From Friendswood Mayor Mike Foreman:

Please join me in pausing to remember some American space heroes this week. 

Astronauts Virgil Grissom, Edward White and Roger Chaffee made up the crew of Apollo 1. It was 54 years ago when a tragic fire during a training exercise took their lives. Although the Apollo program later took us to the Moon, the sacrifice of these men will never be forgotten.

The lives of seven astronauts were taken in 1986 when the Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart just after liftoff. Commander Francis Scobee, Pilot Michael Smith, Mission Specialists Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Judith Resnik, and Payload Specialists Gregory Jarvis and Christa McAuliffe lost their lives. Many remember that Christa was onboard Challenger to be the first Teacher in Space.

We also remember the crew of the Shuttle Columbia, which disintegrated while returning to Earth in 2003. Commander Rick Husband, Pilot William McCool, Payload Commander and Mission Specialist Michael Anderson, Mission Specialists David Brown, Kalpana Chawla, Laurel Clark, and Ilan Ramon perished.

Thousands of people in Friendswood were devoted to the Apollo and Space Shuttle programs. They “dreamed big,” devoting their careers and their hearts to help our nation explore space. On behalf of a grateful City, I extend my condolences to all of the astronaut’s families, NASA employees and everyone touched by these tragedies. We will never forget your dedication and sacrifice.