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The Space Shuttle “Challenger” Tragedy Address

Ronald Reagan
The Space Shuttle “Challenger” Tragedy Address
delivered 28 January 1986

[AUTHENTICITY CERTIFIED: Text version below transcribed directly from audio.]

Ladies and Gentlemen, I’d planned to speak to you tonight to report on the state of the Union, but the events of earlier today have led me to change those plans. Today is a day for mourning and remembering. Nancy and I are pained to the core by the tragedy of the shuttle Challenger. We know we share this pain with all of the people of our country. This is truly a national loss.

Nineteen years ago, almost to the day, we lost three astronauts in a terrible accident on the ground. But we’ve never lost an astronaut in flight. We’ve never had a tragedy like this. [ more ]