Space

NASA Remembers Fallen Astronauts Of Apollo 1, Challenger, Columbia

"Today, NASA remembers all those who gave their lives to further the cause of exploration and discovery."

The crew of Space Shuttle Columbia
Getty Images

Just days after the 50th anniversary of the tragic accident that killed the Apollo 1 crew, NASA celebrated its annual Day of Remembrance. The day is intended to "honor members of the NASA family, including the crews of Apollo 1 and space shuttles Challenger and Columbia, who lost their lives while furthering the cause of exploration and discovery." 

2016 Space Exploration Was Enlightening And Kinda Weird
2016 Space Exploration Was Enlightening And Kinda Weird

2016 Space Exploration Was Enlightening And Kinda Weird

2016 was a big year for space exploration.

LEARN MORE

Jan. 27, 1967: The crew of Apollo 1 was killed when a fire broke out during a launch rehearsal. 

- Virgil "Gus" Grissom (April 3, 1926 - Jan. 27, 1967)

- Edward H. White II (Nov. 14, 1930 - Jan. 27,1967)

- Roger Chaffee (Feb. 15, 1935 - Jan. 27, 1967)

Jan. 28, 1986: The crew of the Challenger shuttle was killed when a booster engine failed and the shuttle broke apart just over a minute after launch.

- Francis "Dick" Scobee (May 19, 1939 - Jan. 28, 1986)

- Michael J. Smith (April 30, 1945 - Jan. 28, 1986)

- Judith A. Resnik (April 5, 1949 - Jan. 28, 1986)

- Ellison Onizuka (June 24, 1946 - Jan. 28, 1986)

- Ronald McNair (Oct. 21, 1950 - Jan. 28, 1986

- Gregory Jarvis (Aug. 24, 1944 - Jan. 28, 1986)

- Christa McAuliffe (Sept. 2, 1948 - Jan. 28, 1986)

Feb. 1, 2003: The crew of the Columbia shuttle was killed when the orbiter broke up upon re-entry. The shuttle was only 16 minutes from landing when Mission Control lost contact.

- Rick D. Husband (July 12, 1957 - Feb. 1, 2003)

- William C. McCool (Sept. 23, 1961 - Feb. 1, 2003)

- Michael P. Anderson (Dec. 25, 1959 - Feb. 1, 2003)

- David M. Brown (April 16, 1956 - Feb. 1, 2003)

- Kalpana Chawla (March 17, 1962 - Feb. 1, 2003)

- Laurel Clark (March 10, 1961 - Feb. 1, 2003)

- Ilan Ramon (June 20, 1954 - Feb. 1, 2003)

See more from NASA about its Day of Remembrance.