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MAJOR ROBERT LAWRENCE: 1st African American Astronaut Designee

© Maisah B. Robinson, Ph.D.

In 1967, Air Force Major Robert H. Lawrence became the first black astronaut designee. He had completed the Air Force’s astronaut training program and was awaiting a mission. Major Lawrence was an aerospace research pilot in the Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL). Lawrence, who had a Ph.D. in physical chemistry, was accepted by the Air Force’s Aerospace Research Pilot School, and was the only United States astronaut with a Ph.D. at that time.

A press conference was held on June 30, 1967 to announce the selection of Major Lawrence and three other astronauts, Major James Abrahamson, Major Donald Peterson, and Lieutenant Colonel Robert Herres. At the press conference, Lawrence said about his being selected, “I don’t think it is especially a tremendous step forward. I think it’s just another one of the things that we look forward to in this country with respect to progress in civil rights.”

The training for the MOL program consisted of maneuvers in the F-104 jet plane. The plane could fly at twice the speed of sound, more than 1400 miles an hour. During one of the flights on December 8, 1967, Major Robert Lawrence was killed when the plane crashed at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The pilot, Major Harvey Royer, was able to eject from the plane and survived the crash. Major Lawrence’s parachute never opened after he ejected. Major Lawrence was never able to carry out his duties as an astronaut but will be remembered as an outstanding pilot and pioneer in the space program.

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