Fifty years ago, the fledgling American space program suffered a horrifying setback when the command crew of the Apollo 1, the first step in manned flights to the moon, were killed after an equipment malfunction set their rocket ablaze on the launch pad. Lt. Cmdr. Roger Chaffee, Lt. Col. Gus Grissom and Lt. Col. Edward White perished in the fire, some of the first martyrs in America’s quest to slip the surly bonds of Earth and rise above.

Since then, man’s quest to reach the heavens, to want more than we are given, has been a ruthless one, costing individuals and entire crews their lives. The memorial plaque on the Apollo 1 launchpad is inscribed with the phrase “Ad astra per aspera,” which means, “Through hardship to the stars.”

This phrase is more important now than ever. This is not to let the cost that the men and women of the space program, and indeed, of all science, have paid and will pay again deter us. It is to remind us that without sacrifice, there can be no gain. We must risk much to clutch the wisdom and knowledge beyond ourselves. We must always push forward, learning, researching and finding ways to better ourselves as a country and, indeed, as a species.

It’s especially important now, under an administration that has garnered a reputation of being hostile to science. President Donald Trump claimed that climate change is a “hoax” peddled by China. His administration issued a gag order to the Department of Agriculture, not allowing the scientists there to speak to the press or publish research without its consent. Scott Pruitt, Trump’s nominee to head the Environmental Protection Agency, has spent his career fighting that very agency. These actions, among others, have disconcerted the scientific community.

Following the example of the women’s march, one of the largest peaceful protests in history, the scientific community is planning its own demonstration to take place at the Austin Capitol. Americans are being called upon to show their support in defense of independent, accurate, peer-reviewed research.

It’s a slap in the face of the men and women who perished in the name of that goal that was bigger than profits, bigger than politics. That science would be suppressed because of an administration controlled by business interests is shameful and cowardly. That they would deny the species a better future to put more money in the pockets of a few- many of whom swore that they would do no such thing — is beyond reproach.

In an era of fake news and alternative facts, it is imperative that scientific research remain above petty politicking. The potential ramifications of allowing research to become embroiled in partisanship would be destructive to our democracy, not to mention profaning the courageous sacrifices of true American heroes.