FRANCIS R. (DICK) SCOBEE (LT. COL., U.S. AIR FORCE, RET.)

NASA ASTRONAUT (DECEASED)

PERSONAL DATA: Born May 19, 1939, in Cle Elum, Washington. Died January 

28, 1986. He is survived by his wife, June, and two children. He enjoyed flying, oil 

painting, woodworking, motorcycling, racquetball, jogging, and most outdoor sports.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Auburn Senior High School, Auburn, Washington, in 

1957; received a bachelor of science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the 

University of Arizona in 1965.

ORGANIZATIONS: Member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, the Tau 

Beta Pi, the Experimental Aircraft Association, and the Air Force Association.

AWARDS: Posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

SPECIAL HONORS: Awarded the Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, and two NASA Exceptional Service 

Medals.

EXPERIENCE: Scobee enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1957, trained as a reciprocating engine mechanic, and was 

subsequently stationed at Kelly Air Force Base, Texas. While there, he attended night school and acquired 2 years of college 

credit which led to his selection for the Airman’s Education and Commissioning Program. He graduated from the University of 

Arizona with a bachelor of science degree in Aerospace Engineering. He received his commission in 1965 and, after receiving 

his wings in 1966, completed a number of assignments including a combat tour in Vietnam. He returned to the United States 

and attended the U.S. Air Force Aerospace Research Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California. After graduating in 

1972, he participated in test programs for which he flew such varied aircraft as the Boeing 747, the X-24B, the transonic aircraft 

technology (TACT) F-111, and the C-5.

He logged more than 6,500 hours flying time in 45 types of aircraft.

NASA EXPERIENCE: Lt. Col. Scobee was selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in January 1978. In August 1979, he 

completed a 1-year training and evaluation period, making him eligible for assignment as a pilot on future space shuttle 

flightcrews. In addition to astronaut duties, Scobee was an Instructor Pilot on the NASA/Boeing 747 shuttle carrier airplane.

He first flew as pilot of STS 41-C which launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on April 6, 1984. Crew members 

included spacecraft commander Captain Robert L. Crippen, and three mission specialists, Terry J. Hart, Dr. G.D. (Pinky) 

Nelson, and Dr. J.D.A. (Ox) van Hoften. During this mission, the crew successfully deployed the Long Duration Exposure

Facility (LDEF); retrieved the ailing Solar Maximum Satellite, repaired it onboard the orbiting Challenger, and replaced it in 

orbit using the robot arm called the Remote Manipulator System (RMS). The mission also included flight testing of Manned 

Maneuvering Units (MMU’s) in two Extravehicular Activities (EVAs); operation of the Cinema 360 and IMAX Camera 

Systems, as well as a Bee Hive Honeycomb Structures student experiment. The mission duration was 7 days before landing at 

Edwards Air Force Base, California, on April 13, 1984. With the completion of this flight, he logged a total of 168-hours in 

space. 

Lt. Col. Scobee was spacecraft commander on STS 51-L, which launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, at 11:38:00 

EST on January 28, 1986. The crew onboard the Orbiter Challenger included the pilot, M.J. Smith (U.S. Navy) (pilot), three 

mission specialists, Dr. R.E. McNair, Lt. Col. E.S. Onizuka (U.S. Air Force), and Dr. J.A. Resnik, as well as two civilian 

payload specialists, G.B. Jarvis and S.C. McAuliffe. The STS 51-L crew died on January 28, 1986 when Challenger exploded 

after launch. 

MAY 2013

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

Biographical Data

 Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

 Houston, Texas 77058