There’s a West Wing quote that I’ve always thought hits the nail right on the head. When asked “why do we go into space… do we really have to go to Mars?” Sam Seaborn replied “Cause it’s next. Cause we came out of the cave, and we looked over the hill and we saw fire; and we crossed the ocean, and we pioneered the west, and we took to the sky. The history of man is hung on a timeline of exploration and this is what’s next.” I have to admit that I truly miss the shuttle launches, and indeed the entire space program. It was the ultimate reality show, the pioneering of a mysterious place we were never likely to see on our own.

Today, 30 years after an infamous, fateful day, we’re all remembering the crew of the Challenger. I’m sure their families have asked ‘why’ a thousand times, but I’m betting Ellison Onizuka, high school teacher Christa McAuliffe, satellite engineer Gregory Jarvis and flight engineer Judith Resnik, pilot Michael Smith, commander Francis “Dick” Scobee and Ronald McNair never once asked why. This was their dream. For the Challenger crew this is what was next.

Today our Thank You Thursday commemorates the crew of the Challenger. What was initially described as a “major malfunction” proved to be the final moment of their lives. Our country thanks you Ellison, Christa, Gregory, Judith, Michael, Francis and Ronald for your bold faith in the space program, your remarkable dedication, for the uplifting enthusiasm that fascinated a country and made us appreciate your mission, for daring to believe in ‘what’s next.

photo: By NASA (NASA Human Space Flight Gallery (image link)) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons