How are challenger astronauts similar to sir francis drake? according to reagan the challenger astronauts were similar to sir francis drake because he died doing something he loved. "390 years ago, the great explorer, sir francis drake died aboard ship off the coast of he lived by sea, died on it and buried on it." the challenger astronauts loved what they did despite knowing the risks involved. "they wished to serve, and they did" just like sir francis drake, the challenger astronauts lived as astronauts and also died as one, sir francis drake lived as an explorer and died as one. i hope this : )

They both died doing something they believed in and loved. They were both dedicated to their causes and they both knew the risks involved in their professions.  They were both explorers and taking leaps into the unknown.

On January 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded, killing its crew. In this excerpt, Reagan compares the crew to Sir Francis Drake. Drake was an English sea captain, explorer, slave trader and naval officer of the Elizabethan era.

Reagan argues that the crew is similar to Sir Francis Drake because they lived as astronauts and died as astronauts. Similarly, Drake lived as an explorer and died as an explorer aboard his ship.