CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Families of the lost Challenger astronauts are gathering at Kennedy Space Center in Florida to mark the space shuttle’s 30th anniversary. This time, though, there’s a new voice to address the crowd.
June Scobee Rodgers, widow of Challenger commander Dick Scobee and longtime spokeswoman for the group, is passing the torch to daughter Kathie Scobee Fulgham. Fulgham, not Rodgers, will be on the speaker platform for the ceremony Thursday morning.
And in the audience will be schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe’s son, Scott, with his own family. It will be a rare appearance; the McAuliffes normally do not take part in these NASA memorials.
Dick Scobee, Christa McAuliffe and five others perished when Challenger disintegrated during liftoff on Jan. 28, 1986.