It Won’t ‘Bring Anybody Back’ : Crew’s Kin React With Shock, Caution at News

The father of Challenger astronaut Ronald E. McNair, a photo of his son pinned to his lapel, was visibly shaken when he learned at a fund-raising event Sunday that the remains of the shuttle crew and their compartment had been found off the Florida coast.

McNair, 60, of Atlanta was appearing at ceremonies in New York City to launch a fund drive for the Ron McNair Science Playground in Harlem when he heard of the discovery.

NASA officials said that the wreckage was located Friday by sonar and that family members were notified at that time. But McNair on Sunday said, “I just heard today on news reports.”

Hustled Away From Press

Companions hustled McNair away from reporters. He was wearing a button with a picture of his son on it reading “No. 1 astronaut.”

The father of astronaut Judith A. Resnik said Sunday that the discovery of remains of the crew of space shuttle Challenger “is not going to bring anybody back.”

Dr. Marvin Resnik said from his home in Akron, Ohio, that NASA told him about the discovery before it was made public.

“It’s not going to bring anybody back,” he said. “There’s nothing we can do about it. As far as I’m concerned, services have already been performed.”

A memorial service was held for Resnik at Temple Israel in Akron, the Jewish congregation to which her father belongs.

Families Kept Informed

“NASA has been keeping us apprised all along,” Resnik said, adding that he was surprised the news media had learned of the report.

“All we really know is that it is still in the water and has to be brought up, and pathologists have to see if the remains are recognizable,” Resnik said. “We’re not going to Florida until we know something.”

The brother of Challenger pilot Michael J. Smith expressed caution about the latest development.

“We’ve not been notified of what is inside the crew compartment,” said Tony Smith from Beaufort, N.C.

“We don’t know who’s in there or what’s in there. Until we do, we aren’t making any plans--until we hear from NASA officials.”

Reaction Not Known

A spokesman for Sharon Christa McAuliffe’s husband, Steven, said Sunday that he had not yet spoken with the Concord, N.H., lawyer about the discovery of the Challenger crew compartment.

“I only know what ABC News just told me . . . that they found it and they hadn’t brought it up and there’s human remains aboard,” said Michael Callahan, a lawyer in Steven McAuliffe’s firm.

McAuliffe, a high school teacher, was the first private citizen chosen to go on a shuttle mission.