American astronaut and physicist (1950?1986)
Ronald Erwin McNair
(October 21, 1950 ? January 28, 1986) was an American
NASA astronaut
and
physicist
. He
died
at the age of 35 during the launch of the
Space Shuttle
Challenger
on mission
STS-51-L
, in which he was serving as one of three
mission specialists
in a crew of seven.
Prior to the
Challenger
disaster, McNair flew as a mission specialist on
STS-41-B
aboard
Challenger
from February 3 to 11, 1984, becoming the second African American in space.
Background
[
edit
]
McNair was born October 21, 1950, in
Lake City, South Carolina
, to Pearl M. and Carl C. McNair. He had two brothers, Carl and Eric A. McNair. In the summer of 1959, McNair refused to leave the segregated Lake City Public Library without being allowed to check out his books. After the police and his mother were called, McNair was allowed to borrow books from the library; the building that housed the library at the time is now named after him.
[1]
A children's book,
Ron's Big Mission
, offers a fictionalized account of this event. McNair's brother, Carl, wrote Ronald's official biography,
In the Spirit of Ronald E. McNair?Astronaut: An American Hero
.
McNair graduated as
valedictorian
of Carver High School in 1967.
[2]
In 1971, McNair received a
Bachelor of Science
degree in
engineering physics
,
magna cum laude
, from the
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
in
Greensboro, North Carolina
.
[3]
At North Carolina A&T, he studied under professor
Donald Edwards
, who had established the physics curriculum at the university.
[4]
In 1976, McNair received a
PhD
degree in
physics
from the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
under the guidance of
Michael Feld
, becoming nationally recognized for his work in the field of
laser physics
. That same year, McNair won the AAU Karate gold medal. He would subsequently win five regional championships and earn a fifth-degree black belt in karate.
[5]
McNair received four
honorary doctorates
, as well as a score of
fellowships
and commendations. He became a staff physicist at the
Hughes Research Lab
in
Malibu, California
. McNair was also a member of the
Omega Psi Phi
Fraternity
.
[3]
Astronaut career
[
edit
]
In 1978, McNair was selected as one of 35 applicants from a pool of 10,000 for the NASA astronaut program. He was one of several astronauts recruited by
Nichelle Nichols
as part of a NASA effort to increase the number of minority and female astronauts.
[6]
McNair flew as a mission specialist on STS-41-B aboard
Challenger
from February 3 to 11, 1984, becoming the second African American to fly in space.
Challenger
disaster
[
edit
]
Following the STS-41-B mission, McNair was selected for STS-51-L as one of three mission specialists in a crew of seven. The mission launched on January 28, 1986. He and the other six crew members were killed when
Challenger
disintegrated
nine miles above the Atlantic Ocean, 73 seconds after liftoff.
[3]
McNair was initially buried at Rest Lawn Memorial Park in Lake City, South Carolina. His remains were disinterred in 2004 and moved to Ronald E. McNair Memorial Park, located elsewhere in Lake City.
[7]
Music in space
[
edit
]
McNair was an accomplished
saxophonist
and
jazz
enthusiast.
Before his last fateful space mission, McNair worked with French composer and performer
Jean-Michel Jarre
on a piece of music for Jarre's then-upcoming album
Rendez-Vous
. It was intended that McNair would record his saxophone solo on board the
Challenger
, which would have made McNair's solo the first original piece of music to have been recorded in space
[8]
(although the song "
Jingle Bells
" had been played on a
harmonica
during an earlier
Gemini 6
spaceflight). However, the recording was never made, as the flight
ended in the disaster
and the deaths of its entire crew. The final track on
Rendez-Vous
, "Last Rendez-Vous," has the subtitle "Ron's Piece," and the liner notes include a dedication from Jarre: "Ron was so excited about the piece that he rehearsed it continuously until the last moment. May the memory of my friend the astronaut and the artist Ron McNair live on through this piece."
[9]
McNair was supposed to have taken part in Jarre's
Rendez-vous Houston
concert through a live feed from the orbiting Shuttlecraft.
Public honors
[
edit
]
McNair was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor in 2004, along with all crew members lost in the
Challenger
and
Columbia
disasters.
A variety of public places, people and programs have been renamed in honor of McNair:
- The crater
McNair
on the
Moon
is named in his honor.
- The McNair Building (a.k.a. Building 37) at MIT, his alma mater, houses the Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research.
- The McNair Science Center at
Francis Marion University
in
Florence, South Carolina
- The McNair Center for Aerospace Innovation and Research at the
University of South Carolina
is named in his honor.
- The McNair Park & Recreation Center in
Pompano Beach, Florida
is named in his honor.
- Ronald McNair Boulevard in
Lake City, South Carolina
is named in his honor and lies near other streets named for astronauts who perished in the
Challenger
crash.
- The Quailbrook East development in
Somerset, New Jersey
has streets named after the Challenger and each of the seven astronauts.
[10]
- The
U.S. Department of Education
offers the TRIO
Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program
for students with low-income, first-generation students, and/or underrepresented students in graduate education for doctorate education.
- On January 29, 2011, the Lake City, South Carolina library was dedicated as the Ronald McNair Life History Center.
[2]
When Ronald McNair was nine, the police and his mother were called because he wished to check out books from this library, which served only white patrons before he arrived. He said, "I'll wait," to the lady and sat on the counter until the police and his mother arrived, and the officer said, "Why don't you just give him the books?" which the lady behind the counter reluctantly did. He said, "Thank you, ma'am," as he got the books.
[1]
The episode, as recalled by his brother Carl McNair, has been depicted in a short animated film.
[11]
[12]
[13]
- Numerous K?12 schools have also been named after McNair.
- McNair Elementary School in
Compton, California
- Los Robles Ronald McNair Academy
[14]
in
East Palo Alto
,
California
- Ronald McNair Elementary School in
Germantown, Maryland
- Ronald E. McNair Elementary School in
Hazelwood
, Missouri
[15]
- PS 5, Dr. Ronald McNair School in
Brooklyn
,
New York City
,
New York
- PS/MS 147 Ronald McNair in
Cambria Heights
Queens
, New York City, New York
- Ronald McNair Elementary School in
Greensboro, North Carolina
- Ronald E. McNair Elementary School in
Dallas
, Texas (
Dallas ISD
)
- Ronald Ervin McNair Elementary School in
Denton
,
Texas
(
Denton ISD
)
- Ronald McNair Middle School in
Rockledge, Florida
- Ronald McNair Middle School in DeKalb County, Georgia, near Decatur
- Ronald McNair Middle School in
College Park
, Georgia
- Ronald McNair Middle School, formerly the Andrew Jackson Intermediate School, in
Detroit, Michigan
- Ronald E. McNair Middle School in
Lake City, South Carolina
, was renamed from Carver High School in his honor (he was a high school graduate of the facility).
- Ronald E. McNair Middle School, San Antonio, Texas ?
Southwest ISD
- Ronald E. McNair Junior High School in
Huntsville, Alabama
[16]
- Dr. Ronald McNair Junior High School in
Pearland
, Texas (
Alvin Independent School District
), is named in honor Dr. McNair.
[17]
- Ronald E. McNair High School
in
Stockton, California
- Dr. Ronald E. McNair High School
in
DeKalb County, Georgia
, near
Decatur
- Dr. Ronald E. McNair Academic High School
in
Jersey City
,
New Jersey
[18]
- Ronald E. McNair Academic Center in
Chicago
,
Illinois
- Ronald E. McNair Building: Lycee Francais de la Nouvelle-Orleans,
New Orleans
,
Louisiana
- Ronald E. McNair Building: KIPP Believe College Prep, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Ronald E. McNair Administrative Center in
University City, Missouri
- Ronald E. McNair Prince Hall Masonic Lodge No. 146 is named in his honor in
Suitland
, Maryland
[19]
- A building on the
Willowridge High School
campus in
Houston
, Texas, is named in honor of McNair.
- McNair Memorial Park in
El Lago, Texas
, is named in his honor.
[20]
- In his honor, there is a memorial in Ronald McNair Park in Brooklyn, New York.
[21]
[22]
[23]
- The Dr. Ronald E. McNair Playground in
East Harlem
,
Manhattan
, New York City, New York, is named after him.
[24]
- The Ronald E. McNair Space Theater inside the Davis Planetarium in downtown
Jackson, Mississippi
, is named in his honor.
- The McNair Open Access Computer Lab at
California State University, Bakersfield
- The Naval
ROTC
building on the campus of
Southern University and A&M College
in
Baton Rouge
, Louisiana, is named in his honor.
- The Engineering building at
North Carolina A&T State University
in Greensboro, North Carolina, is named in his honor. The university holds a McNair Day celebration annually.
[25]
- McNair was portrayed by
Joe Morton
in the 1990 TV movie
Challenger
.
- The song "A Drop Of Water", recorded by Japanese jazz artist
Keiko Matsui
, with vocals by the late
Carl Anderson
, was written in tribute to McNair.
- The
Jean Michel Jarre
track "Last Rendez-Vous" was re-titled "Ron's Piece" in his honor. McNair was originally due to record the track in space aboard
Challenger,
and then perform it via a live link up in Jarre's
Rendez-vous Houston
concert.
- The federally-funded McNair Scholars/Achievement Programs award research money and internships to juniors and seniors who are first-generation and low-income, or members of underrepresented groups, in preparation for graduate study. 187 institutions participate (as of 2020).
[26]
[27]
Michigan State University
,
Washington State University
, and
Syracuse University
are three examples of these programs and both offer Summer Research Opportunity Program as additional program components.
[28]
Personal life
[
edit
]
McNair was married to Cheryl McNair, and they had two children.
[29]
Cheryl is a founding director of the Challenger Center, which focuses on space science education.
[30]
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
a
b
"Astronaut's Brother Recalls A Man Who Dreamed Big"
.
NPR
. January 28, 2011
. Retrieved
November 18,
2012
.
- ^
a
b
Smith, Bruce (February 11, 2011).
"Small SC town pauses to remember astronaut son"
. Bay State Banner
. Retrieved
January 7,
2023
.
- ^
a
b
c
"Ronald E. McNair (Ph.D.), NASA Astronaut (Deceased)"
(PDF)
.
NASA.gov
. Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. December 2003
. Retrieved
August 20,
2023
.
- ^
Feinsilver, Ethan (January 28, 1999).
"Speakers Link Ronald McNair to Today's A&T: An Annual Tribute to the Late Challenger Astronaut Seeks to Inspire Students at His Alma Mater"
.
Greensboro News & Record
. Retrieved
August 18,
2022
.
- ^
"Ronald McNair Biography"
. September 14, 2020
. Retrieved
October 21,
2021
.
- ^
"Space History Photo: Nichelle Nichols, NASA Recruiter"
.
Space.com
. January 3, 2014
. Retrieved
July 21,
2022
.
- ^
"Ronald E. McNair"
.
discoversouthcarolina.com
. SC Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism
. Retrieved
August 20,
2023
.
- ^
"The history of synthpop"
. Archived from
the original
on March 10, 2012
. Retrieved
February 23,
2017
.
- ^
"Challenger 25th Anniversary Tribute Song"
.
Between Two Worlds
. January 28, 2011
. Retrieved
June 19,
2020
.
- ^
Google
(August 20, 2023).
"McNair Ct, Franklin Township, NJ 08873"
(Map).
Google Maps
. Google
. Retrieved
August 20,
2023
.
- ^
Popova, Maria (June 6, 2016).
"Eyes on the Stars: Astronaut Ronald McNair, Who Perished in the Challenger Disaster, Remembered by His Brother in an Affectionate Animated Short Film"
.
brainpickings.org
.
- ^
"Eyes on the Stars"
.
storycorps.org
.
StoryCorps
. January 28, 2013
. Retrieved
February 22,
2021
.
On January 28, 1986, NASA Challenger mission STS-51-L ended in tragedy when the shuttle exploded 73 seconds after takeoff. On board was physicist Ronald E. McNair, who was the second African-American person to enter space. But first, he was a kid with big dreams in Lake City, South Carolina.
- ^
Rauch, Mike; Rauch, Tim (April 4, 2013).
"Eyes on the Stars"
.
imdb.com
(Documentary, Animation, Short, Biography, Drama, Family)
. Retrieved
February 22,
2021
.
- ^
"Los Robles Ronald McNair Academy"
.
ravenswoodschools.org
. Archived from
the original
on September 1, 2009
. Retrieved
January 28,
2011
.
- ^
"McNair Elementary School"
.
hazelwoodschools.org
. Archived from
the original
on April 19, 2014
. Retrieved
April 18,
2014
.
- ^
Bryan, Shevaun (August 5, 2014).
"New school, old building: first day of school at McNair Junior High"
.
Huntsville, Alabama
:
WHNT-TV
. Retrieved
September 7,
2014
.
- ^
"Alvin ISD Board Members Approve New Facility Name"
.
alvinisd.net
. Alvin Independent School District.
- ^
Hague, Jim. "In a Class By Itself".
Jersey City Magazine
, Spring & Summer 2011, p. 55.
- ^
"Fourth-Masonic-District"
.
mwphglmd.org
. Archived from
the original
on January 18, 2017
. Retrieved
February 23,
2017
.
- ^
"City of El Lago Park Information"
.
ellago-tx.gov
. Archived from
the original
on March 18, 2014
. Retrieved
September 16,
2013
.
, last accessed September 16, 2013.
- ^
"Dr. Ronald E. McNair Park, Crown Heights, Brooklyn"
.
bridgeandtunnelclub.com
. Retrieved
February 23,
2017
.
- ^
"Historical Sign Listings : NYC Parks"
.
nycgovparks.org
. Retrieved
May 18,
2012
.
- ^
Walsh, Kevin (January 28, 2018).
"Dr. Ronald E. McNair Park, Prospect Heights"
.
Forgotten-NY.com
.
- ^
"Dr. Ronald McNair Playground"
.
nycgovparks.org
. Retrieved
November 23,
2012
.
- ^
Dixon, Tonya (January 16, 2020).
"Annual Celebration of Ronald McNair by N.C. A&T to be Held Jan. 28"
(Press release). North Carolina A&T State University
. Retrieved
July 16,
2021
.
- ^
"TRIO ? Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program ? About"
.
mcnairscholars.com
.
University of Central Florida
. Retrieved
May 2,
2018
.
- ^
"TRIO ? Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program"
.
ed.gov
. U.S. Department of Education
. Retrieved
August 20,
2023
.
- ^
"The Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Scholars Program ? Program Services"
.
mcnair.wsu.edu
. Washington State University
. Retrieved
May 2,
2018
.
- ^
"Wife of astronaut Ron McNair reflects on Challenger disaster"
.
www.cbsnews.com
. January 28, 2016
. Retrieved
February 1,
2023
.
- ^
"Cheryl McNair"
. Challenger Center for Space Science Education. 2019
. Retrieved
August 20,
2023
.
External links
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]
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