Their Spirits Circle the Earth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Their Spirits Circle the Earth |
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The sculpture in 2018
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| Artist | Jim Mason |
| Year | 1987 |
| Location | Columbus, Ohio, United States |
| 39°57′49.72″N 83°0′21.78″W / 39.9638111°N 83.0060500°W | |
Their Spirits Circle the Earth, also known as Challenger Memorial, is an outdoor memorial and sculpture. It honors the brave people who were part of the Space Shuttle Challenger accident. Artist Jim Mason created this memorial. You can find it in Columbus, Ohio's Battelle Riverfront Park, in the United States.
What Does the Challenger Memorial Look Like?
This special artwork has a shiny brass ball. The ball is about 13.5 inches (34 cm) wide. It sits on a large granite slab. This slab is about 3 feet 6 inches long and 3 feet 6 inches wide. The whole sculpture rests on a concrete base.
Messages on the Memorial
One side of the memorial has a message carved into it. It says: "THEIR SPIRITS / CIRCLE / THE EARTH". It also mentions that The Burger King Corporation and their Columbus, Ohio stores helped pay for it. The date "January 28, 1987" is also there.
There is also a plaque with more words. It lists the names of the seven astronauts:
- Francis R. Scobee, Flight Commander
- Michael J. Smith
- Ronald E. McNair
- Ellison S. Onizuka
- Judith A. Resnik
- Gregory B. Jarvis
- Sharon Christa McAuliffe
The plaque also says: "They Accepted the Challenge / In memory of the courage and pioneering spirit of / the seven astronauts who perished aboard the / challenger on Jan. 28, 1986 / Designed and dedicated by the children of Columbus / Mayor Dana G. Rinehart / Jan. 28, 1987". This means the memorial was designed by children from Columbus. It was dedicated on January 28, 1987.
How Was the Memorial Recorded?
In 1992, the Smithsonian Institution looked at this memorial. They included it in their "Save Outdoor Sculpture!" program. This program helps keep track of and protect outdoor art.
