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Ronald McNair — NASA; restored by Coffeeandcrumbs · Public domain · Source

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Ronald McNair

Ronald Erwin McNair was an American NASA astronaut and physicist. He died at the age of 35 during the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger on mission STS-51-L, in which he was serving as one of three mission specialists in a crew of seven.

Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

science · American astronaut and physicist (1950–1986) · physicist · astronaut · saxophonist · karateka · also Ronald McNair, Ronald Erwin McNair, McNair

Born 21 October 1950 · Died 28 January 1986 · Q315730

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Jan 2008Quote
Funny Man in an Unfunny World
75%Wikiquote (en)Source Permalink
Jun 2004Award
Won Congressional Space Medal of Honor (2004).
84%WikipediaSource Permalink

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2026· 1 entry

Jul 15, 2026Documented record75% confidence

Public attention spiked: 3,365 Wikipedia readers in one day, 10.2× the usual 331, with 0 article edits.

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#attention
#spike
#pageviews

2025· 1 entry

Nov 29, 2025Documented record69% confidence

Palo Alto Weekly: Los Robles-Ronald McNair Academy reopens renovated campus

Palo Alto WeeklyModerate-trust source1 sourceLive source Archived

#news
#headline

2011· 1 entry

Jan 29, 2011Documented record70% confidence

The Lake City, South Carolina library was dedicated as the Ronald McNair Life History Center

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Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

#wikipedia
#event

2008· 1 entry

Jan 1, 2008Documented record75% confidence

“Funny Man in an Unfunny World”

Wikiquote (en)Trusted source1 sourceLive source Archived

#wikiquote
#quote

2004· 2 entries

Jun 15, 2004Documented record84% confidence

Won Congressional Space Medal of Honor (2004).

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Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

#wikidata
#trophy
#achievement

2004Source gives the year onlyDocumented record66% confidence

Along with all crew members lost in the Challenger and Columbia disasters

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Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

#wikipedia
#event

1986· 2 entries

Jun 15, 1986Documented record84% confidence

Won NASA Distinguished Service Medal (1986).

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Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

#wikidata
#trophy
#achievement

Jan 28, 1986Documented record86% confidence

Died 1986-01-28.

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Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

#wikidata
#death

1978· 1 entry

1978Source gives the year onlyDocumented record70% confidence

McNair was selected as one of 35 applicants from a pool of 10,000 for the NASA astronaut program

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Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

#wikipedia
#event

1976· 2 entries

1976Source gives the year onlyDocumented record70% confidence

McNair received a PhD degree in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology under the guidance of Michael Feld, becoming nationally recognized for his work in the field of laser physics

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#event

Jan 1, 1976Documented record84% confidence

Studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Doctor of Philosophy (1976).

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Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

#wikidata
#education

1971· 2 entries

1971Source gives the year onlyDocumented record70% confidence

McNair received a Bachelor of Science degree in physics, magna cum laude, from the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro, North Carolina

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#wikipedia
#event

Jan 1, 1971Documented record84% confidence

Studied at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Bachelor of Science (1971).

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Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

#wikidata
#education

1950· 1 entry

Oct 21, 1950Documented record86% confidence

Born 1950-10-21.

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Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

#wikidata
#birth

Jun 1986Award

Won NASA Distinguished Service Medal (1986).

84%WikipediaSource Permalink

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