Melissa Donovan
Marking 40 years since the Challenger tragedy, NASA will host its annual NASA Day of Remembrance in partnership with the Astronauts Memorial Foundation and the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on January 22 beneath Space Shuttle Atlantis.
Honoring all astronauts who have sacrificed their lives in the name of space exploration, the event will begin at 11 a.m. with remarks under the Atlantis, later moving to the Space Mirror Memorial for guests to pay their respects. There will be a wreath-laying ceremony, and guests will receive flowers to show their gratitude to the fallen astronauts.
The event is included with admission.
Alongside the ceremony, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex also has a Forever Remembered exhibit, honoring 14 astronauts from the Columbia and Challenger missions. The exhibit is located on the bottom floor of Space Shuttle Atlantis and has personal items from each of the astronauts on display, as well as recovered hardware from each of the orbiters.
Kennedy Space Center has also announced its Junior Space Explorer pass, offering Florida residents under the age of five free admission to the visitor complex. To get the pass, guests must register online by February 27, bring a copy of their confirmation email, the child’s birth certificate, or another age-identifying document to the Will Call or information center at the complex. The person purchasing the pass must also bring their ID to prove they are a Florida resident. The pass can be redeemed through December 31.
For those unable to attend the NASA Day of Remembrance, live streams will be available on the Kennedy Space Center’s Facebook, YouTube, and X pages at 11 a.m. ET on January 22.
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