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Columbia

NASA Day of Remembrance

By Keith Cowing
NASA Watch
January 29, 2005

NASA Day of Remembrance Scheduled Jan. 27

“A Day of Remembrance observance honoring those members of the NASA Family who lost their lives while furthering the cause of exploration and discovery will take place Jan. 27 at 2 p.m. from NASA Headquarters in Washington.”

Editor’s note: Looking back at the news coverage of this event, I find it somewhat annoying that nearly all of the news accounts focus only on astronauts who died in their spacecraft – not on the many others who were remembered: the JPL employees who died on their way to work, the helicopter crew who died during the Columbia debris recovery effort, and astronauts who died during training or other accidents. Yet their mention by NASA on Thursday made few if any news reports.

For example, Florida Today made no mention of these others who died. I find it hard to understand why these others were not mentioned given that their faces and names were featured to the same extent as were those of the Apollo 1, Challenger, and Columbia crews during an event televised from NASA Headquarters. Indeed, if you read the memo sent out across NASA, the word ‘astronaut’ does not even appear. Instead “NASA employees” is used:

“Sent: Fri 1/21/2005 2:43 PM

Subject: Day of Remembrance

The Administrator has designated Thursday, January 27, 2005 as “NASA’s National Day of Remembrance.”

On this day we honor the memory of all NASA employees who have lost their lives in the pursuit of NASA’s mission.

Therefore, on Thursday, January 27th flags at all NASA facilities are to be flown at half-staff.

In keeping with NASA’s Core Values:

  • Safety
  • The NASA Family
  • Excellence
  • Integrity

Also in keeping with honoring those lost and recommitting to pursuing our exploration agenda with renewed diligence.”

NASA Watch founder, Explorers Club Fellow, ex-NASA, Away Teams, Journalist, Space & Astrobiology, Lapsed climber.