Would it be possible to somewhere in the final game to have a tribute to all those who have died serving in the various space programs around the world?

A very fitting proposal!

Hmmm, not a bad idea. Engraved into an asteroid, maybe?

...big roid...

Not an asteroid, a monolith like in "2001: Space Odyssey". Just have it floating and slowly tumbling in one of the empty, neutral sectors.

I was thinking more of a station that served more like a message buoy, ie, when you docked, all you could do is get missions and read a nice little message dedicated to the American, Russian, European, and various Asian space agencies who have lost astro/cosmonauts to accidents on the pad or in flight. Think Ar'Za Iusia in Escape Velocity Nova.

I like that idea, seems to be a fitting proposal.

I remember when everyone lined up in s7 (v3.1.x) and boosted at the same time in formation to pay tribute to Space Shuttle Columbia. The rumbling of twelve booster engines side by side (nothing I've ever heard before) was breathtaking. And this was back when the loud bass was in the engine sound. Anyway, I thought that was pretty cool.

Hey, did anyone take pictures of that event?