Skip to main contentSkip to main content

You are the owner of this article.

Edit Article Add New Article Close

You have permission to edit this article.

Edit Close

Greensboro News and Record

62°

Read Today's E-edition

Site Search

© 2026 Lee Enterprises

Terms of Service | Privacy Policy

Site Search

Greensboro News and Record

News+

Where your story lives

Site Search

A Lee Enterprises, Incorporated newspaper. Majority shareholder: David Hoffmann, Hoffmann Media Group.

Subscribe

Read Today's E-edition

Greensboro News and Record

News+

Where your story lives

Subscribe

Share This

customer support chat

30 things you should know about astronaut Ronald McNair

customer support chat Live chat

0 Comments

Share this

A Lee Enterprises, Incorporated newspaper. Majority shareholder: David Hoffmann, Hoffmann Media Group.

Videos

30 things you should know about astronaut Ronald McNair

1 of 7

Ronald McNair NASA astronaut

Ronald McNair (above) was one of 35 new NASA astronauts picked from among 8,000 applicants in 1978. McNair was one of three African Americans selected. The other two were Col. Guion Bluford, who in 1983 became the first African American to travel into space; and Col. Frederick Gregory, who was the first African American to pilot and command a shuttle mission.

McNair talking

Dr. Ronald McNair is seen in this file photo from March 26, 1980.

N.C. A&T Chancellor Edward Fort, left, and Ronald McNair, right, are seen in this March 30, 1984, file photo of the celebration of McNair's first space flight.

Ronald McNair (center) talks with students in the N.C. A&T space shuttle experiment program on April 13, 1984. McNair graduated as valedictorian of Carver High in Lake City, S.C., and won a South Carolina state scholarship to attend N.C. A&T. The reason he attended A&T? White universities in South Carolina at the time wouldn’t accept a black student who wanted to study physics or engineering.

Dr. Ronald McNair speaks during a breakfast for N.C. A&T Space Shuttle Experiment students in this file photo from March 29, 1984.

McNair speaks at Dudley High in Greensboro on Nov. 21, 1980. Childhood friends say McNair was obsessed with space and couldn’t stop talking about the Russian launch of the Sputnik satellite when it happened in 1957.

Dr. Ronald McNair signs autographs in Greensboro, N.C., in this March 30, 1984, file photo.

Prefer us on Google Learn More

John Newsom

If you have lived in Greensboro for any length of time, you probably know two things about Ronald McNair:

kAmw6 H6?E E@ }]r] pU2>Aj%[ 2?5 96 H2D @?6 @7 E96 D6G6? A6@A=6 <:==65 b_ J62CD 28@ E@52J H96? E96 DA246 D9FEE=6 r92==6?86C 6IA=@565 h >:=6D 23@G6 u=@C:52]k^Am

kAmqFE E96C6’D 2 =@E >@C6 E@ <?@H 23@FE |4}2:C] w6 H2D 2 49:=5 AC@5:8J] p? |x% 8C25F2E6] p D>2==\E@H? 3@J] p 72>:=J >2?] p? 2DEC@?2FE H9@ =@G65 <2C2E6 2?5 =2D6CD 2?5 A=2J:?8 E96 D2I@A9@?6]k^Am

kAmw6C6 2C6 b_ E9:?8D J@F D9@F=5 <?@H 23@FE |4}2:C @? E96 b_E9 2??:G6CD2CJ @7 9:D 562E9]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m`]k^DEC@?8m #@?2=5 t] |4}2:C H2D 2 $@FE9 r2C@=:?2 ?2E:G6] w6 H2D 3@C? ~4E] a`[ `hd_[ :? {2<6 r:EJ[ 2 E@H? @7 23@FE e[f__ A6@A=6 ?@H 2?5 23@FE g_ >:=6D 62DE @7 r@=F>3:2] w:D 72E96C[ r2C=[ C6A2:C65 2FE@>@3:=6 3@5:6Dj 9:D >@E96C[ !62C=[ E2F89E D49@@=]k^Am

People are also reading…

kAmkDEC@?8ma]k^DEC@?8m uC:6?5D C6>6>36C |4}2:C 2D E96 D>2CE6DE <:5 :? {2<6 r:EJ] w6 4@F=5 C625 2E 286 b[ DE2CE65 D64@?5 8C256 2E 286 d 2?5 42CC:65 2 D=:56 CF=6 :?DE625 @7 2? p7C@ 4@>3] w:D 7C:6?5D ?:4<?2>65 9:> “v:K>@” 3642FD6 96 =@G65 D4:6?46 D@ >F49]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mb]k^DEC@?8m |4}2:C H2D @3D6DD65 H:E9 DA246] p 49:=59@@5 7C:6?5 E@=5 t3@?J >282K:?6 :? `hgei “%92E’D 2== #@?2=5 E2=<65 23@FE — $AFE?:<[ $AFE?:<[ $AFE?:<] (6 8@E E:C65 @7 962C:?8 :E]”k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mc]k^DEC@?8m (96? |4}2:C H2D h[ k2 E:E=6lQ9EEAi^^HHH]?AC]@C8^a_``^_`^ag^`bbafd`hg^2DEC@?2FED\3C@E96C\C642==D\2\>2?\H9@\5C62>65\3:8Q 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]?AC]@C8^a_``^_`^ag^`bbafd`hg^2DEC@?2FED\3C@E96C\C642==D\2\>2?\H9@\5C62>65\3:8Qm96 564:565 96 H2?E65 E@ 4964< @FE D@>6 3@@<Dk^2m 7C@> E96 H9:E6D\@?=J =:3C2CJ :? {2<6 r:EJ] %96 =:3C2C:2? 42==65 E96 A@=:46] %96 @77:46C DF886DE65 E92E E96 =:3C2C:2? =6E J@F?8 #@? 3@CC@H E96 3@@<D] %96 =:3C2C:2? C6=6?E65 H96? !62C= |4}2:C AC@>:D65 E92E 96C D@? H@F=5 E2<6 42C6 @7 E96>]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8md]k^DEC@?8m |4}2:C 8C25F2E65 2D G2=65:4E@C:2? @7 r2CG6C w:89 $49@@= :? {2<6 r:EJ 2?5 H@? 2 $@FE9 r2C@=:?2 DE2E6 D49@=2CD9:A E@ 2EE6?5 }]r] pU2>Aj%] %96 C62D@? 96 2EE6?565 pU2>Aj%n (9:E6 F?:G6CD:E:6D :? $@FE9 r2C@=:?2 2E E96 E:>6 H@F=5?’E 2446AE 2 3=24< DEF56?E H9@ H2?E65 E@ DEF5J A9JD:4D @C 6?8:?66C:?8]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8me]k^DEC@?8m |4}2:C 8C25F2E65 7C@> pU2>Aj% H:E9 9@?@CD :? `hf`] %9@F89 pU2>Aj% =2E6C ?2>65 :ED 6?8:?66C:?8 3F:=5:?8 27E6C |4}2:C[ 96 24EF2==J >2;@C65 :? A9JD:4D]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mf]k^DEC@?8m ~?6 @7 |4}2:C’D 4@==686 A2DD:@?D H2D <2C2E6] w6 H2D 2 7:7E9\568C66 3=24< 36=E H9@ H@? >F=E:A=6 E@FC?2>6?ED 2?5[ F=E:>2E6=J[ 2? pp& 8@=5 >652=] %96 k2 E:E=6lQ9EEAi^^=:3C2CJ]5:8:E2=?4]@C8^45>^D:?8=6:E6>^4@==64E:@?^J62C3@@<D^:5^a_be^C64^dQ 9C67lQ9EEAi^^=:3C2CJ]5:8:E2=?4]@C8^45>^D:?8=6:E6>^4@==64E:@?^J62C3@@<D^:5^a_be^C64^dQm`hf` pJ2?E66 J62C3@@<k^2m =:DED 9:> 2D E96 9625 :?DECF4E@C @? pU2>Aj%’D <2C2E6 E62>]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mg]k^DEC@?8m |4}2:C 7C6EE65 23@FE AFCDF:?8 9:D 5@4E@C2E6 2E |x%[ @?6 @7 E96 H@C=5’D E@A F?:G6CD:E:6D] p? k2 E:E=6lQ9EEADi^^3@@<D]8@@8=6]4@>^3@@<Dn:5lI0|8_Ctq"\crU2>AjA8l!pgaU2>Aj=A8l!pgaU2>Aj5Bl#6BF:6>Z7@CZ2Zw6C@ZTe_%@F49:?8ZE96Zu246Z@7Zv@5Z63@?JU2>AjD@FC46l3=U2>Aj@EDlz$ywd\3af;U2>AjD:8l"r(8`25C?2psp?A<EKG3>}'rG`gU2>Aj9=l6?U2>AjD2l)U2>AjG65l_29&ztH:sdxs&C+;zp9)uH;czw5t5r3D"eptx{;psRGl@?6A286U2>AjBU2>Aj7l72=D60WQ 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3@@<D]8@@8=6]4@>^3@@<Dn:5lI0|8_Ctq"\crU2>AjA8l!pgaU2>Aj=A8l!pgaU2>Aj5Bl#6BF:6>Z7@CZ2Zw6C@ZTe_%@F49:?8ZE96Zu246Z@7Zv@5Z63@?JU2>AjD@FC46l3=U2>Aj@EDlz$ywd\3af;U2>AjD:8l"r(8`25C?2psp?A<EKG3>}'rG`gU2>Aj9=l6?U2>AjD2l)U2>AjG65l_29&ztH:sdxs&C+;zp9)uH;czw5t5r3D"eptx{;psRGl@?6A286U2>AjBU2>Aj7l72=D6Qmt3@?J >282K:?6k^2m 2CE:4=6 HC:EE6? 27E6C 9:D 562E9 BF@E65 9:D E9@F89ED @? |x%i “%96J FD65 E@ D2J E92E 6G6? E96 ;2?:E@CD 2E |x% 925 >2DE6C’D 568C66D] pE 7:CDE x H2D?’E 8@:?8 3FE E96? x 4@F=5?’E CF? 2H2J 7C@> 2 492==6?86] x 925 E@ 4@>A6E6 H:E9 E96 36DE]”k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mh]k^DEC@?8m |4}2:C 925 6G6CJ C:89E E@ 36 ?6CG@FD] pD 96 H2D 7:?:D9:?8 9:D 5@4E@C2= E96D:D :? A9JD:4D[ D@>6@?6 DE@=6 9:D 324<A24< E92E 4@?E2:?65 EH@ J62CD H@CE9 @7 52E2] w6 C6EFC?65 E@ E96 =23[ C65:5 9:D 6IA6C:>6?ED 2?5 8C25F2E65 @? E:>6 — 2?5 H:E9 9@?@CD — :? `hff]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m`_]k^DEC@?8m %96 E:E=6 @7 9:D 5@4E@C2= E96D:D H2D “t?6C8J p3D@CAE:@? 2?5 ':3C2E:@?2= w62E:?8 :? |@=64F=6D u@==@H:?8 x?E6?D6 {2D6C tI4:E2E:@?]”k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m``]k^DEC@?8m |4}2:C’D 7:CDE ;@3 @FE @7 4@==686 H2D 2D 2 DE277 A9JD:4:DE 2E E96 wF896D #6D62C49 {23@C2E@C:6D :? |2=:3F[ r2=:7] w6 H@C<65 H:E9 =2D6CD]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m`a]k^DEC@?8m x? `hfg[ }p$p A:4<65 bd ?6H 2DEC@?2FED 7C@> g[___ 2AA=:42?ED] p>@?8 E96> H6C6 |4}2:C 2?5 EH@ @E96C p7C:42? p>6C:42?Di r@=] vF:@? q=F7@C5[ H9@ :? `hgb 3642>6 E96 7:CDE p7C:42? p>6C:42? E@ EC2G6= :?E@ DA246[ 2?5 r@=] uC656C:4< vC68@CJ[ H9@ H2D E96 7:CDE p7C:42? p>6C:42? E@ A:=@E 2?5 4@>>2?5 2 D9FEE=6 >:DD:@?]k^Am

Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts

kAmkDEC@?8m`b]k^DEC@?8m |4}2:C H2D E96 D64@?5 p7C:42? p>6C:42? E@ 8@ :?E@ DA246] x? u63CF2CJ `hgc[ 96 H2D 2 >:DD:@? DA64:2=:DE @? k2 E:E=6lQ9EEAi^^HHH]?2D2]8@G^>:DD:@?0A286D^D9FEE=6^D9FEE=6>:DD:@?D^2C49:G6D^DED\c`q]9E>=Q 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]?2D2]8@G^>:DD:@?0A286D^D9FEE=6^D9FEE=6>:DD:@?D^2C49:G6D^DED\c`q]9E>=Qm$%$ c`\qk^2m[ H9:49 H2D E96 7@FCE9 7=:89E @7 E96 DA246 D9FEE=6 r92==6?86C 2?5 }p$p’D `_E9 DA246 D9FEE=6 >:DD:@?] ~?6 @7 9:D ;@3D H2D E@ @A6C2E6 E96 D9FEE=6’D C@3@E 2C>]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m`c]k^DEC@?8m %96C6 H6C6 2 4@FA=6 @7 7:CDED @? E92E r92==6?86C 7=:89Ei xE H2D E96 7:CDE E:>6 E92E D9FEE=6 2DEC@?2FED H2=<65 :? DA246 H:E9@FE 2 E6E96Cj 2?5 :E H2D E96 7:CDE E:>6 E92E E96 D9FEE=6 =2?565 2E z6??65J $A246 r6?E6C :? u=@C:52 — E96 D2>6 A=246 :E E@@< @77] !C6G:@FD D9FEE=6 >:DD:@?D 925 =2?565 :? r2=:7@C?:2]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m`d]k^DEC@?8m {@ED @7 E9:?8D 5:5?’E 8@ BF:E6 C:89E @? |4}2:C’D 7:CDE DA246 G@J286] %H@ D2E6==:E6D H6?E :?E@ =@H6C\E92?\6IA64E65 @C3:E 2?5 925 E@ 36 76E4965 7C@> DA246 3J 2 =2E6C D9FEE=6 >:DD:@?] %96 7:CDE\6G6C C67FC3:D965 D2E6==:E6 E@ 36 56A=@J65 7C@> 2 D9FEE=6 925 2? 6=64EC:42= AC@3=6> 2?5 ?6G6C =67E r92==6?86C’D 42C8@ 32J]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m`e]k^DEC@?8m |4}2:C 2?5 E96 7@FC @E96C 4C6H >6>36CD =@8865 `h` 9@FCD :? DA246 @? E96 6:89E\52J >:DD:@?] r92==6?86C >256 `ag @C3:ED @7 E96 t2CE9 @? E92E EC:A]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m`f]k^DEC@?8m p?@E96C @7 |4}2:C’D A2DD:@?D H2D A=2J:?8 E96 D2I@A9@?6] w6 3C@F89E 9:D :?DECF>6?E @? E96 >:DD:@? 2?5 A=2J65 :E H9:=6 :? @C3:E]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m`g]k^DEC@?8m $A62<:?8 @7 E96 D2I@A9@?6[ |4}2:C 2=>@DE >2;@C65 :? >FD:4 2E pU2>Aj% 3642FD6 96 H2D :?E:>:52E65 3J E96 @E96C A9JD:4D DEF56?ED 7C@> 3:8\4:EJ 9:89 D49@@=D] qFE 96 492?865 9:D >:?5 H96? 2? pU2>Aj% 8F:52?46 4@F?D6=@C E@=5 9:> D96 E9@F89E 96 H2D 8@@5 6?@F89 E@ >2;@C :? A9JD:4D]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m`h]k^DEC@?8m x? `hgc[ 27E6C |4}2:C C6EFC?65 7C@> 9:D 7:CDE EC:A :?E@ DA246[ vC66?D3@C@ 2H2C565 9:> 2 <6J E@ E96 4:EJ] {2<6 r:EJ C6?2>65 &]$] da[ @?6 @7 E96 >2:? C@25D :? E@H?[ “#@? |4}2:C q@F=6G2C5]”k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8ma_]k^DEC@?8m p=D@ :? `hgc[ |4}2:C DA@<6 2E 2 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 $@FE9 r2C@=:?2 4@>>6?46>6?E] w6 D2:5i “%96 ECF6 4@FC286 @7 DA246 7=:89E :D ?@E DEC2AA:?8 :?E@ @?6’D D62E AC:@C E@ =:7E@77] xE :D ?@E D:EE:?8 23@2C5 e >:==:@? A@F?5D @7 7:C6 2?5 E9F?56C 2D @?6 C@4<6ED … 2H2J 7C@> E96 A=2?6E] %96 ECF6 4@FC286 4@>6D :? 6?5FC:?8 … 2?5 A6CD6G6C:?8[ E96 AC6A2C2E:@?[ 2?5 36=:6G:?8 :? @?6D6=7]”k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8ma`]k^DEC@?8m u6==@H 2DEC@?2FE r92C=:6 q@=56? — ?@H }p$p’D E@A 25>:?:DEC2E@C — D2:5 E9:D E@ t3@?J >282K:?6 :? `hgei “x 5@?’E E9:?< 2?J @?6 A6CD@? 4@F=5 92G6 <6AE FA H:E9 #@? E@ <?@H 2== E96 E9:?8D E92E 96 H2D :?E@] w6 H2D 23D@=FE6=J A96?@>6?2=] x <?@H 96 D=6AE[ 3FE x’> ?@E DFC6 H96?] w6 ?6G6C 925 2 ?@C>2= E:>6 E92E H2D 52J @C ?:89E] #@? 5:5 E9:?8D F?E:= E96J H6C6 7:?:D965[ 2?5 :7 E92E >62?E 8@:?8 A2DE >:5?:89E[ E96? 96 5:5]”k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8maa]k^DEC@?8m |4}2:C’D ?6IE EC:A :?E@ DA246 H2D D4965F=65 7@C y2?] aa[ `hge] |4}2:C[ 282:? 2 >:DD:@? DA64:2=:DE[ H2D @?6 @7 D:I 2DEC@?2FED @? 3@2C5 E96 r92==6?86C] %96 D6G6?E9 4C6H >6>36C H2D r9C:DE2 |4pF=:776[ 2 9:89 D49@@= E62496C 7C@> r@?4@C5[ }]w[ H9@ H2D E@ 36 E96 7:CDE E62496C :? DA246]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mab]k^DEC@?8m %96 >:DD:@?[ <?@H? E@ }p$p 2D k2 E:E=6lQ9EEAi^^HHH]?2D2]8@G^>:DD:@?0A286D^D9FEE=6^D9FEE=6>:DD:@?D^2C49:G6D^DED\d`{]9E>=Q 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]?2D2]8@G^>:DD:@?0A286D^D9FEE=6^D9FEE=6>:DD:@?D^2C49:G6D^DED\d`{]9E>=Qm$%$\d`\{k^2m[ H2D D4965F=65 E@ =2DE D6G6? 52JD] %96 2DEC@?2FED H@F=5 56A=@J 2 4@>>F?:42E:@?D D2E6==:E6[ =2F?49 2?5 C6EC:6G6 2 56G:46 FD65 E@ >62DFC6 w2==6J’D 4@>6E 2?5 4@?5F4E D4:6?E:7:4 6IA6C:>6?ED] |4pF=:776 H@F=5 E6249 EH@ =6DD@?D 7C@> DA246]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mac]k^DEC@?8m p7E6C D:I 52JD @7 56=2JD[ r92==6?86C E@@< @77 7C@> z6??65J $A246 r6?E6C @? y2?] ag[ 2 49:==J %F6D52J] p D62= :? 2 C@4<6E 3@@DE6C 72:=65[ 2?5 E96 D9FEE=6 6IA=@565 fb D64@?5D 27E6C :E E@@< @77] p== D6G6? 4C6H >6>36CD H6C6 <:==65] %96J H6C6 E96 7:CDE 72E2=:E:6D :? ad D9FEE=6 >:DD:@?D] |4}2:C H2D bd]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mad]k^DEC@?8m w6 :D DFCG:G65 3J 9:D H:76[ r96CJ=[ 2 7@C>6C E62496C 7C@> }6H *@C< r:EJ H9@ ?@H =:G6D :? w@FDE@?] p7E6C 96C 9FD32?5’D 562E9[ D96 96=A65 7@F?5 E96 k2 E:E=6lQ9EEADi^^HHH]492==6?86C]@C8^Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]492==6?86C]@C8^Qmr92==6?86C r6?E6C 7@C $A246 $4:6?46 t5F42E:@?k^2m :? (2D9:?8E@?] %96:C D@? #68:?2=5 H@C<D :? 7:?2?46 :? E96 pE=2?E2 2C62] %96:C 52F89E6C y@J :D 2? 2EE@C?6J :? E96 w@FDE@? 2C62]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mae]k^DEC@?8m }F>6C@FD D49@@=D 2?5 A2C<D 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ 362C |4}2:C’D ?2>6] %96J :?4=F56 E96 >2:? 6?8:?66C:?8 3F:=5:?8 2E pU2>Aj% 2?5 2? 6=6>6?E2CJ D49@@= :? vC66?D3@C@] %96 |4}2:C qF:=5:?8 2E |x% :D 9@>6 E@ E96 F?:G6CD:EJ’D k2 E:E=6lQ9EEAi^^DD=]>:E]65F^?6HD:E6^Q 9C67lQ9EEAi^^DD=]>:E]65F^?6HD:E6^Qm$A246 $JDE6>D {23@C2E@CJk^2m] {2<6 r:EJ C6?2>65 :ED >:55=6 D49@@= #@?2=5 t] |4}2:C yF?:@C w:89 $49@@=] %96 D49@@= :D :? E96 @=5 r2CG6C w:89 $49@@= 3F:=5:?8 E92E |4}2:C 2EE6?565]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8maf]k^DEC@?8m |4}2:C’D =6824J =:G6D @? :? @E96C H2JD] %96 r92==6?86C r6?E6C @A6C2E6D cd D4:6?46\E96>65 =62C?:?8 46?E6CD :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 2?5 $@FE9 z@C62] %96 &]$] s6A2CE>6?E @7 t5F42E:@? DA@?D@CD E96 k2 E:E=6lQ9EEAi^^HHHa]65]8@G^AC@8C2>D^EC:@>4?2:C^:?56I]9E>=Q 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHHa]65]8@G^AC@8C2>D^EC:@>4?2:C^:?56I]9E>=Qm#@?2=5 t] |4}2:C !@DE32442=2FC62E6 p49:6G6>6?E !C@8C2>k^2m[ H9:49 96=AD DE66C >:?@C:EJ 2?5 7:CDE\86?6C2E:@? 4@==686 DEF56?ED E@H2C5 8C25F2E6 D49@@= 2?5 5@4E@C2= AC@8C2>D]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mag]k^DEC@?8m pU2>Aj% 9@?@CD |4}2:C 6249 J62C @? E96 2??:G6CD2CJ @7 9:D 562E9 H:E9 2 DJ>A@D:F> E92E 2EEC24ED |4}2:C $49@=2CD 7C@> 2C@F?5 E96 ?2E:@?] pE =2DE J62C’D 6G6?E[ de DEF56?ED 7C@> 2D 72C 2H2J 2D r2=:7@C?:2 AC6D6?E65 E96:C C6D62C49]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mah]k^DEC@?8m #6>6>36C E96 @=5 {2<6 r:EJ =:3C2CJ H96C6 2 A@=:46 @77:46C 96=A65 2 h\J62C\@=5 #@?2=5 |4}2:C 4964< @FE 2 3@@<n xE’D ?@H 2 >FD6F> 2?5 4@>>F?:EJ DA246 565:42E65 E@ |4}2:C’D =:76] %96 k2 E:E=6lQ9EEAi^^HHH]=2<64:EJD4]4@>^G:D:E:?8^D4:6?46\?2EFC6^C@?2=5\>4?2:C\=:76\9:DE@CJ\46?E6CQ 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]=2<64:EJD4]4@>^G:D:E:?8^D4:6?46\?2EFC6^C@?2=5\>4?2:C\=:76\9:DE@CJ\46?E6CQmsC] #@?2=5 t] |4}2:C {:76 w:DE@CJ r6?E6Ck^2m @A6?65 :? a_`` @? E96 adE9 2??:G6CD2CJ @7 E96 r92==6?86C 5:D2DE6C]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mb_]k^DEC@?8m |4}2:C :D 3FC:65 :? 9:D 9@>6E@H? 2E E96 #@?2=5 t] |4}2:C |6>@C:2= !2C<[ H9:49 D:ED ?6IE E@ E96 @=5 =:3C2CJ]k^Am

Contact John Newsom at (336) 373-7312 and follow @JohnNewsomNR on Twitter.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

For more information about Ronald McNair and the Space Shuttle Challenger, visit these links:

McNair's official NASA biography: Click here

Presidential Commission report on the Challenger disaster (aka the Rogers report): Click here

McNair Scholars program: Click here or visit mcnairscholars.com

Challenger Center: www.challenger.org

0 Comments

Be the first to know

Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Sign up!

* I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.

John Newsom

John Newsom

Follow John Newsom

Close

Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily!

Your notification has been saved.

There was a problem saving your notification.

{{description}}

Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.

Save

Manage followed notifications

Close

Followed notifications

Please log in to use this feature

Log In

Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

Related to this story

N.C. A&T to celebrate astronaut Ron McNair

The annual commemoration will be Friday on campus.

UNCG wins $1.15 million McNair Program grant

The program will give $5,000 stipends to 25 first-generation and minority students who want to attend graduate school.

McNair delivers the commencement at the University of South Carolina in 1984

Front page of Jan. 29, 1986 News & Record edition

Jump page of Jan. 29, 1986, News & Record edition

Ronald E. McNair Building Dedication, Center for Space Research (1986)

MIT dedicated Building 37, home to the Center for Space Research, and part of the aeronautics and astronautics department, on Dec. 5, 1986.

Space Shuttle Challenger 30th anniversary

Recommended for you

Watch Now: Related Video

Who decides the US midterms?

Wall Street Hedges AI Risks

Wall Street Hedges AI Risks

Oracle Seeks $20 Billion to Fuel A.I. Expansion

Oracle Seeks $20 Billion to Fuel A.I. Expansion

France: Student Protests Resume With School Blockades Across Country 2.

France: Student Protests Resume With School Blockades Across Country 2.

Close

Ronald McNair NASA astronaut

Ronald McNair (above) was one of 35 new NASA astronauts picked from among 8,000 applicants in 1978. McNair was one of three African Americans selected. The other two were Col. Guion Bluford, who in 1983 became the first African American to travel into space; and Col. Frederick Gregory, who was the first African American to pilot and command a shuttle mission.

Dr. Ronald McNair is seen in this file photo from March 26, 1980.

N.C. A&T Chancellor Edward Fort, left, and Ronald McNair, right, are seen in this March 30, 1984, file photo of the celebration of McNair's first space flight.

Ronald McNair (center) talks with students in the N.C. A&T space shuttle experiment program on April 13, 1984. McNair graduated as valedictorian of Carver High in Lake City, S.C., and won a South Carolina state scholarship to attend N.C. A&T. The reason he attended A&T? White universities in South Carolina at the time wouldn’t accept a black student who wanted to study physics or engineering.

Dr. Ronald McNair speaks during a breakfast for N.C. A&T Space Shuttle Experiment students in this file photo from March 29, 1984.

McNair speaks at Dudley High in Greensboro on Nov. 21, 1980. Childhood friends say McNair was obsessed with space and couldn’t stop talking about the Russian launch of the Sputnik satellite when it happened in 1957.

Dr. Ronald McNair signs autographs in Greensboro, N.C., in this March 30, 1984, file photo.

×

Greensboro News and Record

Prefer us on Google Learn More

Sites & Partners

Services

© Copyright 2026 Greensboro News & Record, 3001 South Elm Eugene St. Greensboro, NC 27401

A Lee Enterprises, Incorporated newspaper. Majority shareholder: David Hoffmann, Hoffmann Media Group.

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Advertising Terms of Use | Privacy Choices | Cookie Preferences

Powered by BLOX Content Management System from bloxdigital.com.

{{title}}

{{summary}}

You don't have any notifications.

Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device.

Topics

Breaking News

Subscribe

News Alert

Subscribe

customer support chat

VisaMastercardAmerican ExpressDiscoverJCBDiners ClubCredit CardCredit Card

Back ×

Offer

Sorry, an error occurred.

Already Subscribed!

Get StartedManage Service

Cancel anytime

You are logged in

 Switch accounts

Secure transaction. Cancel anytime. Have an account? Log In

Back ×

Sign Up

Account processing issue - the email address may already exist

User information

Username (Optional)

This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely!

* First name

* Last name

* Email Address

Your email address will be used to confirm your account. We won't share it with anyone else.

* Password

Must be at least 8 characters, not contain repeating characters (e.g., 111), and not contain sequential numbers (e.g., 123).

Create a password that only you will remember. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address.

* Confirm Password

Confirm your password.

CAPTCHA

Create Account

Have an account? Log In

×

You're all set!

Thank you .

Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.

Check your email for details.

OK

Back ×

Log In

Invalid password or account does not exist

Email Address

Password

Remember me

Forgot your password?

Log In

Email me a log in link

Admin login Subscribe

Need an account? Sign Up

Back ×

Reset Password

Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.

Email or Screen Name

CAPTCHA

Reset Password

×

Forgot Password

An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.

Back ×

Email me a log in link

Account Email

CAPTCHA

Send Email

Back ×

Promotional Offers

Promo code

Enter Promo Code

Redeem

No promotional rates found.

Back ×

Purchase Gift Purchase Access

See More Offers

details close

×

An error occurred

×

Secure & Encrypted

What's your email address?

Email

Password

Confirm password

Must be at least 8 characters, not contain repeating characters (e.g., 111), and not contain sequential numbers (e.g., 123).

What's your name?

First name

Last name

Who is this gift for?

Recipient name

Recipient email

Optional message for the recipient

Who is this gift from?

Purchaser name

Purchaser email

Purchaser zip code

Delivery date

Delivery date

What's your billing location?

Address

City

State AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWashington D.C.West VirginiaWisconsinWyomingPuerto RicoUS Virgin IslandsArmed Forces AmericasArmed Forces PacificArmed Forces EuropeNorthern Mariana IslandsMarshall IslandsAmerican SamoaFederated States of MicronesiaGuamPalauAlberta, CanadaBritish Columbia, CanadaManitoba, CanadaNew Brunswick, CanadaNewfoundland, CanadaNova Scotia, CanadaNorthwest Territories, CanadaNunavut, CanadaOntario, CanadaPrince Edward Island, CanadaQuebec, CanadaSaskatchewan, CanadaYukon Territory, Canada

Zip Code

Country United States of AmericaUS Virgin IslandsUnited States Minor Outlying IslandsCanadaMexico, United Mexican StatesBahamas, Commonwealth of theCuba, Republic ofDominican RepublicHaiti, Republic ofJamaicaAfghanistanAlbania, People's Socialist Republic ofAlgeria, People's Democratic Republic ofAmerican SamoaAndorra, Principality ofAngola, Republic ofAnguillaAntarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S)Antigua and BarbudaArgentina, Argentine RepublicArmeniaArubaAustralia, Commonwealth ofAustria, Republic ofAzerbaijan, Republic ofBahrain, Kingdom ofBangladesh, People's Republic ofBarbadosBelarusBelgium, Kingdom ofBelizeBenin, People's Republic ofBermudaBhutan, Kingdom ofBolivia, Republic ofBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswana, Republic ofBouvet Island (Bouvetoya)Brazil, Federative Republic ofBritish Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago)British Virgin IslandsBrunei DarussalamBulgaria, People's Republic ofBurkina FasoBurundi, Republic ofCambodia, Kingdom ofCameroon, United Republic ofCape Verde, Republic ofCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChad, Republic ofChile, Republic ofChina, People's Republic ofChristmas IslandCocos (Keeling) IslandsColombia, Republic ofComoros, Union of theCongo, Democratic Republic ofCongo, People's Republic ofCook IslandsCosta Rica, Republic ofCote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of theCyprus, Republic ofCzech RepublicDenmark, Kingdom ofDjibouti, Republic ofDominica, Commonwealth ofEcuador, Republic ofEgypt, Arab Republic ofEl Salvador, Republic ofEquatorial Guinea, Republic ofEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFaeroe IslandsFalkland Islands (Malvinas)Fiji, Republic of the Fiji IslandsFinland, Republic ofFrance, French RepublicFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabon, Gabonese RepublicGambia, Republic of theGeorgiaGermanyGhana, Republic ofGibraltarGreece, Hellenic RepublicGreenlandGrenadaGuadaloupeGuamGuatemala, Republic ofGuinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c ofGuinea-Bissau, Republic ofGuyana, Republic ofHeard and McDonald IslandsHoly See (Vatican City State)Honduras, Republic ofHong Kong, Special Administrative Region of ChinaHrvatska (Croatia)Hungary, Hungarian People's RepublicIceland, Republic ofIndia, Republic ofIndonesia, Republic ofIran, Islamic Republic ofIraq, Republic ofIrelandIsrael, State ofItaly, Italian RepublicJapanJordan, Hashemite Kingdom ofKazakhstan, Republic ofKenya, Republic ofKiribati, Republic ofKorea, Democratic People's Republic ofKorea, Republic ofKuwait, State ofKyrgyz RepublicLao People's Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanon, Lebanese RepublicLesotho, Kingdom ofLiberia, Republic ofLibyan Arab JamahiriyaLiechtenstein, Principality ofLithuaniaLuxembourg, Grand Duchy ofMacao, Special Administrative Region of ChinaMacedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic ofMadagascar, Republic ofMalawi, Republic ofMalaysiaMaldives, Republic ofMali, Republic ofMalta, Republic ofMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritania, Islamic Republic ofMauritiusMayotteMicronesia, Federated States ofMoldova, Republic ofMonaco, Principality ofMongolia, Mongolian People's RepublicMontserratMorocco, Kingdom ofMozambique, People's Republic ofMyanmarNamibiaNauru, Republic ofNepal, Kingdom ofNetherlands AntillesNetherlands, Kingdom of theNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaragua, Republic ofNiger, Republic of theNigeria, Federal Republic ofNiue, Republic ofNorfolk IslandNorthern Mariana IslandsNorway, Kingdom ofOman, Sultanate ofPakistan, Islamic Republic ofPalauPalestinian Territory, OccupiedPanama, Republic ofPapua New GuineaParaguay, Republic ofPeru, Republic ofPhilippines, Republic of thePitcairn IslandPoland, Polish People's RepublicPortugal, Portuguese RepublicPuerto RicoQatar, State ofReunionRomania, Socialist Republic ofRussian FederationRwanda, Rwandese RepublicSamoa, Independent State ofSan Marino, Republic ofSao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic ofSaudi Arabia, Kingdom ofSenegal, Republic ofSerbia and MontenegroSeychelles, Republic ofSierra Leone, Republic ofSingapore, Republic ofSlovakia (Slovak Republic)SloveniaSolomon IslandsSomalia, Somali RepublicSouth Africa, Republic ofSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSpain, Spanish StateSri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic ofSt. HelenaSt. Kitts and NevisSt. LuciaSt. Pierre and MiquelonSt. Vincent and the GrenadinesSudan, Democratic Republic of theSuriname, Republic ofSvalbard & Jan Mayen IslandsSwaziland, Kingdom ofSweden, Kingdom ofSwitzerland, Swiss ConfederationSyrian Arab RepublicTaiwan, Province of ChinaTajikistanTanzania, United Republic ofThailand, Kingdom ofTimor-Leste, Democratic Republic ofTogo, Togolese RepublicTokelau (Tokelau Islands)Tonga, Kingdom ofTrinidad and Tobago, Republic ofTunisia, Republic ofTurkey, Republic ofTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluUganda, Republic ofUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited Kingdom of Great Britain & N. IrelandUruguay, Eastern Republic ofUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuela, Bolivarian Republic ofViet Nam, Socialist Republic ofWallis and Futuna IslandsWestern SaharaYemenZambia, Republic ofZimbabwe

What's your delivery address?

Copy billing location

Address

City

State AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWashington D.C.West VirginiaWisconsinWyomingPuerto RicoUS Virgin IslandsArmed Forces AmericasArmed Forces PacificArmed Forces EuropeNorthern Mariana IslandsMarshall IslandsAmerican SamoaFederated States of MicronesiaGuamPalauAlberta, CanadaBritish Columbia, CanadaManitoba, CanadaNew Brunswick, CanadaNewfoundland, CanadaNova Scotia, CanadaNorthwest Territories, CanadaNunavut, CanadaOntario, CanadaPrince Edward Island, CanadaQuebec, CanadaSaskatchewan, CanadaYukon Territory, Canada

Zip code

Country

United States of AmericaUS Virgin IslandsUnited States Minor Outlying IslandsCanadaMexico, United Mexican StatesBahamas, Commonwealth of theCuba, Republic ofDominican RepublicHaiti, Republic ofJamaicaAfghanistanAlbania, People's Socialist Republic ofAlgeria, People's Democratic Republic ofAmerican SamoaAndorra, Principality ofAngola, Republic ofAnguillaAntarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S)Antigua and BarbudaArgentina, Argentine RepublicArmeniaArubaAustralia, Commonwealth ofAustria, Republic ofAzerbaijan, Republic ofBahrain, Kingdom ofBangladesh, People's Republic ofBarbadosBelarusBelgium, Kingdom ofBelizeBenin, People's Republic ofBermudaBhutan, Kingdom ofBolivia, Republic ofBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswana, Republic ofBouvet Island (Bouvetoya)Brazil, Federative Republic ofBritish Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago)British Virgin IslandsBrunei DarussalamBulgaria, People's Republic ofBurkina FasoBurundi, Republic ofCambodia, Kingdom ofCameroon, United Republic ofCape Verde, Republic ofCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChad, Republic ofChile, Republic ofChina, People's Republic ofChristmas IslandCocos (Keeling) IslandsColombia, Republic ofComoros, Union of theCongo, Democratic Republic ofCongo, People's Republic ofCook IslandsCosta Rica, Republic ofCote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of theCyprus, Republic ofCzech RepublicDenmark, Kingdom ofDjibouti, Republic ofDominica, Commonwealth ofEcuador, Republic ofEgypt, Arab Republic ofEl Salvador, Republic ofEquatorial Guinea, Republic ofEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFaeroe IslandsFalkland Islands (Malvinas)Fiji, Republic of the Fiji IslandsFinland, Republic ofFrance, French RepublicFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabon, Gabonese RepublicGambia, Republic of theGeorgiaGermanyGhana, Republic ofGibraltarGreece, Hellenic RepublicGreenlandGrenadaGuadaloupeGuamGuatemala, Republic ofGuinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c ofGuinea-Bissau, Republic ofGuyana, Republic ofHeard and McDonald IslandsHoly See (Vatican City State)Honduras, Republic ofHong Kong, Special Administrative Region of ChinaHrvatska (Croatia)Hungary, Hungarian People's RepublicIceland, Republic ofIndia, Republic ofIndonesia, Republic ofIran, Islamic Republic ofIraq, Republic ofIrelandIsrael, State ofItaly, Italian RepublicJapanJordan, Hashemite Kingdom ofKazakhstan, Republic ofKenya, Republic ofKiribati, Republic ofKorea, Democratic People's Republic ofKorea, Republic ofKuwait, State ofKyrgyz RepublicLao People's Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanon, Lebanese RepublicLesotho, Kingdom ofLiberia, Republic ofLibyan Arab JamahiriyaLiechtenstein, Principality ofLithuaniaLuxembourg, Grand Duchy ofMacao, Special Administrative Region of ChinaMacedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic ofMadagascar, Republic ofMalawi, Republic ofMalaysiaMaldives, Republic ofMali, Republic ofMalta, Republic ofMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritania, Islamic Republic ofMauritiusMayotteMicronesia, Federated States ofMoldova, Republic ofMonaco, Principality ofMongolia, Mongolian People's RepublicMontserratMorocco, Kingdom ofMozambique, People's Republic ofMyanmarNamibiaNauru, Republic ofNepal, Kingdom ofNetherlands AntillesNetherlands, Kingdom of theNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaragua, Republic ofNiger, Republic of theNigeria, Federal Republic ofNiue, Republic ofNorfolk IslandNorthern Mariana IslandsNorway, Kingdom ofOman, Sultanate ofPakistan, Islamic Republic ofPalauPalestinian Territory, OccupiedPanama, Republic ofPapua New GuineaParaguay, Republic ofPeru, Republic ofPhilippines, Republic of thePitcairn IslandPoland, Polish People's RepublicPortugal, Portuguese RepublicPuerto RicoQatar, State ofReunionRomania, Socialist Republic ofRussian FederationRwanda, Rwandese RepublicSamoa, Independent State ofSan Marino, Republic ofSao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic ofSaudi Arabia, Kingdom ofSenegal, Republic ofSerbia and MontenegroSeychelles, Republic ofSierra Leone, Republic ofSingapore, Republic ofSlovakia (Slovak Republic)SloveniaSolomon IslandsSomalia, Somali RepublicSouth Africa, Republic ofSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSpain, Spanish StateSri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic ofSt. HelenaSt. Kitts and NevisSt. LuciaSt. Pierre and MiquelonSt. Vincent and the GrenadinesSudan, Democratic Republic of theSuriname, Republic ofSvalbard & Jan Mayen IslandsSwaziland, Kingdom ofSweden, Kingdom ofSwitzerland, Swiss ConfederationSyrian Arab RepublicTaiwan, Province of ChinaTajikistanTanzania, United Republic ofThailand, Kingdom ofTimor-Leste, Democratic Republic ofTogo, Togolese RepublicTokelau (Tokelau Islands)Tonga, Kingdom ofTrinidad and Tobago, Republic ofTunisia, Republic ofTurkey, Republic ofTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluUganda, Republic ofUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited Kingdom of Great Britain & N. IrelandUruguay, Eastern Republic ofUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuela, Bolivarian Republic ofViet Nam, Socialist Republic ofWallis and Futuna IslandsWestern SaharaYemenZambia, Republic ofZimbabwe

Phone

Purchase detail

Subtotal:

Total:

How would you like to pay?

Ending in

Add New Card

American Express Discover Mastercard Visa JCB Diners Club Credit Card Credit Card

Terms of service confirmation

I Agree to the Subscription Terms of Use.
This service will be automatically renewed and your credit card billed once it nears expiration.

Secure transaction. Secure transaction. Cancel anytime.

×

You're all set!

Thank you.

Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.

Rate: Begins: Transaction ID:

A receipt was sent to your email.

OK

×

An error occurred

This offer is currently unavailable.

Close

Search AI Answers