Ronald E. McNair

After earning a B.S. degree in physics, Ronald E. McNair completed a Ph.D. at MIT in 1977 and conducted research on electro-optic laser modulation for satellite space communications before applying to become an astronaut. In January 1978, he was selected as part of NASA’s eighth astronaut class, one of the first three African Americans selected. He became NASA’s second Black American to go to space in February 1984 with STS-41B. Tragically, on January 28, 1986, he was one of seven astronauts who perished on Space Shuttle Challenger.

Quick Facts

McNair graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in Physics from North Carolina A&T before receiving his Ph.D. in Physics from MIT.

McNair won the 1976 AAU Karate gold medal and five regional championships, achieving the rank of fifth-degree karate black belt.

An accomplished saxophonist, Ron McNair became the first person to play a saxophone in space in February 1984.

McNair’s physics research focused on the development of lasers and their applications.

Official photo of Ronald E. McNair — S85-36539 (2 July 1985) — Official portrait photograph of Astronaut Ronald E. McNair.
NASA

Ron McNair plays the saxophone on STS-41B — S84-27211 (8 Feb 1984) — Astronaut Ronald E. McNair, 41-B mission specialist, uses some of his off-duty time, aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger, to play his saxaphone.

Ron McNair, Guy Bluford and Fred Gregory — On January 16, 1978, NASA announces the first astronaut class in nine years, which included the first African Americans.
NASA

Portrait of the STS-51L crew — S85-44253 (November 1985) — Five astronauts and two payload specialists make up the crew, scheduled to fly aboard the space shuttle Challenger in January of 1986. Crew members are (left to right, front row) astronauts Michael J. Smith, Francis R. (Dick) Scobee and Ronald E. McNair; Ellison S. Onizuka, Sharon Christa McAuliffe, Gregory Jarvis and Judith A. Resnik. McAuliffe and Jarvis are payload specialists, representing the Teacher in Space Project and Hughes Company, respectively. Photo credit: NASA (NOTE: On Jan. 28, 1986, the seven Challenger crew members lost their lives following an explosion during the launch phase of the STS-51L mission.)
NASA

Biography

Ronald E. McNair

Chosen as a member of NASA's Astronaut Group 8 in 1978, Ron McNair was one of its first three African-American astronauts.

McNair first flew to space as a mission specialist on STS-41B, on which he operated the Canadarm, performed experiments and was responsible for Cinema 360 motion picture filming. On Jan. 28, 1986, he and his six STS-51L crew mates died when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded after launch.

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