The Challenger
January/February 2011
Lake City builds on Ron McNair's legacy
He went into space but never left his hometown behind.
By Otis R. Taylor Jr. - The State
Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011
LAKE CITY, S.C. The boy walked to the counter of the Lake City Public Library through a gantlet of stares in 1959. Ronald E. McNair, then 9, wanted to check out books on advanced science and calculus, but the librarian wouldn't release them.
"We don't circulate books to Negroes," she told him.
Library patrons laughed at McNair's behavior, and the librarian threatened to call the police. His mother, Pearl McNair, didn't budge.
Instead, he hoisted himself onto the counter, his spindly legs dangling, and waited, because he wasn't leaving without the books. After two police officers determined that McNair wasn't causing a public disturbance, and when Pearl said she would pay for the books if McNair didn't bring them back, the librarian acquiesced.
"Thank you, ma'am," McNair, prompted by his mother, said before he walked out of the library. McNair, always a precocious student, would become an astronaut and a hometown hero. This weekend, his heroism and dedication to learning again will be noted. But so will his death.
On Jan. 28, 1986, McNair was on the space shuttle Challenger, which disintegrated shortly after takeoff, killing him and six other crew members.
McNair was 35.
His legacy is intact here. The local schools, including Ronald E. McNair Middle School, will hold events all week in classrooms, and the Ron McNair Committee, a Lake City-based group, has organized a parade, candlelight vigil and banquet.
But what about outside this city of fewer than 10,000 in Florence County? There are more than 20 schools in the country named for McNair, but do students know the history of the name? "After a while, it becomes just a name for a building, just like any other building you've gone into on various campuses," said McNair's older brother, Carl. "I'm really, really trying to find a way to let all of these people know the legacy that they carry."
Shortly after McNair's death, Carl founded the Dr. Ronald E. McNair Foundation, which has raised money for programs that have benefited students and teachers nationwide.
Carl, who is now a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education consultant for the McNair Achievement Program, continues to share his brother's story.
"I've heard Ron came from the right family and stumbled into the situation and became an astronaut," said Carl, whose family lived in poverty. "They don't know who he is, but know of his schools."
Showing their support
A week ago, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a construction crew was putting down sod outside a small building. Inside, the walls were being painted as guests walked over plastic covering newly installed carpet.
The crew was working on a national holiday to catch up for time lost because of snow and rain.
"We normally don't (work on a holiday), but at the same time, the building is supposed to be done," Jason Morse, the job superintendent, said about the project, which includes a small amphitheater. "We're going to make sure it gets done."
Saturday morning, January 29th the building will be introduced as the Dr. Ronald E. McNair Life History Center. It's the same building McNair defiantly refused to leave without his library books more than a half-century ago.
"That should give you a little idea of what has happened in terms of support in Lake City," said Clyde Bess, the Ron McNair Committee's publicity chairman and a former classmate.
The history center is adjacent to a park named for McNair, which includes a mausoleum and statue.
In 1984, after McNair's first space flight, Lake City honored him with a parade and banquet, and McNair gave a speech, said T.R. Cooper, the committee chairman.
"He said, 'The people of Lake City made me what I am and what I will become,'" said Cooper, McNair's principal at Carver Elementary. "He never came back to Lake City and said, 'Aha, I made it, and you didn't help me.'
"No matter who you were, he was able to talk to you. That's Ron McNair."
McNair's widow, Cheryl, applauded the efforts in Lake City.
"It's just such a wonderful group of people there, and they're so dedicated," said Cheryl McNair, who will attend this weekend's events. "They just kind of stayed as a group working to support him."In really supporting him, they're working to support the community. And to encourage kids that they can rise above neighborhoods and problems and that they can achieve great things
An inspiration to youth
McNair shared his story in schools and churches, accepting most offers, if time permitted, that came his way. After the Challenger mission, which would have been his last as an astronaut, McNair was going to teach, his wife said.
The Challenger Learning Center, near Columbia's W.A. Perry Middle School, is one of dozens nationwide established as a living memorial to the Challenger crew. There is a hall dedicated to McNair, where, during tours, guides share his story.
"We like to use that when we are talking to students," said Thelma Clayvon, the center's director. "A lot of times students will say, 'Well I'm from a poor area.' Ron grew up poor, and we like to tell them that he worked very hard."When they come in, they know they have the option to try without being penalized. They know that they will be encouraged."
The Learning Center allows students to simulate space missions, from launch to landing shuttles. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., has been a strong supporter of the center - and McNair's legacy.
"All that he achieved during his remarkable life resulted from hard work and dedication," Clyburn said. "He continues to teach us all to use our talents for the benefits of others. He gave the ultimate sacrifice, but left us with a legacy that will endure for generations to come."
That's if people continue to support McNair.
"It seems like we should have more really coming from the community to us instead of us bringing it to them," he said.
Carl agreed, saying there aren't enough torch bearers for McNair. Cheryl said sharing McNair's story exposes students to the possibilities of life.
"I think it gives inspiration to youth," she said, "if they follow in the footsteps and listen to the message that was given."
A view of the Ronald E. McNair memorial statue in Lake City.
McNair was an astronaut who died in the Challenger explosion 25 years ago
XO’s Corner: Fleet Captain Stephen Stott
Responsibilities of Command Staff
Team it is a new year and as always we try to challenge ourselves with resolutions to improve ourselves or our performance. My challenge to the divisional staff this year is to increase the outstanding support you provide to the ship by taking the initiative in engaging in the many aspects of what we do on the McNair. To the command and divisional staff members I ask you to continue to submit your reports on your division to myself and to the appropriate regional level staff chief. I also want you all to think about how the ship can support a division sponsored project headed up by yourself. I want to thank those division heads that are doing great things in informing the crew. To key examples of this are the science information reports and the security awareness reports that the science and security divisions provide. Not only do they meet the requirement of keeping the ship informed, they also relate to real world issues that affect us in our everyday lives. I challenge other members of the crew and departments to step up and provide their input and support. A key point to remember regarding monthly reports is that at end of year awards time you are eligible for a region level award for the best and most consistent reporting. To our newer members of the ship I want to encourage you to try and make our meetings and provide input where appropriate. The McNair is only as good and strong as the crew. It is your ideas and participation that make the club a fun and interesting experience for all concerned. Part of my job as the first officer is to ensure the smooth running and daily operations of our ship. Being a Vulcan I can come across as very blunt and to the point but know this. I am proud of serving with each and every one of you and I look forward to another great year on the McNair. I hope that all of you continue to live long and prosper.
Engineering Dept: Submitted by SCPO Larry Kirby
FOUBAR’S RECORD
Crewman Foubar sat at the desk of his stateroom. He did not move. He took shallow breaths. He did not let his eyes wander. He was staring at his desk chronometer. In exactly two minutes it would be 24 hours since anyone had yelled at him. He was going for a personal record.
The last time anyone had yelled at him was 1635 yesterday afternoon. The Master Chief had asked for a sonic spanner. He had given him a sonic stunner instead. It was an easy mistake to make. The Master Chief had then proceeded to accidently stun Mr. Stott, the Vulcan First Officer, who happened to be standing in the wrong place at the wrong time. The Master Chief had not been pleased. The Master Chief, after assuring that the First Officer was going to survive, began to curse Foubar. The Master Chief was very good at cursing. Crewmen had come from three decks to marvel at the eloquence of the Master Chief. Two crewmembers, Specialists Whitehorse and Fivebears, had burst into spontaneous applause when the Master Chief began cursing in Navaho.
Foubar, thoroughly chastised and with uniform crisped, had gone to his quarters, which truthfully, was not where he had been told to go by the Master Chief. He had vowed to not come out until 24 hours had passed.
One minute remained. Foubar began to relax. This was a grievous error.
Foubar pushed his chair back two inches in preparation to stand. The rear wheel, which he knew was loose but had not gotten around to replacing, fell off. He stumbled madly, arms pin wheeling as he tried to regain his balance. He fell backwards onto a chair, striking a dinner tray on the way down. Tray, plate, a half eaten quiche and a fork went flying. The fork struck his bronze Captain Kirk bust, ricocheted at a precise 67.235 degree angle and buried itself into his wall communicator, which shorted out in such a way that a burst of electricity shot down the corridor wiring, up three decks and into the Captain’s command chair, where it signaled that the ship was under attack by something that resembled a large, blue, British police call box.
Realizing that if hostilities had broken out with Gallifrey she most likely would have been notified, the Captain thought for a moment and quickly deduced that the alarm was in error. In the next femtosecond she thought of Foubar. The Captain had reviewed the recent “discussion” between Foubar and the Master Chief (making a note in her personal log to remind herself to ask where the Master Chief had learned to curse in Romulan), glanced at her personal chronometer (which revealed that, indeed, no problem with Foubar had surfaced in the last 24 hours) and concluded that He Had Screwed Up Again. She sighed deeply and called the Master Chief.
“Chief,” she barely managed to get out before that worthy responded, “On it, Boss! I’ll get back to you when I ascertain the damage!”
Down in engineering the Master Chief calmly put down “Starship Troopers,” one of his favorite Heinlein novels (personally autographed) which he was re-reading for the 23rd time. He walked quickly to the elevator, rode it to the deck Foubar’s quarters were on and with more than a little trepidation walked to the crewman’s door. He politely knocked on the door, the knocking startling crewmembers throughout the ship.
Foubar, having by now regained his feet, opened the door, placing his hand on the shorted out communicator as he did so. An electrical charge jumped from Foubar to the Master Chief, who promptly sat down on the deck. This did not please the Master Chief. Not even a little.
“Crewman, Foubar,” the Master Chief said calmly (never a good sign), as he regained his feet. “Did your parents have any children that lived?”
“Yes, Master Chief,” Foubar answered, touched that the Master Chief would enquire. I have a brother and a sister.”
“Bog help the Federation,” quoth the Master Chief. He then placed his hand on the shoulder of the crewman to offer some fatherly advice, not knowing that Foubar, not having been shocked himself, had seen no reason to remove his hand from the ruined communicator. The Master Chief sat down again. This time he went to sleep.
Foubar went back into his quarters, letting the door whoosh closed behind him. He went back to his desk and sat down. He hoped the Master Chief would wake up and forget that he had talked to Foubar. It was possible.
And the Master Chief had not yelled at him! He glanced at his chronometer.
It was 1639.
A new record!
Security Dept.
Submitted by Commander Hayden Segel
Team McNair,
This month I thoughtI'd give you all the opportunity to gauge your own level of
computer security awareness. I'm providing you, courtesy of onguardonline.gov
and the SANS Instititute, links to some fun quizzes to help you out with better
knowingwhere you stand on the topic of computer security awareness.
See just how "Security Aware" you really are
Do you believe you're a little more Security Aware? Can you identify the threats
that exist in your environment and the steps you should take to avoid them? Take
the following quizzes and find out.
Phishing
Spyware
Identity Theft
Social Networking
Of course if the links don't work you can always copy and paste to your
browser. for me, I found these quizzes to be both entertaining and educational,
so I hope you like it too. I'd appreciate your feedback. Stay safe.
Science Dept:
Submitted by CSO Lt Sandi Rust
By SETH BORENSTEIN, AP Science Writer Seth Borenstein, Ap Science Writer– MonJan10, 9:22pmET
WASHINGTON – The Hubble Space Telescope got its first peek at a mysterious giant green blob in outer space and found that it's strangely alive. The bizarre glowing blob is giving birth to new stars, some only a couple million years old, in remote areas of the universe where stars don't normally form.
The blob of gas was first discovered by a Dutch school teacher in 2007 and is named Hanny's Voorwerp (HAN'-nee's-FOR'-vehrp). Voorwerp is Dutch for object.
NASA released the new Hubble photo Monday at the American Astronomical Society meeting in Seattle.
Parts of the green blob are collapsing and the resulting pressure from that is creating the stars. The stellar nurseries are outside of a normal galaxy, which is usually where stars live.
That makes these "very lonely newborn stars" that are "in the middle of nowhere," said Bill Keel, the University of Alabama astronomer who examined the blob.
The blob is the size of our own Milky Way galaxy and it is 650 million light years away. Each light year is about 6 trillion miles.
The blob is mostly hydrogen gas swirling from a close encounter of two galaxies and it glows because it is illuminated by a quasar in one of the galaxies. A quasar is a bright object full of energy powered by a black hole.
The blob was discovered by elementary school teacher Hanny van Arkel, who was 24 at the time, as part of a worldwide Galaxy Zoo project where everyday people can look at archived star photographs to catalog new objects.
Van Arkel said when she first saw the odd object in 2007 it appeared blue and smaller. The Hubble photo provides a clear picture and better explanation for what is happening around the blob."It actually looked like a blue smudge," van Arkel told The Associated Press. "Now it lookslike dancing frog in the sky because it's green." She says she can even see what passes for arms and eyes.Since van Arkel's discovery, astronomers have looked for similar gas blobs and found 18 of them. But all of them are about half the size of Hanny's Voorwerp, Keel said.