NASA will Honor Fallen Heroes of Exploration on Day of Remembrance

NASA will commemorate its annual Day of Remembrance on Thursday, January 23, which honors the NASA family members who died while pursuing exploration and discovery for the good of humanity. It honors the crews of Apollo 1 and the space shuttles Challenger and Columbia and is traditionally held on the fourth Thursday of January.

Jim Free, an associate administrator at NASA, stated, “On NASA’s Day of Remembrance, we pause to reflect on the bravery, dedication, and selflessness of the extraordinary individuals who pushed the boundaries of exploration and discovery. Their legacies remind us of the profound responsibility we have to carry their dreams forward while ensuring safety remains our guiding principle.”

Following a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Free will conduct an observance at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia at 1 p.m. EST. This will be followed by observances for the crews of the Apollo 1, Challenger, and Columbia.

Additionally, several agency centers will commemorate NASA Day of Remembrance:

Johnson Space Center in Houston

Center Director Vanessa Wyche will speak during a ceremony hosted by NASA Johnson at the Astronaut Memorial Grove at 10 a.m. CST. A NASA T-38 flyover, taps by Texas A&M Squadron 17, a moment of silence, and a procession placing flowers at the Apollo I, Challenger, and Columbia memorial trees are all part of the ceremony.

Kennedy Space Center in Florida

The Space Mirror Memorial at Kennedy’s Visitor Complex will conduct a ceremony at 10 a.m. EST on behalf of NASA Kennedy and the Astronauts Memorial Foundation. Tal Ramon, the son of Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon of the space shuttle Columbia, will speak at the event.

The ceremony, which will be livestreamed on the center’s Facebook page, will also feature remarks from Kelvin Manning, deputy director at NASA Kennedy.

Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, California

At 1 p.m. PST, NASA Ames will host a remembrance ceremony that will feature bell ringing, a moment of silence, and remarks from Center Director Eugene Tu.

Glenn Research Center in Cleveland

On Tuesday, January 28, at 1 p.m. EST, NASA Glenn will commemorate the Day of Remembrance. Center Director Jimmy Kenyon will make a statement, and then there will be a wreath-placement ceremony, a moment of silence, and taps at Lewis Field.

Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia

Flags will be raised at the Langley Workers Memorial after a remembrance ceremony led by Acting Center Director Dawn Schaible at NASA Langley.

Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama

At 9:30 a.m. CST, NASA Marshall will hold a candle lighting ceremony and wreath placement. Marshall’s Office of Safety and Mission Assurance Director Bill Hill and Associate Director Larry Leopard will make remarks during the ceremony.

Stennis Space Flight Center in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi

At 9 a.m. CST, NASA Stennis and the NASA Shared Services Center will hold a wreath-laying ceremony. Center Director John Bailey and Executive Director Anita Harrell will make remarks.

Additionally, the agency is honoring its fallen astronauts by updating its special online content on NASA’s Day of Remembrance.