Because of NASA's involvement with the celebrations, this gave Jean Michel a chance to keep in contact with a friend of his, Astronaut Captain Bruce McCandless (the first Astronaut to perform an unaided space walk), who in turn introduced Jean Michel to a flight companion of his, Astronaut and Jazz Musician Ron McNair. Jean Michel and Ron became good friends, and together they had the idea that, for the celebrations, Jean Michel would create a piece of music that could be performed by Ron on his Saxophone. The idea was that Ron, on his next trip into space in the Challenger Space Shuttle, would perform (and record onto video) the new piece of music, which would then be projected (through a video playback) onto a giant projection screen that was to be constructed on the front of one of the buildings.

Whilst preparing the concert, Jean Michel Jarre started work on a new album - Rendez-Vous - which would contain the music that was to be performed live at the concert and was also scheduled to be released on the same day of the concert too. Whilst making the album, and preparing for the concert, Jean Michel and Ron continuously worked together, sometimes in person, sometimes by phone, on their collaboration.

On January 28th 1986, Ron telephones Jean Michel for the last time. "...Everything's ready. See you in a week's time. Watch me on TV for the takeoff!" On that same day, an appalled world witnesses a historic tragedy - the Challenger Space Shuttle explodes in mid-air whilst on its accent into outer space, and at the same time Jean Michel loses a friend.

Distraught by what has happened, Jean Michel almost decides to cancel the concert because of the tragedy that has happened. But at this point, both the Astronauts from NASA and also Bruce McCandless telephoned Jean Michel after hearing that he was considering canceling the concert. They asked Jean Michel not to do this, as now the concert MUST go ahead, and be held in tribute to pay respect to the Astronauts who had lost their lives in the disaster.

This, of cause, posed one slight problem as he was now without a Saxophone player to perform the track he had specially written for Ron McNair. Luckily a musician friend of Ron's, Kirk Whalum, contacted Jean Michel and together they collaborated at the concert to perform, in tribute to the Astronauts and of Ron who had died in the disaster, Rendez-vous 6 - subtitled 'Ron's Piece' in respect to the man himself.