Challenger Kin Salute Space Program

The families of the crew of the ill-fated space shuttle Challenger, along with a handful of U.S. shuttle astronauts, visited Disneyland on Saturday to encourage science education and interest in the space program among young people.

With the Anaheim theme park playing host, the family members, five current shuttle program astronauts and a handful of Hollywood celebrities participated in a “Challenger Spirit Salute” ceremony. Organizers say the program was designed to create interest in the Challenger Center for Space Education--the families’ sole memorial to the lost crew.

Jane Smith, wife of Challenger Mission Specialist Mike Smith, called the ceremonies “breathtaking.”

“The Disney people did a great job, and I’m extremely grateful for their help. It brought tears to my eyes.”

Hosting the event was actor Leonard Nimoy of Star Trek fame, who said the Houston-based center is “critical” in keeping interest in the space program high among the nation’s youth. The center opened to the public last August.

“The whole thing behind this effort is keeping kids interested in space, science and the future. It’s the only way we will be able to keep the dream of the Challenger alive. When they asked me to come down here for this, I didn’t think twice--I was honored,” Nimoy said.

The president of the Challenger Center, Douglas R. King, said the organization is hoping to establish a Challenger Center in about 50 U.S. cities over the next 3 years.

“We believe that keeping interest in the space program among schoolchildren will also help stimulate interest in mathematics and the sciences,” King said.

Shuttle astronaut George (Pinky) Nelson said he was glad to be part of the brief mid-morning program.

“I was happy to participate. Anything that can bring some visibility to this program is exactly what we need to be doing. We can’t forget that the mission of the center is bettering our kids,” Nelson said.

Participating in the presentation were family members June Scobee, June Smith, Lorna Onizuka, Cheryl McNair, Marcia Jarvis and Charles Resnik. Other NASA shuttle astronauts participating were Robert (Hoot) Gibson, Jerry Ross, Dick Covey, Dave Hilmers and Mike Lounge.