THE BILL ITSELF
SR 1772
Space Shuttle Challenger Remembrance Day
Florida Senate - 2026 (NP) SR 1772 By Senator Wright 8-02070-26 20261772__
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Senate Resolution
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A resolution recognizing January 28, 2026, as “Space
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Shuttle Challenger Remembrance Day” in Florida to
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honor the Challenger crew, reflect on Florida’s
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enduring role in space exploration, and reaffirm this
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state’s commitment to education, safety, innovation,
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and the peaceful exploration of space.
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WHEREAS, January 28, 2026, marks the 40th anniversary of
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the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, a defining moment in the
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history of American space exploration when seven astronauts lost
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their lives in service to discovery, innovation, and the
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advancement of human knowledge, and
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WHEREAS, for generations, Florida has served as the
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nation’s primary gateway to space, and the legacy of the Space
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Shuttle Program is engrained in this state’s identity,
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workforce, and leadership in aerospace innovation, and
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WHEREAS, the Challenger crew—Francis R. Scobee, Michael J.
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Smith, Judith A. Resnik, Ellison S. Onizuka, Ronald E. McNair,
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Gregory B. Jarvis, and Sharon Christa McAuliffe—exemplified
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courage and a shared commitment to exploration which continues
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to inspire the global space community, and
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WHEREAS, Sharon Christa McAuliffe, selected as the first
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teacher in space, embodied the powerful connection between space
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exploration and education, inspiring students and educators to
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see science, engineering, and curiosity as engines of progress,
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and
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WHEREAS, the lessons learned from the Challenger disaster
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led to lasting improvements in aerospace engineering, safety
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culture, and mission oversight, advances that continue to shape
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the way the space industry operates in Florida today, and
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WHEREAS, the Challenger Learning Center of Tallahassee
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stands as a living tribute to the Challenger crew, inspiring
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students across Florida through hands-on education in science,
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technology, engineering, and mathematics and cultivating the
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next generation of scientists, engineers, and explorers who will
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carry Florida’s space legacy forward, NOW, THEREFORE,
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Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
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That January 28, 2026, is recognized as “Space Shuttle
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Challenger Remembrance Day” in Florida to honor the Challenger
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crew, reflect on Florida’s enduring role in space exploration,
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and reaffirm this state’s commitment to education, safety,
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innovation, and the peaceful exploration of space.