Challenger Disaster Anniversary

Today's the 20th anniversary of the Challenger disaster which killed the seven astronauts on board and was the first major space disaster of our generation.

MSN is carrying a “7 myths about the Challenger shuttle disaster” article, which is interesting reading. However, I take issue with Number 7, that the disaster wasn't inevitable.

Space travel is an inherently dangerous activity and as such, accidents of this magnitude are indeed inevitable. What I find frustrating about the shuttle disasters is the damage they have done to the progress of space travel and exploration. Only recently have shuttles began to fly again, advancing the progress of the ISS.

Please understand, I don't mean to shrug off these tragedies that took the lives of several of our fellow human beings. I'd just hope that we as a nation begin understanding that accidents of this magnitude will happen and it's important that we press forward with our space efforts despite such setbacks, not take a year (or several) off while we investigate every aspect NASA. It's what the crew of Challenger and Columbia would want, I'd think.