee, Judith Resnik, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Gregory Jarvis, and Christa McAuliffe. We mourn their loss as a nation together.

[To] the families of the seven: we cannot bear, as you do, the full impact of this tragedy. But we feel the loss, and we're thinking about you so very much. Your loved ones were daring and brave, and they had that special grace, that special spirit that says, "Give me a challenge, and I'll meet it with joy." They had a hunger to explore the universe and discover its truths. They wished to serve, and they did. They served all of us. We've grown used to wonders in this century. It's hard to dazzle us. But for 25 years the United States space program has been doing just that. We've grown used to the idea of space, and perhaps we forget that we've only just begun. We're still pioneers. They, the members of the Challenger crew, were pioneers.

And I want to say something to the schoolchildren of America who were watching the live coverage of the shuttle's takeoff. I know it is hard to understand, but sometimes painful things like this happen. It's all part of the process of exploration and discovery. It's all part of taking a chance and expanding man's horizons. The future doesn't belong to the fainthearted; it belongs to the brave. The Challenger crew was pulling us into the future, and we'll continue to follow them.

I've always had great faith in and respect for our space program, and what happened today does nothing to diminish it. We don't hide our space program. We don't keep secrets and cover things up. We do it all up front and in public. That's the way freedom is, and we wouldn't change it for a minute. We'll continue our quest in space. There will be more shuttle flights and more shuttle crews and, yes, more volunteers, more civilians, more teachers in space. Nothing ends here; our hopes and our journeys continue. I want to add that I wish I could talk to every man and woman who works for NASA or who worked on this mission and tell them: "Your dedication and professionalism have moved an impressed us for decades. And we know of your anguish. We share it."

There's a coincidence today. On this day 390 years ago, the great explorer Sir Francis Drake died aboard ship off the coast of Panama. In his lifetime the great frontiers were the oceans, and an historian later said, "He lived by the sea, died on it, and was buried in it." Well today we can say of the Challenger crew: Their dedication was, like Drake's, complete.

The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and "slipped the surly bonds of earth" to touch the face of God."

Thank you.

Rest in Peace Mr. President, You saved us and gave us hope in times of darkness.

posted June 07, 2004 04:49 PM               

The NASA TV "Video-File" (Newsfeed) will feature "A Tribute to Ronald Reagan" beginning today, June 7, at 6:00 p.m. (EDT).

The 6-minute, 45-second package includes historical footage, audio tracks and still images of President Reagan making space-related announcements and speeches. It also features his participation in NASA related events during his presidency.

Among the tribute's highlights: Reagan's directing NASA in 1982 to build an international space station; his eulogizing of the Challenger astronauts in 1986; and Reagan's Earth-to-Space Shuttle phone call congratulating Guy Bluford on becoming the first African-American in space in August of 1983.

"A Tribute to Ronald Reagan" will also be featured on "Gallery" beginning Tuesday, June 8, at 1:00 PM (EDT).

NASA "Video-File" airs at 10 a.m., Noon, 3 p.m., 6 p.m., 9 p.m. and Midnight EDT. NASA "Gallery" is broadcast at 1 p.m. and 1 a.m. EDT.

posted June 09, 2004 05:36 PM               

I remember us cheering at the STS-26 send off when someone hung the presidential seal on the front of the podium! After all of our waiting, he was finally going to come on stage. Hauck and the rest of the crew looked glad to see him also.

His support for space station won't be forgotten either.

There's a copy of Magee's Hight Flight etched in brass in my office. Every now and then when I look at the plaque I think of Reagan also. The story of Magee is worth a whole thread unto itself.

Forgot about this until about an hr. after the original post, I lived in some apts. that were on the route that Reagan's limo would take when he visited JSC. I would put a sign out in the morning on the little hill near the street that read WE [heart] YOU RONNIE! Or something like that. Always wondered if he saw it.

[This message has been edited by pokey (edited June 09, 2004).]

posted June 09, 2004 05:36 PM               

I was only ten years old when Mr. Reagan left office. At such a young age, I knew him as the President but not much more, as I was not interested in politics. But I do have vivid memories of two things. One, was watching the news with my father early one morning, and they talked about a major nuclear arms agreement being reached during a summit between Mr. Reagan and Soviet President Gorbachev. I asked my dad "Does this mean there will be no nuclear war?" and he replied "Yes." And I was so happy. The other memory was listening to the BBC one night with my dad on his shortwave when the first reports of the Berlin Wall being torn down came in. I remember my dad saying "Well, it looks like Gorbachev is finally tearing down that wall." Even though I was young, I understood the significance of what was happening. Thank you, Mr. Reagan, for eveything you did for the world. You are truly one of our greatest Presidents.

I would also like to send out special condolences to Mrs. Reagan. It takes a person with a strong heart, mind, and soul to so lovingly take care of a spouse like she did in his last days. I know, because my grandmother was such a woman as she took care of my granfather in his dying days. I have the highest respect for Mrs. Reagan. God bless her, and God bless Ronald Reagan.

May he rest in quiet peace.

posted June 10, 2004 11:32 AM               

Andrew Messer

posted June 10, 2004 02:20 PM            

Thank you,

posted June 12, 2004 01:39 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by FFrench:

Not to be disrespectful, but as this thread has now strayed way off the subject of space, FF

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Hey FF - It's under the topic of chatting about about current news.

This IS current news we are chatting about.

Rizz

posted June 12, 2004 02:18 PM               

Well said Rizz...I might have used a little "stronger" reminder. Having served in the Air Force under Reagan, I can tell you first hand what a profoundly positive effect he had on the military and it's morale. We were all so proud to have him as our commander and chief.

posted June 12, 2004 02:56 PM            

"Hey FF - It's under the topic of chatting about about current news.

This IS current news we are chatting about.

Rizz"

Thank you, and my apologies - my understanding was that this was a website about spaceflight and collectibles, and "news and events" related to SPACEFLIGHT news and events. This thread certainly began that way, with references to the late President's effects on space policy while in office.

Obviously you see it differently, and general memories of Reagan's era and policies are fine, too.

Nevertheless, in the week of his funeral I think I will omit detailing Reagan's tripling of the national debt, support and funding for both Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden, support of apartheid, backing of Central American death squads, trading arms for hostages, the Iran-Contra affair... etc., etc... as I see it as about as relevant to spaceflight as the eulogies posted here to him.

And to make this at least vaguely relevant to space flight, I should mention that the Reagan Library in Simi Valley is a most interesting place to visit, and the displays there include a flown Apollo 14 "Beep Beep" patch in a presentation frame signed by Cernan and crew.

Respectfully,

posted June 12, 2004 03:36 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Mike Isbell:
Does this patch have Dr. Schmitt or Gen. Engle as the third crewmember ?

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posted June 12, 2004 08:24 PM               

You've touched a nerve and I'd be more than happy to debate the issues you brought up in your last post. Your post does a great disservice to the record of Reagan for those cS members who are too young or to uninformed to know his record. Every single "negative" item you listed can intelligently be explained. It is not as black and white as you suggest.

Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion and many people feel strongly about politics. But I find it in very bad taste that you chose to post your political opinion in this "Space" forum. Please feel free to email if you're interested in discussing your generalizations more extensively.

posted June 12, 2004 09:15 PM            

Thanks for your message. You are quite correct, here is not the place to post such opinions. I think if you read my postings a little closer you will, in fact find that I was suggesting just that - and also trying to suggest balance, rather than black and white partisanship.

So, in the spirit of what Robert has asked, let me say what a great online collection you have, John, and I encourage anyone here to check it out. And I think I too won't add anything else to this thread - it's not the venue to get into a debate about non-space-related historical accuracy (or lack of it).

Thanks,

FF

posted June 13, 2004 01:02 AM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
Let's avoid straying too far off topic. All but the Free Space forum are intended for discussion of space-related topics. This thread was on-topic so long as it focused on Reagan's influence on space exploration. As stated before and elsewhere, if you want to debate partisan politics (beyond space policy), visit the plenitude of sites that exist for such.

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posted June 13, 2004 10:33 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Richard:
So, is it OK to just post criticism of Reagan on this site?

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Obviously not, because the majority of the posts in this thread were in praise of the late president.