Beyoncé fought major criticism this week after using a clip of audio recorded just after the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded in 1986, killing seven people on board.

BeyonceBeyoncé attends a screening for her new visual album

And now NASA is fighting back.

The space agency released a statement on Tuesday (December 31) after finding that Bey had used the sample. According to the Associated Press, the sample used the words "major malfunction", and the singer used the words to talk about a failed relationship. NASA was not amused.

"The Challenger accident is an important part of our history; a tragic reminder that space exploration is risky and should never be trivialized," NASA's statement read. "NASA works every day to honor the legacy of our fallen astronauts as we carry out our mission to reach for new heights and explore the universe."

BeyonceBeyoncé performs in Philadelphia in August 2013

Beyoncé, while not formally apologizing, released a statement saying the harm caused was not intentional.

"My heart goes out to the families of those lost in the Challenger disaster," the statement said. "The song 'XO' was recorded with the sincerest intention to help heal those who have lost loved ones and to remind us that unexpected things happen, so love and appreciate every minute that you have with those who mean the most to you. The songwriters included the audio in tribute to the unselfish work of the Challenger crew with hope that they will never be forgotten."

But those who lost their loved ones in the accident did not agree with using the sample in the first place. June Scobee Rogers, who lost her husband on the Challenger, said it was "emotionally difficult."