BEAUFORT, N.C. - 24 years ago today, seven astronauts died when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded on take off.
The pilot of that shuttle, Michael Smith, was from Beaufort.
Today, students at Beaufort Elementary School dedicated a mini-museum in his honor.
24 year later, Jane Smith Wolcott says the day she lost her husband is still fresh in her mind. “Every 28th is sort of every day for me. I remember Mike’s not around and I miss him terribly. And I’m very blessed to have been married to him."
Even though Smith is gone, his family hopes triumph can come of the tragedy.
Mike Smith served in the Navy and Vietnam as a fighter pilot before finally getting the nod from NASA to pilot a space mission.
The mission didn't go as planned but his family says there is still so much to learn from what he did.
"I want kids to take away the knowledge that we can continue to learn by not just looking forward but also looking back, by seeing what those around us have done to pave the way for us,” Jennifer Green said. Smith was Green’s uncle.
One of the things Smith enjoyed most was learning something new. “He read and he believed that through education you can learn to do anything,” said Wolcott.
Today the students at Beaufort Elementary dedicated this mini-museum to their hometown hero.
At a ceremony in the schools gym, Mike Smith's family shared their thanks.
They donated the memorabilia with the hope of educating and inspiring young minds.
"I'm excited, excited for the children and folks who live here and the future students of this school,” said Wolcott.
She says her husband believed that he could do anything and she hopes these children will be inspired to shoot for the stars.
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