Dick Scobee came into the world, as Francis Richard Scobee, on May 19, 1939. As a youth he was fascinated by airplanes, so after graduating from Auburn High School (Auburn, WA) in 1957, he joined the Air Force. He received his wings in 1966 and went on to several assignments, includinga combat your in Vietnam, where he received the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal.
He was selected as an astronaut in January of 1978. He first flew into space as pilot of the Space Shuttle Challenger during STS-41C on April 6, 1984. His final flight was as spacecraft commander of STS-51L, also aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger on January 28, 1986.
Learn more about Dick Scobee.
He was selected as an astronaut in January of 1978. He first flew into space as pilot of the Space Shuttle Challenger during STS-41C on April 6, 1984. His final flight was as spacecraft commander of STS-51L, also aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger on January 28, 1986.
Learn more about Dick Scobee.
Image Credit: NASA Johnson Space Center (NASA-JSC)
Black History Month
Celebrating African-Americans in Astronomy & Space, including Guion "Guy" Bluford - First African-American in Space.
Elsewhere on About - From the Spanish Site Estevanico the Moor: Slave and Explorer
- Picture Gallery: See more of Dick Scobee in our Dick Scobee Pictures Gallery.
- Related Article: Learn more about Dick Scobee's last flight as part of the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster.
- Special!: Find a great Valentine's Day gift for your favorite amateur aastronomer or space buff in our Gift Guide.
See What's Happening
Today in the News
- All Headline News: Scientists Find Concrete Properties Of Dark Matter
- The Inquirer: Bush spinner calls for NASA site censorship
- International Herald Tribune (France): Rocketing into a cheaper space race
See What Happened
Today in History

Dick Scobee Biography
Comments