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Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster Address: Condolences (Sentences 6-10) Summary

A Numbers Game

  • Reagan uses lots of numbers to explain why the Challenger disaster is unique.
  • Nineteen years ago three astronauts died on the ground.
  • Zero astronauts had died in flight until Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.
  • The Challenger Seven were brave and accepted the risks of flying into outer space.
  • Reagan deems the astronauts heroes and names each one: Michael Smith, Dick Scobee, Judith Resnik, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Gregory Jarvis, and Christa McAuliffe.
  • Reagan assumes everyone in America is in mourning together.