Forty years later, and the state still searches for ways to honor a South Carolina native and astronaut who died in the Jan. 28,1986, Challenger space shuttle explosion.
Dr. Ronald McNair, born in Lake City and the second African American man in space, was commemorated with the title of "Palmetto Pioneer" Wednesday afternoon. Richland County School District One Superintendent Todd Walker announced the title at the school district's Challenger Learning Center.
McNair's name is tagged on museum exhibits, memorials and a doctoral study preparation program. He was one of seven people who lost their lives on a voyage to study Halley's Comet and deploy a commercial communications satellite.
The nation watched the astronauts' final moments together; eyes orbited television screens to get a good view of the space shuttle's launch. One of the astronauts on the trek with McNair was Christa McAuliffe, who was the first and final participant selected for the Teacher in Space Program. Her selection drew in eyes across classrooms.
South Carolina Teacher of the Year Corey Bedenbaugh joined Walker at the commemoration. And about fifteen students listened. Bedenbaugh said the children should look at McNair's full story for inspiration and not just his death.
"Those dreams that he had are the dreams that carried him along his journey to become an astronaut," he said.
Students in attendance then got to launch miniature rockets and tour the facilities.
McNair was the only Black person on the flight and served as a mission specialist. He had shown determination and poise since childhood — at one point, he refused to leave a segregated public library in his home of Lake City until he could check out the books he had selected. Both his mother and the police were called.
He was eight. The former library is now the Dr. Ronald E. McNair Learning Center.
Prior to his final flight, McNair had already been a passenger on Challenger in 1984. As a saxophone player, he took his woodwind to space and became the first person to play an instrument among the stars.
The Challenger space shuttle broke apart 73 seconds after takeoff. But the names of McNair and his fellow astronauts have rung through the nation's ears longer than the initial explosion's shockwaves did.
