1. Ronald E. McNair B. Ervin March 13, 2008 1st Period Astronaut
Scientist
Engineer
Physicist
B. Ervin
March 13, 2008
1st Period

2. In the Beginning Born October 21, 1950,
Grew up in Lake City, South Carolina.

3. Family Life He had a wife, Cheryl Moore McNair
He had two children, Reginald and Joy.

4. Schools Attended
1967-Graduated from Carver High School, Lake City, South Carolina,
1971- He received a bachelor of science degree in Physics from North Carolina A&T State University in
1976-He received a doctor of philosophy in Physics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology

5. Contributions
Performed some of the earliest development of chemical HF/DF and high-pressure CO lasers.
Focused on theoretical analysis on the interaction of intense CO2 laser radiation with molecular gases
Provided new understandings and applications for highly excited polyatomic molecules.
Conducted research on electro-optic laser modulation for satellite-to-satellite space communications

6. Contributions cont’d.
Developed the construction of ultra-fast infrared detectors
Developed ultraviolet atmospheric remote sensing
Constructed the scientific foundations of the martial arts.

7. Honors/Awards
Selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in January 1978
Appointed a mission specialist on STS 41-B which launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on February 3, 1984
Graduated magna cum laude from North Carolina A&T (1971)
Named a Presidential Scholar ( )
Ford Foundation Fellow ( ),
Winner of Omega Psi Phi Scholar of the Year Award (1975),
AAU Karate Gold Medal (1976),
Posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

8. The Tragic End He died on January 28, 1986 at 35 years of age.
The Space Shuttle, the Challenger exploded after launch from the Kennedy Space Center
After his death he was awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

9. References

10. Any Questions? Sample Questions that I may ask are as follows:
What is this scientist known for?
When did he/she die?
When/Where were they born?