Family of Challenger crew mark 20th anniversary of disaster

The widow of &to=http://english.pravda.ru/world/2003/02/05/43041.html' target=_blank>Challenger's commander laid a wreath of roses and carnations at a memorial honoring fallen astronauts, just miles from the launch pad where the doomed space shuttle blew apart 73 seconds after lifting off 20 years ago Saturday.

"Our lives were shattered, but over the years all the families persevered," said June Scobee Rodgers, whose husband Dick Scobee had been the shuttle's commander.

Seven &to=http://english.pravda.ru/science/19/94/379/16403_moon.html' target=_blank>astronauts died in the explosion, and the video of the shuttle bursting apart was replayed over and over to a shocked nation.

On Saturday, 250 people joined a ceremony at Kennedy Space Center to honor Scobee, pilot Mike Smith, astronauts Ellison Onizuka, Judy Resnik, Ron McNair and Greg Jarvis, and Christa McAuliffe, who was supposed to be the first teacher in space.