The Challenger catastrophe despatched waves of grief throughout the nation, and for completely comprehensible causes; it was a nationwide tragedy, in spite of everything. Nevertheless it’s additionally value remembering that the entire crew members had their very own lives, their very own individuals who cherished them. And there is a story concerning the household of Francis “Dick” Scobee that serves as a reminder of that reality.
The households of most of the astronauts have been personally on the launch, and after seeing the catastrophe unfold in entrance of them, they have been all ushered again to the crew quarters. With nothing to do however await unhealthy information, Scobee’s spouse and youngsters occurred upon his briefcase, left behind in his room. And within the briefcase? The standard belongings you’d count on: pockets, keys, enterprise playing cards, photographs of his household, and knowledge associated to his job. However there was extra — maybe most notably, a Valentine’s Day card for his spouse, nonetheless unsigned, and one other factor that is maybe extra inspiring: a web page bearing a quote by Ben Bova.
Because the quote goes, “We’ve got entire planets to discover. We’ve got new worlds to construct. We’ve got a photo voltaic system to roam in. And if solely a tiny fraction of the human race reaches out towards area, the work they do there’ll completely change the lives of all of the billions of people who stay on Earth.” Just some sentences that actually encapsulate the targets of the Challenger crew, in addition to those who their households nonetheless pursue.
