If memory serves, "High Flight" was used after the Challenger disaster. It is a beautiful poem.
Oh, of course you read the poem...in the reply just before...lol
You are right about the poem being paraphrased in the Challenger disaster speech. Written by Peggy Noonan, one of my favorite editorial writers...
http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/
Here is the last paragraph of the Challenger speech.
"The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved good-bye and "slipped the surly bonds of earth" to "touch the face of God."
http://www.reaganfoundation.com/reagan/speeches/