28 January 2011

STS-51-L

Twenty five years ago today I was checking out of Naval Air Technical Training Center at NAS Memphis, Millington TN after attending Avionics Class A1 and Advanced First Term Avionics schools in preparation to become an avionics tech on the F-14 Tomcat (and later the F/A-18 Hornet) aircraft.

As I was handing in my linens the space shuttle launch was taking place. The TV in the office was tuned to watch it. Before our incredulous eyes what had been a glorious triumph of human engineering turned into a horrible tragedy.

Today we remember the six professional astronauts and the one high-school social studies teacher from Concord, New Hampshire who gave all they had to give to further our explorations.

Mission Commander Francis "Dick" Scobee
Pilot Michael J. Smith
Mission Specialist Ellison Onizuka
Mission Specialist Judith Resnik
Mission Specialist Ronald McNair
Payload Specialist Sharon Christa McAuliffe
Payload Specialist Gregory Jarvis

1 comment:

cmblake6 said...

Well said. God rest their souls, and use that sacrifice now to awaken the American Spirit once again.