Remembering Challenger - 40 years on.

Today, we remember the seven astronauts who lost their lives in the service of exploration, science, and the shared pursuit of knowledge. The Space Shuttle Challenger accident was a moment of profound national grief and became a turning point that reshaped how the United States approached safety, accountability, and responsibility in human spaceflight. 

President Ronald Reagan spoke not only of loss but of resolve - that honoring the fallen meant learning from failure and moving forward with greater wisdom and care. The Space Shuttle program continued ahead with strengthened reform and more effective management oversight. That legacy extends beyond aerospace.

History shows that in moments of crisis, progress does not come from abandonment of bold visions but from rebuilding them with humility, discipline, and intention. Rememberance and forward motion are not opposites, they are inseparable. This principle informs our vision to rebuild the Twin Towers - stronger, safer, and reimagined with an ambition centered on STEM education, innovation, and global collaboration. Our effort is supported with nearly 10,000 signatures and statements from the 9/11 families and the wider community via the Twin Towers Alliance. This effort reflects a shared belief (deep down) that acts of destruction must never define the future. 

On this 40th anniversary, we honor those we lost by committing ourselves to building responsibly, learning deeply, and continuing forward: wiser and stronger than before.