THE FOOTBALL THAT WENT TO SPACE TWICE

 

The "football that went to space twice" is a poignant, historic soccer ball carried by astronaut Ellison Onizuka aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger. After surviving the 1986 disaster, it was recovered from the ocean, returned to Earth, and years later taken to the International Space Station by his daughter's principal.The incredible journey of the Clear Lake High School soccer ball is a story of tragedy, endurance, and a touching tribute:

The First Launch (1986):

Before boarding the Space Shuttle Challenger, NASA astronaut Ellison Onizuka was gifted a soccer ball by his daughter Janelle and her teammates at Clear Lake High School in Houston. Onizuka brought the ball aboard as a personal item, but the mission ended in tragedy when the shuttle broke apart shortly after liftoff.

The Miraculous Recovery

Against all odds, the soccer ball was found among the floating debris in the Atlantic Ocean by the U.S. Coast Guard and returned to Onizuka's family. His widow, Lorna Onizuka, later returned the tattered and autographed ball to the high school, where it sat hidden behind trophies for years.

The Second Journey (2017): 

Decades later, astronaut Shane Kimbrough, whose own children attended the same Clear Lake High School, was preparing for a mission to the International Space Station (ISS). He requested permission to take the ball back into space on behalf of the school. The ball officially went to space for a second time, serving as a powerful tribute to Onizuka's legacy.

Returning Home

After completing its second historic spaceflight, the ball was brought back to Earth by Kimbrough and permanently returned to the Onizuka family and the high school.