Fallen Heroes of Space Exploration: A Memorial (Gallery)

Astronaut Ilan Ramon

Ilan Ramon (Colonel, Israel Air Force), payload specialist representing the Israel Space Agency (ISA), shown in November 2001. He perished in flight on February 1, 2003, when Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over northern Texas.

Kalpana Chawla

Kalpana Chawla flew on two shuttle missions. She perished in flight on February 1, 2003, when Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over northern Texas.

Astronaut William C. McCool

Astronaut William C. McCool, pilot of the STS-107 mission, shown on August 10, 2001. He perished in flight on February 1, 2003, when Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over northern Texas.

Astronaut Michael P. Anderson,

Astronaut Michael P. Anderson, STS-107 payload commander shown on October 1, 2001. He perished in flight on February 1, 2003, when Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over northern Texas.

Astronaut David M. Brown

Astronaut David M. Brown, STS-107 mission specialist, shown on Sep. 25, 2001. He perished in flight on February 1, 2003, when Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over northern Texas.

Astronaut Laurel B. Clark

Astronaut Laurel B. Clark, STS-107 mission specialist, shown on February 26, 2002. She perished in flight on February 1, 2003, when Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over northern Texas.

Remembering Columbia

During the STS-107 mission, the crew appears to fly toward the camera in a group photo aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia. On the bottom row (L to R) are astronauts Kalpana Chawla, mission specialist; Rick D. Husband, mission commander; Laurel B. Clark, mission specialist; and Ilan Ramon, payload specialist. In the top row (L to R) are astronauts David M. Brown, mission specialist; William C. McCool, pilot; and Michael P. Anderson, payload commander. On February 1, 2003, during re-entry, the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over northern Texas with all seven crewmembers aboard. This picture survived on a roll of unprocessed film recovered by searchers from the debris.

Space Mirror Memorial

Flowers lay at the foot of the Space Mirror Memorial at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida for NASA's Day of Remembrance to honor members of the NASA family who lost their lives while furthering the cause of exploration and discovery.

Astronaut Memorial Mirror

A moment of silence is observed at the Astronaut Memorial Mirror.

NASA's Space Mirror Memorial

The Space Mirror Memorial was dedicated in 1991 to honor those lost in pursuit of the exploration of space. There are 24 people memorialized on the granite blocks that make up the monument..