Glenn Thompson: “Sunday marked 32 years since the space shuttle Challenger disaster. On January 28, 1986, NASA launched the 10th flight…”

“Sunday marked 32 years since the space shuttle Challenger disaster. On January 28, 1986, NASA launched the 10th flight of the space shuttle Challenger, and it broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, killing all seven crew members on board. It was devastating for those watching at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, for those viewing at home, and for our Nation as a whole. I rise today to remember the Challenger's dedicated crew: Michael Smith, Dick Scobee, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Christa McAuliffe, Gregory Jarvis, and Judith Resnick. As President Reagan said in a televised address 32 years ago: ``We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved good-bye and `slipped the surly bonds of Earth' to `touch the face of God.''' Madam Speaker, these crew members had a passion for exploration. They inspired children around the world who dreamed of going to space. Through encouraging STEM study--science, technology, engineering, and math--we can continue to preserve their legacy and inspire another generation of explorers. ____________________”