Apollo 1, Challenger, & Columbia

27 Jan was the 38th anniversary of the Apollo 1 fire. 28 Jan was the 19th anniversary of the Challenger disaster. & 1 Feb will be the 2nd anniversary of the Columbia disaster. The USA has lost 17 people in the pursuit of exploring space. Each of those people gave their lives in the hopes of making this a better world. Like many an explorer before them who died during their journeys of exploration, they didn't look to loose their life. They were looking to expand our horizons. There are those who would argue that their lives were wasted. We could have done more with cheaper unmanned flights. I disagree.

Each of these persons is a hero to me because of what he or she did. I wish that none of them, or the cosmonauts that were lost, had died. But, sometimes this is the price we pay.

So, pause a moment to remember them & thank God for all that their sacrifices have gained for us.

APOLLO 1
Command Pilot Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom (Lt. Col. USAF)
Pilot Edward H. White II (Lt. Col. USAF)
Pilot Roger B. Chaffee (Lt. Cdr. USN)

CHALLENGER SST-51L
Commander Francis R. Scobee
Pilot Michael J. Smith (Captain, USN)

Mission Specialists
Judith A. Resnick PhD
Ellison S. Onizuka (Lt. Col USAF)
Ronald E. McNair PhD

Payload Specialist
Gregory B. Jarvis

Teacher in Space
S. Christa Corrigan McAuliffe

COLUMBIA STS-107
Commander Rick Husband (Col. USAF)
Pilot William C. "Willie" McCool (Cdr. USN)

Mission Specialists
Michael P. Anderson (Lt. Col. USAF)
Kalpana "K.C." Chawla Ph.D
David "Dave" Brown MD (Captain USN)
Laurel Blair Salton Clark MD (Cdr USN)
(born Ames, IA)

Payload Specialist
Ilan Raymon (Col. Israeli Air Force)

& these Cosmonauts:

SOYUZ 1 (24 April 1967)
Vladimir Komarov

SOYUZ 11 (7 June 1971)
Georgi Dobrovolsky
Viktor Patsayev
Vladislav Volkov

There are many other astronauts/comsonauts & ground crew too numerous to mention who have died from accidents illnesses etc who's contributions are also greatly appreciated.

Note: I know that it is mere coincidence but all the US disasters occurred at the sane time of the year within a 6 day spread.