Florida Senate - 2026                            (NP)    SR 1772
       
       
        
       By Senator Wright
       
       
       
       
       
       8-02070-26                                            20261772__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution recognizing January 28, 2026, as “Space
    3         Shuttle Challenger Remembrance Day” in Florida to
    4         honor the Challenger crew, reflect on Florida’s
    5         enduring role in space exploration, and reaffirm this
    6         state’s commitment to education, safety, innovation,
    7         and the peaceful exploration of space.
    8  
    9         WHEREAS, January 28, 2026, marks the 40th anniversary of
   10  the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, a defining moment in the
   11  history of American space exploration when seven astronauts lost
   12  their lives in service to discovery, innovation, and the
   13  advancement of human knowledge, and
   14         WHEREAS, for generations, Florida has served as the
   15  nation’s primary gateway to space, and the legacy of the Space
   16  Shuttle Program is engrained in this state’s identity,
   17  workforce, and leadership in aerospace innovation, and
   18         WHEREAS, the Challenger crew—Francis R. Scobee, Michael J.
   19  Smith, Judith A. Resnik, Ellison S. Onizuka, Ronald E. McNair,
   20  Gregory B. Jarvis, and Sharon Christa McAuliffe—exemplified
   21  courage and a shared commitment to exploration which continues
   22  to inspire the global space community, and
   23         WHEREAS, Sharon Christa McAuliffe, selected as the first
   24  teacher in space, embodied the powerful connection between space
   25  exploration and education, inspiring students and educators to
   26  see science, engineering, and curiosity as engines of progress,
   27  and
   28         WHEREAS, the lessons learned from the Challenger disaster
   29  led to lasting improvements in aerospace engineering, safety
   30  culture, and mission oversight, advances that continue to shape
   31  the way the space industry operates in Florida today, and
   32         WHEREAS, the Challenger Learning Center of Tallahassee
   33  stands as a living tribute to the Challenger crew, inspiring
   34  students across Florida through hands-on education in science,
   35  technology, engineering, and mathematics and cultivating the
   36  next generation of scientists, engineers, and explorers who will
   37  carry Florida’s space legacy forward, NOW, THEREFORE,
   38  
   39  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   40  
   41         That January 28, 2026, is recognized as “Space Shuttle
   42  Challenger Remembrance Day” in Florida to honor the Challenger
   43  crew, reflect on Florida’s enduring role in space exploration,
   44  and reaffirm this state’s commitment to education, safety,
   45  innovation, and the peaceful exploration of space.