It is hard to believe it was 32 years ago today that I (a fifth grader) turned on the news, and saw that the space shuttle Challenger explosion.

The impact of that moment is still strong – 32 years later.

That period of national mourning so many of us experienced was unlike any other.

And though it has been 32 years since the Challenger explosion, the words of President Ronald Reagan still hold true when it comes to space exploration, and indeed, discovery across all aspects of our universe, whether it’s beyond the stars, or right here, on earth: We have only just begun.

We truly must remember that we are all pioneers, on a quest to explore what lies in front of us – and what is out there in the world around us.

Everyday we must be brave and resolute and relentless, as there are no guarantees on tomorrow.

And we must meet every challenge, no matter how simple or how daunting, with joy and enthusiasm; to work hard and live a life as inspirational as the dawn of each day, and the heroes we admire, who leave the world behind.

President Reagan’s address to the nation following the Challenger explosion.