Welcome to In Memoriam: The Astronaut/Cosmonaut Memorial Web Site. This site honors those who lost their lives while training for or performing a space flight. To learn more about the investigation into the loss of Space Shuttle Columbia, please visit The STS-107 Investigation Reference Page.

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"TO THE STARS THROUGH ADVERSITY - ALWAYS EXPLORING"

This emblem was created in honor of the spirit for which seventeen astronauts lived and made the ultimate sacrifice for the human exploration of space. It was designed using key elements from the three missions in the United States space program that resulted in the loss of crew and vehicle.

The border uses the colors of the US Flag to symbolize the country responsible for the missions, even though not all of the astronauts originated in the United States. The text on the lower border identifies the three space craft lost in the accidents. Apollo 1 was chosen to represent the AS-205 capsule since it is more recognizable by the public. The text on the upper border, translated in the title above, represents the indomitable spirit of exploration that drives us on into space in spite of the tragedies we must sometimes endure and overcome.

The background of the emblem represents the void of space, the great unknown that is beckoning the human spirit, challenging us to continue reaching for answers and expanding our universe. Key elements from each mission patch have been incorporated into the central region of the emblem, representing each crew and the mission they were dedicated to accomplish. The seventeen stars scattered across the void represent the members of the three missions. While these are grouped around the mission specific elements corresponding to the number in each crew, there is no specific relationship intended between any star and astronaut. The large Greek "Sigma", borrowed from the Mission Operations Directorate insignia, represents the entire team responsible for human space flight. It is only through the sum of all our efforts that we can endeavor to send humans into space, and safely return them to earth. Stretching across the central portion of the patch is the NASA Vector, representing the agency of the United States government responsible for these missions.

More than anything else, this emblem is intended to remind us all that we can never afford to relax our vigil in conducting human space flight. Every job is critical, whether it is in the manufacture or maintenance of spacecraft, ground support facilities and related resources, planning and training for a specific mission, or real time operations of an ongoing mission. Every decision we make can have an impact on whether the crew joins us in the post mission festivities, or we get an opportunity to decorate the gates of JSC one more time!

This emblem was designed through a joint effort by Bill Foster in the Ground Control Office at the Johnson Space Center and Michael Okuda, Scenic Art Supervisor and Technical Consultant for Star Trek. "Semper Exploro" was suggested by Kenneth Ham, Lt. Commander, United States Navy and NASA Astronaut, which adds significantly to spirit of the Emblem.