Today is the 25th anniversary of the Challenger Space Shuttle explosion. I was in high school at the time, but I still remember it like it was yesterday. I am so thankful that the 7 heroes who lost their lives that day - Commander Francis R. (Dick) Scobee, Pilot Michael J. Smith, Mission Specialists Ron McNair, Ellison Onizuka and Judy Resnik, Payload Specialist Gregory Jarvis and Teacher in Space participant Christa McAuliffe - did not die in vain. Rather than being remembered with statues and the like, the astronauts' families made sure that they had a much more important and lasting legacy. They founded the Challenger Center for Space Science Education, which now boasts a network of 47 Challenger Learning Centers located throughout the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and South Korea. Over 400,000 students participate in "missions" at these centers and 25,000 teachers are trained through the network each year. We are fortunate to have a Challenger Learning Center right down the street from our house, and my kids have had the opportunity to participate in their interactive simulated space missions. It's a very cool place, and it's wonderful to realize that out of tragedy came the ability to inspire and educate so many children.
