Challenger exploded 73 seconds after liftoff from the
Kennedy Space Center on January 28, 1986, killing all seven crew members.
The song “XO,” about a troubled relationship, features the
voice of now-retired NASA public affairs officer Steve Nesbitt, commentating as
the shuttle was seen breaking apart on live television.
“Flight controllers here looking very carefully at the
situation. Obviously a major malfunction,” Nesbitt is heard saying. The brief
audio clip runs for six seconds.
Beyonce issued a statement: “My heart goes out to the
families of those lost in the Challenger disaster. The song ‘XO’ was recorded
with the sincerest intention to help heal those who have lost loved ones and to
remind us that unexpected things happen, so love and appreciate every minute
that you have with those who mean the most to you.
“The songwriters included the audio in tribute to the
unselfish work of the Challenger crew with hope that they will never be
forgotten.”
Former and current astronauts, NASA employees and Challenger
family members see it differently.
June Scobee Rodgers, the widow of Challenger Space Shuttle Commander Dick Scobee and a founder of the Challenger Center for Space Science Education, expressed her disappointment in the singer’s decision.
Retired NASA astronaut Clayton Anderson told ABC News, “For
the words to be used in the video is simply insensitive, at the very least.”
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Beyoncé’s new song “XO” doesn’t appear to be a hit with the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, according to wsj.com. The agency has responded to the song’s use of
an audio clip from the disastrous Space Shuttle Challenger launch on Jan. 28,
1986.
“The Challenger accident is an important part of our history; a tragic reminder that space exploration is risky and should never be trivialized,” the agency said in a statement. “NASA works everyday to honor the legacy of our fallen astronauts as we carry out our mission to reach for new heights and explore the universe.”
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