NASA paid tribute to the crews of Apollo 1 and space shuttles Challenger and Columbia, as well as other NASA colleagues who lost their lives while furthering the cause of exploration and discovery, during the agency’s annual Day of Remembrance on January 25.

NASA acting Administrator Robert Lightfoot and other agency senior officials led an observance at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. A wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, followed by observances for the Apollo 1, Challenger and Columbia crews.

Various NASA centers also held observances on and leading up to the Day of Remembrance for the public, employees and the families of those lost in service to America’s space program, including Johnson Space Center in Houston and Marshall Space Flight Center, in Huntsville, Alabama.

The Astronauts Memorial Foundation honored the astronauts who gave their lives for space exploration during a ceremony January 25 at the Astronauts Memorial Foundation, located at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

Speakers at the ceremony included:

• Thad Altman, president and chief executive officer of the Astronauts Memorial Foundation
• Robert Cabana, Kennedy center director
• Eileen Collins, former space shuttle astronaut
• Karen Stevenson, daughter of Charles A. Bassett II
• Sally Kneuven, daughter of Elliot M. See Jr.
• Beth Williams, widow of Clifton C. Williams Jr.
• Brent Adams, son of Michael J. Adams
• Tal Ramon, son of Ilan Ramon

Video and still images of various agency observances are available at https://www.nasa.gov/mediaresources