Rhetorical Analysis of Challenger Tragedy Address

On January 28, 1986 the world waited expectantly to witness Space Shuttle Challenger’s next flight from Kennedy Space Center in Orlando, Florida. Unfortunately, upon liftoff at 11:38 a.m., just seventy-three seconds later, it exploded in mid-air killing all seven crew members aboard. This tragedy burned itself into the memories of children and adults in America. Millions of Americans including school children witnessed this horrific disaster on television because this was the first time a school teacher had been allowed aboard a Space Shuttle. After six hours of searching, no survivors were found. That day the lives of astronauts Michael Smith, Dick Scobee, Judith Resnik, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Gregory Jarvis, and Christa McAuliffe were lost in this tragedy. The astronauts saw space travel as a calling for mankind. Former President Reagan immediately addressed the nation after the tragedy. His emotional public address was hopeful and inspirational, and left a compelling impression on all who heard it extolling virtues of unity, leadership and healing.

Reagan was originally scheduled that evening to deliver the annual State of the Union Address, but after the tragedy occurred immediately responded with a speech giving tribute to the astronauts instead. In the address he stated, "The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for the journey and waved goodbye and 'slipped the surly bonds of earth' to 'touch the face of God."Reagan immediately unified the nation by shifting the focus on the lives of the astronauts and not the tragedy.

Reagan was greatly influenced by the horrific events that took place and the great number of lives lost in the Challenger explosion. His intention was to calm the nation, provide answers, and start a healing process for the nation.

Statements such as “Give me a challenge and I’ll meet it with joy” and the use of “we” and “us” helped demonstrate oneness among Americans and displayed a great sense of leadership. Everyone was looking for someone to blame during this time, but Reagan reminded everyone that the astronauts had served us all and were doing what they loved when their lives were interrupted.

Regan made sure to include even the schoolchildren in his address, because he knew they had observed the tragedy. He acted and spoke to them as a father when he said, “I know it is hard to understand, but sometimes painful things like this happen.”  He placed himself briefly on their level and did not offer excuses. Instead he cautioned that sometimes there might be painful moments during our quest for the future, but that we would “continue to follow.”

He likened the Challenger tragedy to another great loss. Coincidentally, on the same day as the Challenger tragedy, Sir Francis Drake lost his life while aboard ship. Reagan quoted “He lived by the sea, died on it, and was buried in it.” He then went on to say that like Drake’s fatal final voyage, the Challenger crew’s voyage into space was now complete.  When speaking of the astronauts, he said their hunger was to discover the truths of the universe and to serve; as Reagan stated, “and they did.”   

Realizing that the nation was hurting, and that each individual family of those lost was experiencing their own personal grief, he united the astronauts by calling them the Challenger Seven. He made sure each astronaut was given recognition by calling out each of their names, and admitted that we as Americans could not possibly comprehend the amount of pain each family was feeling. He let them know that they were in our hearts and that we also felt a loss. He stated, “we mourn their loss as a nation together.” Reagan also made heroes of them all by talking of their daring bravery and grace. After Reagan addressed the nation the astronauts who died were no longer seen as victims, but as pioneers of space.         

In conclusion, Reagan made sure the lives of the astronauts were remembered in an honorable way and not forgotten. Reagan comforted Americans in the Challenger speech even though there was no hope for the astronauts return.             

My analysis has revealed that the Ronald Reagan Challenger speech is a very important and famous speech that touched the lives of children and adults across America. I have learned a lot from this assignment. One thing I learned is that not everything is meant to be or as it seems. I will use this knowledge to not take things for granted in life.