HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Each year around this time, NASA honors fallen astronauts, including the 17 men and women killed in three wintertime accidents in the sky and on Earth.
For Robert “Hoot” Gibson, it’s a time to remember lost friends and some of their stunts, such as playing a saxophone in orbit.
Gibson, who flew on five space shuttle missions, knew each of the 14 astronauts who died in the Challenger explosion Jan. 28, 1986, and the Columbia disaster Feb. 1, 2003.
On Thursday, he lit a candle of remembrance during a ceremony at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.
Gibson said he feels fortunate to have flown in space, and he still remembers those who didn’t make it back.
“You think about the contributions that those people made and all the wonderful things they did and all the wonderful things that they were going to do in the future,” he said.
