NASA has publicly reacted to the controversy sparked by pop star Beyonce using audio from the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster in the new music video for her song 'XO'. The video for the track from her new self-titled album included an audio sample that was recorded just moments after the space shuttle exploded shortly after launch in 1986, killing the seven aboard the spacecraft including a school teacher.
ABC reports that NASA press secretary Lauren B. Worley had the following to say, "The Challenger accident is an important part of our history; a tragic reminder that space exploration is risky and should never be trivialized. 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 said the following after the negative reaction to her inclusion of the sample in the video "My heart goes out to the families of those lost in the Challenger disaster," she said in a statement. "The song 'XO' 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. The songwriters included the audio in tribute to the unselfish work of the Challenger crew with hope that they will never be forgotten."
