Thursday, January 28, 2010

Challenger Remembered

FOR THOSE WHO DARE

A Tribute To The Challenger Astronauts

Francis Richard Scobee: Commander, STS 51-L
Michael Smith: Shuttle Pilot
Judith Resnick: Mission Specialist, Robot Arm Operator
Ronald Mc Nair: Payload Specialist, Satellite Launcher
Gregory Jarvis: Mission Specialist, Satellite Design Study
Ellison Onizuka: Mission Specialist, Comet Photography
Sharon Christa Mc Auliffe: Mission Specialist, Teacher In Space

For Those Who Dare
Steve Crowley, KIIS-FM/AM, Los Angeles (1/28/86)

President Ronald Reagan:
It's all part of the process of exploration and discovery.

Dick Scobee, Challenger Mission Commander:
Space is in their future.

President Reagan:
It's all part of taking a chance and expanding man's horizons.

Astronaut Scobee:
And if it's good for the country, then they ought to be flying.

Vice President George Bush:
The great adventure of space travel requires
 men and women of spirit and bravery.

Senator / Astronaut John Glenn:
We've had fifty-six manned missions so far.

Christa Mc Auliffe, Teacher in Space:
When that shuttle goes there might be one body,
but there's gonna be ten souls that I'm taking with me.

President Reagan:
The future doesn't belong to the fainthearted.
It belongs to the brave.

Greg Lake:
Freedom held as a standard for those who dare
In a world full of madness are those who care
Silence draws no applause for the blood that stains their causes
But there's freedom for those who dare

Vilified by opponents in times of need
Those without true commitment will not succeed
Those who strive for an aim must beware the way is painful
Liberation for those who dare

Hugh Harris, Launch Control, Cape Canaveral:
T-minus 10, 9, 8, 7, 6 ... We have main engine start… 4, 3, 2, 1,
and lift off. Lift off of the 25th Space Shuttle mission...
And it has cleared the tower.

Steve Nesbitt, Mission Control, Houston:
Mid-roll program confirmed… Challenger now heading down range…
Engines at 65%… Three engines running normally…
Three good fuel cells… Three good A.P.U.s…
Engines throttling up… Three engines now at 104%.

Richard Covey: Capsule Communicator, Mission Control, Houston:
Challenger… "Go" at throttle up.

Mission Commander Scobee, aboard Challenger:
Roger… "Go" at throttle up.

(explosion)

Senator Glenn:
These seven carried the hopes and the dreams of all of us. What we can do now is to make sure we carry their memories in carrying on.

Vice President Bush:
Danger awaits all those who push back the frontier of space.
It reminds us that the great adventure of space travel requires men and women of spirit and bravery. You must try to understand that spirit, bravery and commitment are what make not only the space program, but all of life worthwhile.

Greg Lake:
Hooded eyed, underground from the blades of light
Can't be found, not a sound in the dead of night
Panic grips whitened lips, fortune smiles and fortune trips them
Liberation for those who dare

Those with nerve torn by tension can't hesitate
Eyes ablaze with perfection must cool to slate
Hands are damp, muscles cramp, skill explodes with practiced timing
And there's freedom for those who dare
Liberation for those who care
Victory for those who dare

President Reagan:
The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honored us
by the manner in which they lived their lives.
We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them,
as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye...
Then slipped the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God.



FOR THOSE WHO DARE is derived from the regimental motto of Britain's Special Air Service: "Who dares, wins."

The original song comes from Greg Lake's 1981 self-titled solo album on Chrysalis Records.

Voices of the crew, launch controllers and public officials were videotaped from live news coverage.
This tribute was produced and first broadcast the day of the event, January 28, 1986.

At the time Steve Crowley worked as Director of Creative Services at KIIS-FM/AM, Los Angeles... It was the public pinnacle of his career.

Since he had previously met President Reagan's speechwriter, Peggy Noonan, he sent her a copy... Her boss replied with a hand-written note. But it was the follow-up phone call from Astronaut Gary Payton saying "Thank you for a tribute worthy of my friends," a few weeks later, which Steve recalls as the best private moment in his career.

1 comment:

  1. I wonder if when they touched the face of God their fingers found a tear there for the sacrifice of such extraordinary humans ?

    This is beautiful work, Steve. You should be proud.

    ReplyDelete