Francis R. Scobee
Francis Richard "Dick" Scobee was an American Air Force pilot, aerospace engineer, test pilot, and NASA astronaut. Selected with NASA Astronaut Group 8 in 1978, he flew once as a shuttle pilot and was later killed while commanding Challenger on STS-51-L.
- Born
- May 19, 1939
- Died
- January 28, 1986
- Birthplace
- Cle Elum, Washington,United States
Flights
1
Spacewalks
0
EVA time
N/A
In space
6 days, 23 hours, 40 minutes
Bio
Scobee began as an Air Force mechanic before becoming an officer, combat aviator, and test pilot. That path gave him unusually broad experience with aircraft systems, flight operations, and crew leadership.
His first spaceflight was STS-41-C in 1984, where he served as pilot aboard Challenger. The mission deployed LDEF and repaired the Solar Maximum Mission satellite.
Scobee commanded STS-51-L on January 28, 1986. Challenger broke apart shortly after launch, killing Scobee and the six other crew members and leading to major changes in NASA safety and shuttle management.
He is remembered as a skilled pilot and whose career reflects both the promise and the risks of the shuttle era.