Black Astronaut Who Died in Challenger Mission Was Never About The Norms

On January 28, 1986, NASA Challenger mission STS-51-L ended in tragedy when the shuttle exploded 73 seconds after takeoff.

By Jorge Rivas Feb 04, 2013

On January 28, 1986, NASA Challenger mission STS-51-L ended in tragedy when the shuttle exploded 73 seconds after takeoff.

All seven astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia died, including Kalpana Chawla the first Indian American astronaut and first Indian woman in space.

Also on board was physicist Ronald E. McNair, who was the second African American to enter space. But before he became an astronaut he was a young boy in Lake City, South Carolina ‘who was never about the norms.’

McNair’s brother, Carl McNair shared a charming story about him with StoryCorps. Take a look at the illustrated interview at the top of the page.