Dick Scobee

Francis Richard "Dick" Scobee (May 19, 1939 - January 28, 1986) was an American astronaut. He was flying as the commander of Space Shuttle Challenger when the shuttle exploded. In the explosion, Scobee and six other astronauts were killed.

Dick Scobee
Scobee-fr.jpg
Born(1939-05-19)May 19, 1939
DiedJanuary 28, 1986(1986-01-28) (aged 46)
Resting placeArlington National Cemetery
NationalityAmerican
Other namesFrancis Richard Scobee
Alma materSan Antonio College
University of Arizona, B.S. 1965
OccupationPilot
AwardsDfc-usa.jpg Congressional Space Medal of Honor
Space career
NASA Astronaut
RankUS-O5 insignia.svg Lieutenant colonel, USAF
Time in space
6d 23h 40m
Selection1978 NASA Group 8
MissionsSTS-41-C, STS-51-L
Mission insignia
STS-41-C patch.png STS-51-L-patch-small.png

Scobee was selected for NASA's astronaut program in January 1978 and he completed his training in August 1979. In April 1984, Scobee piloted the Challenger mission STS-41-C, which successfully deployed one satellite and repaired another.

Challenger STS-51-L

He was elevated to the role of spacecraft commander for the STS-51-L mission (Challenger mission). The mission was designed to deploy a satellite to study the approaching Halley's Comet and to inaugurate the Teacher in Space Project. It was delayed several times due to bad weather and technical glitches. When they did the mission, an O-ring seal failure destroyed the shuttle 73 seconds into the flight, killing Scobee and the other six members of the crew; the tragedy was viewed live on national television and prompted several days of national mourning.

Personal life

Scobee is survived by his wife Virginia June Kent, and two children, Kathie R. (Scobee) Fulgham and Lieutenant General Richard W. Scobee, USAF.

Dick Scobee Media

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