Space Shuttle Challenger Anniversary

 by Paula Gail Benson

Forty years ago, the Space Shuttle Challenger launched with a crew of seven, Francis R. Scobee, Michael J. Smith, Ellison Onizuka, Judith Resnik, Gregory Jarvis, teacher Christa McAuliffe, and Ronald McNair, a native of Lake City, South Carolina. Seventy-three seconds into the flight the shuttle broke apart, due to the failure of the O-ring seals caused by the cold weather. Today, McNair’s wife, son, and daughter along with other family members and friends came to the Statehouse to honor his contributions. Working with French composer and performer Jean-Michel Jarre, McNair planned to play and record a saxophone solo from space.