Challenger Seven

Per Aspera, Ad Astra

Twenty-five years ago today, seven brave astronauts were lost as the space shuttle Challenger exploded, 73 seconds after lift-off. At the time, I wrote a song which has been performed at numerous science fiction conferences, conventions and gatherings over the years. I couldn't find a decent recording of the song, so I thought I'd just post the lyrics here. Per aspera, ad astra, my friends. Per aspera, ad astra.

This was written in honor of the Challenger Seven: Mike Smith, Dick Scobee, Gregory Jarvis, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Judith Resnik, and Christa McAuliffe, one week after the explosion.

There's just no way to count the cost; it's hard to understand.
But even with our pain and loss, we cannot let it end.
Oh Challenger, true light of liberty
A guide for us and our posterity.

I challenge you to seek your dreams of space.
I challenge you, the nation and the race
To be everything that I had hoped to be.
I challenge you as a memorial to me.

We are a land of pioneers, and many brave ones have died.
But though we've lost the best of us, we're proud to say we tried.
And one small step became a giant leap,
A memory for a nation to keep.

I challenge you to seek your dreams of space.
I challenge you, the nation and the race
To be everything that I had hoped to be.
I challenge you as a memorial to me.

If they were standing here today, they'd say, America, we love you.
And you've got to keep on striving to explore the stars above you.
To end what we have lived for would be wrong.
We pass the torch to you; keep it burning strong.

With rockets raging through the sky, we watched our heroes die.
They took the risks, they challenged space, with knowledge as the prize.
For if we never dare, we never can achieve.
And all we need is the courage to believe.

I challenge you to seek your dreams of space.
I challenge you, the nation and the race
To be everything that I had hoped to be.
I challenge you as a memorial to me.

Be everything that I had hoped to be.
I challenge you as a memorial to me.