The Astronauts Memorial "Space Mirror" -

In essence, the design for the Astronauts Memorial is not a "design" at all, but rather a view of the astronauts' world: the sky and beyond. At this level, in fact, the memorial is not a "memorial" in the traditional sense either, but a window onto the experiences of the astronauts within this world. The visitor is offered a sense of the astronauts' mission - the mission to exist in this ethereal realm and comes to feel the awe that such a mission must inspire, to understand its real significance. That is, finally, to come to feel the astronauts' own yearning to be at home there, in space, as active citizens of the universe.

Within this context, then, the "design" for the "memorial" is simply the creation of a home in these heavens for the memories of the fallen astronauts. As the astronauts were sent heavenward - emissaries for humanity and its highest technological achievements - so in the memorial their names are places into these heavens for humanity by this same technology. The visible "hardware" of the design is the means for emblazoning the names of the fallen astronauts against the sky - creating, by this juxtaposition itself, a true and proper memorial.

-Holt Hinshaw Pfau Jones

Designer of the Astronauts Memorial

A large black reflective wall with cloud reflections and small white text, an orange and white rocket model, blue sky with white clouds, and trees in the background.

The Space Mirror Memorial

Located at The Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex, the Astronaut’s Memorial “Space Mirror” is a unique blend of art and science and a fitting tribute to the astronauts being honored. The Space Mirror Memorial, designated as a national memorial by Congress and President George Bush (H.J. Res. 214), was dedicated in 1991 by Vice President Dan Quayle.. The design of the Space Mirror is the result of a national architectural competition which drew entries from more than 750 architects. Only the Vietnam Veterans Memorial attracted more design concepts.

The Space Mirror is a 42.5 foot tall by 50 foot wide memorial constructed out of Steel and mirror-finished granite with the names of the 25 astronauts cut through its surface. The names are illuminated 24 hours a day by weather proof LED lighting. As you look up at the names carved into the mirror polished granite on the memorial you will lose track of the monument itself as you see the names floating in the reflection of the sky.

The Astronauts Memorial was designed by Holt, Hinshaw, Pfau, and Jones. A San Francisco architecture firm. Their submissions was one of the 756 designs submitted to the design competition hosted by The Astronauts Memorial Foundation in 1987.

The $7.8 million dollar project sits quietly next to a lagoon as a part of The Astronauts Memorial Foundation property along with The Center For Space Education located at The Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex and is open 365 days a year to visit.

Funding for the memorial was provided in large part by the successful sale of the Challenger license plate in the State of Florida.

The Competition

In 1987 The Astronauts Memorial Foundation conducted a national design competition to find the design of the Space Mirror. Registrants submitted 756 designs to the competition making this the largest such competition since the Vietnam Veterans Memorial competition.

A group of people in a meeting or presentation with a woman speaking, seated around a long table with notebooks, a bottle of water, and presentation boards in the background.

A man in a white shirt and vest kneeling beside a table with large display boards showing engineering and architectural plans and posters, in a conference or exhibition room.

A young man looking at architectural plans on a table in a conference or banquet hall with long tables covered with white cloth.

Design Submissions

These are just a few of the design submissions for the Space Mirror Memorial

Architectural blueprint and landscape design plan featuring water features, building layouts, elevation views, and site details.

A comic-style black-and-white informational display about the NASA and Space Administration astronaut memorial, with sketches of the memorial's architectural design, scenes of the memorial site, and text describing its significance.

Diagram of the astronaut's memorial with a layout of the memorial building, a pool, and a display of the space shuttle Atlantis, along with a picture of the memorial's exterior showing the flag and a glowing globe in the sky.

Design plans and renderings for the Astronauts Memorial, including site layout, elevations, sections, and architectural features, with informational panels at the top.

Building the Space Mirror

Design plans for a space exploration monument, including site layout, circular structure, and sculpture views.

Architectural plan and model images for the Astronauts Memorial, including drawings, 3D renderings, and diagrams.

Blueprint of an architectural project with site plans, sections, and rendered views, titled 'Astronauts Memorial, Design Competition,' on black background.

Crowd of people seated outdoors at a patriotic event, with a large stage and American flags, under a cloudy sky.

May 9th, 1991

Group of people, including adults and children, standing outdoors at a memorial or ceremonial event during cloudy weather, some wearing formal clothing with medals and ribbons.

A man in a suit standing at a podium delivering a speech during a formal outdoor event, with a row of seated men listening in the background.

A group of people outdoors, dressed in formal attire, some wearing sunglasses, seemingly attending a ceremony or event.

Three men in suits standing in front of a large memorial wreath with red and pink flowers, on a balcony overlooking a gathering of people.

President Biden giving a speech at a ceremony with military personnel and flags, including the American flag, on a stage with a large crowd in attendance.

Multiple flags flying on flagpoles overlooking a stadium or racing track.

The document is the joint resolution recognizing the Astronauts Memorial at the John F. Kennedy Space Center as the national memorial to astronauts who die in the line of duty, approved by Congress on May 8, 1991, signed by the Speaker of the House and Vice President, with signatures and official approval note.