How about discovering the legacy of a man who touched the stars? We are standing in McNair. This place carries the name of Ronald Erwin McNair. He was an American NASA astronaut and physicist. McNair tragically died during the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1986.
McNair’s story is one of perseverance. He was born in 1950 in Lake City South Carolina. Growing up he faced poverty and racial segregation. In the summer of 1959 McNair refused to leave the segregated Lake City Public Library. He wanted to check out books. This act of defiance made him a local hero.
McNair excelled academically. He graduated as valedictorian from Carver High School in 1967. In 1971 he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering physics. He graduated magna cum laude from North Carolina A&T State University. McNair continued his education. He received a PhD in physics from MIT in 1976. His doctoral work focused on laser physics.
McNair’s achievements extended beyond academics. He won an AAU Karate gold medal in 1976. He earned a fifth-degree black belt in karate. McNair was also an accomplished saxophonist. He was a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. McNair was also a member of the Baháʼí Faith. He carried a book of Baháʼí prayers with him on the Challenger mission.
In 1978 NASA selected McNair for its astronaut program. He became the second African American to fly in space. This happened on the STS-41-B mission aboard Challenger in 1984. During the mission McNair operated the shuttle’s robotic arm.
Tragedy struck on January 28 1986. McNair and six other astronauts perished. The Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated shortly after liftoff. McNair was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.
McNair’s legacy lives on through numerous honors. A crater on the Moon bears his name. The McNair Building at MIT houses the Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research. Many schools and programs are named after him. These include the McNair Science Center and the McNair Center for Aerospace Innovation and Research. The U.S. Department of Education offers the TRIO Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program.
Before his final mission McNair collaborated with Jean-Michel Jarre. They planned to record a saxophone solo in space. This piece was for Jarre’s album Rendez-Vous. The disaster prevented the recording. Jarre dedicated the track “Last Rendez-Vous” to McNair. He subtitled it “Ron’s Piece”.
Ronald McNair’s life was a testament to his determination. He overcame adversity to achieve greatness. McNair inspires us to reach for the stars. His story reminds us that dreams can come true with hard work and perseverance.