The Story of Ronald Ervin McNair

In 1959, police were called to a segregated library when a Black 9-year-old boy trying to check out books refused to leave after being told the library was not for Black people. The boy, Ronald Ervin McNair, went on to get a PhD. in Physics from MIT and became an astronaut. The library that refused to lend him books is now named after him.

Ronald Ervin McNair was born on October 21, 1950, in Lake City, South Carolina. At the age of 9, in 1959, young Ronald attempted to check out books from a segregated public library in his hometown. The library was designated for white people only, and when he refused to leave after being denied service, the police were called.

McNair excelled academically. He graduated as valedictorian from Carver High School in 1967. He then attended North Carolina A&T State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics, graduating magna cum laude in 1971. His academic prowess earned him a scholarship to the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

At MIT, McNair continued to shine, earning a PhD in Physics in 1976. His doctoral research focused on laser physics, and he made significant contributions to the field, including work on chemical and high-pressure lasers.

McNair’s talents caught the attention of NASA, and he was selected as part of the 1978 astronaut class. He became one of the first African American astronauts. He completed his training and was qualified as a mission specialist, working on various technical assignments, including the development of space shuttle remote manipulator systems.

McNair flew his first space mission aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger (STS-41-B) in February 1984. During this mission, he performed the first use of a robotic arm to deploy and retrieve a satellite, and he also conducted experiments in materials processing. His second mission was scheduled for January 1986.

On January 28, 1986, McNair was aboard the Challenger for the STS-51-L mission when the shuttle tragically exploded just 73 seconds after launch, killing all seven crew members. His death was a significant loss to the space program and the scientific community.

In honor of his contributions and the early injustice he faced, the library in Lake City, South Carolina, that once refused him service was renamed the Ronald McNair Life History Center.