Ronald E. McNair was one of the first African-American astronauts and the second to travel in space. At the age of 26, he received his Ph.D. In 1986 at the age of 35, his remarkable life came to an end when the Challenger space shuttle exploded on a lift-off into space, killing Dr. McNair and six other astronauts. In his honor, the U.S. Congress established the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program to encourage first-generation college students from financially and historically disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue graduate education.

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