NASA Responds To Use Of Challenger Audio In Beyonce's Song

NASA has responded to the controversy surrounding Beyonce’s use of an audio clip from the Challenger space shuttle disaster in one of her new songs, “XO.”

Saying the disaster should “never be trivialized,” NASA released a statement on Tuesday:

“The Challenger accident is an important part of our history; a tragic reminder that space exploration is risky and should never be trivialized,” said the statement from Lauren B. Worley, NASA’s press secretary. “NASA works every day to honor the legacy of our fallen astronauts as we carry out our mission to reach for new heights and explore the universe.”

Beyonce responded to the criticism last week, stating the song “was recorded with the sincerest intention to help heal those who have lost loved ones and to remind us that unexpected things happen, so love and appreciate every minute that you have with those who mean the most to you.”

In 1986, the Challenger exploded during takeoff; all seven crewmembers aboard were killed. Others have spoken out against the song’s use of audio from the disaster, including the widow of the shuttle’s commander, June Scobee Rodgers, who said she found the inclusion of the clip “disappointing.”