BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — NASA held its Day of Remembrance at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on Thursday to honor the men and women who lost their lives in America’s pursuit of space exploration.

What You Need To Know

  • NASA held a Day of Remembrance on Thursday for those who died as part of the U.S. space program

  • There were three missions with deaths in NASA's history

  • Survivors and family gathered together to mourn and remember

Three tragic accidents have happened during the United States space program’s history, and officials and Central Florida residents took a moment to reflect on who was lost, and why most believe the country should continue reaching for the stars.

This year’s ceremony was held inside because of the cold weather, as family, friends and colleagues remembered the 25 astronauts and test pilots killed in the country’s pursuit of space.

“Every year we gather to pay tribute to the lives lost in the pursuit of exploration and knowledge,” interim Kennedy Space Center Director Kelvin Manning said as he addressed the gathering.

The Apollo 1 launch pad fire killed three astronauts — Roger Chaffee, Virgil "Gus" Grissom and Edward White II — on Jan. 27, 1967 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Chaffee's daughter Sheryl said this day is always special to share with other families who also have lost a loved one during work to advance the U.S. space program.

She said her faith brings her strength in the memory of her father.

“Pray a lot, ask for strength. It does get easier but you’ll never forget it, but that’s good, too,” Sheryl Chaffee said.

On Jan. 28, 1986, the seven-member Shuttle Challenger crew was killed when the orbiter broke apart 73 seconds after liftoff from the Kennedy Space Center. Those crew members were Dick Scobee, Michael Smith, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Gregory Jarvis, Judith Resnick and teacher Christa McAuliffe.

On Feb. 1, 2003, the Shuttle Columbia accident claimed the lives of the seven-member crew — Commander Rick Husband, pilot Willie McCool, mission specialists Kalpana Chawla, Laurel Clark, Michael Anderson, David Brown and payload specialist Ilan Ramon of Israel. The orbiter was destroyed over Texas as it was coming home.

The legacy of Ramon, Israel’s first astronaut, is kept alive by his son Taj.

“Being here symbolizes the launch and the landing that never happened. There’s still family history that resonates in this place,” he said.

Family laid a wreath at the Astronauts Memorial Foundation’s Space Mirror Memorial, which is emblazoned with the names of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Guests placed flowers in honor of the heroes who died to help further America's exploration of space.

It was a somber day as the U.S. presses on to return to the moon once again — and eventually to Mars.