Podcast appearances and mentions of ronald mcnair

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First things first: today's episode is fantastic, but deals with some really heavy, difficult subject matter. Please be advised, and please take care of yourself and listen as you're able. On January 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into flight above the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Cape Canaveral, Florida at 11:39 a.m., killing all seven crew members aboard. This marked the first fatal accident involving an American spacecraft while in flight. Not only were the families of all seven crew members watching, but so was the country and the world—the launch was broadcast live, and children across the country in particular were watching thanks to schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe being sent into space that day as a part of the Teacher In Space program. Because of this, media interest was higher than normal, and many children watched in horror as the spacecraft exploded, not understanding, and traumatized. I want to honor those seven lives lost by naming them here: F. Richard Scobee, commander; Michael J. Smith, pilot; Ronald McNair, mission specialist; Ellison Onizuka, mission specialist; Judith Resnik, mission specialist; Gregory Jarvis, payload specialist; and Christa McAuliffe, payload specialist and teacher. This crew was scheduled to deploy a communications satellite and study Halley's Comet, but never got the chance; the cause of the explosion was determined to be the failure of the primary and secondary redundant O-ring seals in a joint in the shuttle's right solid rocket booster—our guest on the show today, Adam Higginbotham, will explain that to us. The record-low temperatures on that January morning of the launch had stiffened the rubber O-rings, reducing their ability to seal the joints. After a three-month search-and recovery operation, the crew compartment, human remains, and many other fragments from the shuttle were recovered from the Atlantic Ocean floor. I talk about this with Adam today, but, while the exact timing of the deaths of the crewmembers is unknown, several crew members are thought to have survived the initial breakup of the Challenger. It is especially difficult, at least for me, to hear Adam talk about this. As a result of the Challenger disaster, NASA established the Office of Safety, Reliability, and Quality Assurance, as well as other changes focused on safety. In his book Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space, which comes out tomorrow, May 14, Adam Higginbotham tells the story of the Challenger but also the arc from 1967 and the Apollo 1 cabin fire to 2003 and the Columbia disaster, 17 years after the Challenger. This is one of the best books I've ever read—full stop. The full story of what happened with the Challenger and why has never been told, until Adam's book. It is filled with extensive archival research and meticulous, original reporting about this turning point in history, which, as Adam puts it, “forever changed the way America thought of itself and its optimistic view of the future.” Adam is a journalist who is the former U.S. correspondent for The Sunday Telegraph and former editor-in-chief of The Face. He has also served as a contributing writer for The New York Times, The New Yorker, GQ, Smithsonian, and Wired and is also the author of Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster, which came out in 2019. This is a truly harrowing and powerful conversation.   Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space by Adam Higginbotham

The Voyager probes have been transiting space since 1977, and they're still at it 46 years later. But late in 2023, Voyager 1, now 15 billion miles distant, started sending what the flight controllers called "gibberish" back to Earth---uncoordinated ones and zeros and a heartbeat tone. They knew it was still alive, but something had gone wrong. The small team of software wizards at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory got to work and came up with a workaround... but due to the age of the program, did not have an old enough computer on the ground to test it! They'd have to eyeball the sequence and send it to overwrite existing programming on the spacecraft. The round-trip radio signal from Earth takes 45 hours... and it was a nail-biter. Join us as we discuss this rescue beyond the solar system with Voyager Mission Scientist Dr. Linda Spilker. Headlines: Boeing Starliner launch delayed again due to a "buzzing" valve on the Atlas V rocket, not related to the spacecraft itself James Webb Space Telescope detects weather patterns on an exoplanet 41 light-years away, revealing a regenerating atmosphere on a puffy, molten world Elon Musk shares his thoughts on the lack of evidence for alien visitation, citing SpaceX's 6,000 satellites that have never had to maneuver around a UFO Feedback: A listener appreciates the discussion on how music relates to space exploration, but points out a missed opportunity to mention Ronald McNair's planned saxophone performance in space, which was tragically halted by the Challenger disaster. Main Topic - Saving Voyager 1 with Dr. Linda Spilker: Dr. Spilker's career at JPL, starting in 1977 and working on the Voyager mission, Cassini, and returning to Voyager as Project Scientist Voyager's small flight team and science team, many of whom have been with the mission since its inception The spacecraft's journey beyond the heliopause and into interstellar space, making unprecedented measurements of the interstellar medium The ambitious Grand Tour of the outer solar system, visiting Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, and the remarkable discoveries made at each planet and their moons The recent challenges faced by Voyager 1, including a failed chip and the efforts to restore its function from Earth The limited computing power and memory of the Voyagers compared to modern spacecraft and the ingenuity required to program and communicate with them Pressure Front 2, a mysterious feature in the interstellar medium that Voyager 1 was monitoring before its recent glitch The expected lifespan of the Voyager probes and the need to start shutting down instruments as power decreases in the coming years Dr. Spilker's personal highlights from the mission, including the beauty of Saturn's rings, the geysers on Neptune's moon Triton, and hints of Saturn's moon Enceladus feeding the planet's E-ring Wishes for future exploration of the outer solar system, focusing on the ice giants Uranus and Neptune, Pluto, and other small worlds with rings Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Dr. Linda Spilker Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit

The Voyager probes have been transiting space since 1977, and they're still at it 46 years later. But late in 2023, Voyager 1, now 15 billion miles distant, started sending what the flight controllers called "gibberish" back to Earth---uncoordinated ones and zeros and a heartbeat tone. They knew it was still alive, but something had gone wrong. The small team of software wizards at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory got to work and came up with a workaround... but due to the age of the program, did not have an old enough computer on the ground to test it! They'd have to eyeball the sequence and send it to overwrite existing programming on the spacecraft. The round-trip radio signal from Earth takes 45 hours... and it was a nail-biter. Join us as we discuss this rescue beyond the solar system with Voyager Mission Scientist Dr. Linda Spilker. Headlines: Boeing Starliner launch delayed again due to a "buzzing" valve on the Atlas V rocket, not related to the spacecraft itself James Webb Space Telescope detects weather patterns on an exoplanet 41 light-years away, revealing a regenerating atmosphere on a puffy, molten world Elon Musk shares his thoughts on the lack of evidence for alien visitation, citing SpaceX's 6,000 satellites that have never had to maneuver around a UFO Feedback: A listener appreciates the discussion on how music relates to space exploration, but points out a missed opportunity to mention Ronald McNair's planned saxophone performance in space, which was tragically halted by the Challenger disaster. Main Topic - Saving Voyager 1 with Dr. Linda Spilker: Dr. Spilker's career at JPL, starting in 1977 and working on the Voyager mission, Cassini, and returning to Voyager as Project Scientist Voyager's small flight team and science team, many of whom have been with the mission since its inception The spacecraft's journey beyond the heliopause and into interstellar space, making unprecedented measurements of the interstellar medium The ambitious Grand Tour of the outer solar system, visiting Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, and the remarkable discoveries made at each planet and their moons The recent challenges faced by Voyager 1, including a failed chip and the efforts to restore its function from Earth The limited computing power and memory of the Voyagers compared to modern spacecraft and the ingenuity required to program and communicate with them Pressure Front 2, a mysterious feature in the interstellar medium that Voyager 1 was monitoring before its recent glitch The expected lifespan of the Voyager probes and the need to start shutting down instruments as power decreases in the coming years Dr. Spilker's personal highlights from the mission, including the beauty of Saturn's rings, the geysers on Neptune's moon Triton, and hints of Saturn's moon Enceladus feeding the planet's E-ring Wishes for future exploration of the outer solar system, focusing on the ice giants Uranus and Neptune, Pluto, and other small worlds with rings Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Dr. Linda Spilker Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit

The Voyager probes have been transiting space since 1977, and they're still at it 46 years later. But late in 2023, Voyager 1, now 15 billion miles distant, started sending what the flight controllers called "gibberish" back to Earth---uncoordinated ones and zeros and a heartbeat tone. They knew it was still alive, but something had gone wrong. The small team of software wizards at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory got to work and came up with a workaround... but due to the age of the program, did not have an old enough computer on the ground to test it! They'd have to eyeball the sequence and send it to overwrite existing programming on the spacecraft. The round-trip radio signal from Earth takes 45 hours... and it was a nail-biter. Join us as we discuss this rescue beyond the solar system with Voyager Mission Scientist Dr. Linda Spilker. Headlines: Boeing Starliner launch delayed again due to a "buzzing" valve on the Atlas V rocket, not related to the spacecraft itself James Webb Space Telescope detects weather patterns on an exoplanet 41 light-years away, revealing a regenerating atmosphere on a puffy, molten world Elon Musk shares his thoughts on the lack of evidence for alien visitation, citing SpaceX's 6,000 satellites that have never had to maneuver around a UFO Feedback: A listener appreciates the discussion on how music relates to space exploration, but points out a missed opportunity to mention Ronald McNair's planned saxophone performance in space, which was tragically halted by the Challenger disaster. Main Topic - Saving Voyager 1 with Dr. Linda Spilker: Dr. Spilker's career at JPL, starting in 1977 and working on the Voyager mission, Cassini, and returning to Voyager as Project Scientist Voyager's small flight team and science team, many of whom have been with the mission since its inception The spacecraft's journey beyond the heliopause and into interstellar space, making unprecedented measurements of the interstellar medium The ambitious Grand Tour of the outer solar system, visiting Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, and the remarkable discoveries made at each planet and their moons The recent challenges faced by Voyager 1, including a failed chip and the efforts to restore its function from Earth The limited computing power and memory of the Voyagers compared to modern spacecraft and the ingenuity required to program and communicate with them Pressure Front 2, a mysterious feature in the interstellar medium that Voyager 1 was monitoring before its recent glitch The expected lifespan of the Voyager probes and the need to start shutting down instruments as power decreases in the coming years Dr. Spilker's personal highlights from the mission, including the beauty of Saturn's rings, the geysers on Neptune's moon Triton, and hints of Saturn's moon Enceladus feeding the planet's E-ring Wishes for future exploration of the outer solar system, focusing on the ice giants Uranus and Neptune, Pluto, and other small worlds with rings Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Dr. Linda Spilker Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit

The Voyager probes have been transiting space since 1977, and they're still at it 46 years later. But late in 2023, Voyager 1, now 15 billion miles distant, started sending what the flight controllers called "gibberish" back to Earth---uncoordinated ones and zeros and a heartbeat tone. They knew it was still alive, but something had gone wrong. The small team of software wizards at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory got to work and came up with a workaround... but due to the age of the program, did not have an old enough computer on the ground to test it! They'd have to eyeball the sequence and send it to overwrite existing programming on the spacecraft. The round-trip radio signal from Earth takes 45 hours... and it was a nail-biter. Join us as we discuss this rescue beyond the solar system with Voyager Mission Scientist Dr. Linda Spilker. Headlines: Boeing Starliner launch delayed again due to a "buzzing" valve on the Atlas V rocket, not related to the spacecraft itself James Webb Space Telescope detects weather patterns on an exoplanet 41 light-years away, revealing a regenerating atmosphere on a puffy, molten world Elon Musk shares his thoughts on the lack of evidence for alien visitation, citing SpaceX's 6,000 satellites that have never had to maneuver around a UFO Feedback: A listener appreciates the discussion on how music relates to space exploration, but points out a missed opportunity to mention Ronald McNair's planned saxophone performance in space, which was tragically halted by the Challenger disaster. Main Topic - Saving Voyager 1 with Dr. Linda Spilker: Dr. Spilker's career at JPL, starting in 1977 and working on the Voyager mission, Cassini, and returning to Voyager as Project Scientist Voyager's small flight team and science team, many of whom have been with the mission since its inception The spacecraft's journey beyond the heliopause and into interstellar space, making unprecedented measurements of the interstellar medium The ambitious Grand Tour of the outer solar system, visiting Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, and the remarkable discoveries made at each planet and their moons The recent challenges faced by Voyager 1, including a failed chip and the efforts to restore its function from Earth The limited computing power and memory of the Voyagers compared to modern spacecraft and the ingenuity required to program and communicate with them Pressure Front 2, a mysterious feature in the interstellar medium that Voyager 1 was monitoring before its recent glitch The expected lifespan of the Voyager probes and the need to start shutting down instruments as power decreases in the coming years Dr. Spilker's personal highlights from the mission, including the beauty of Saturn's rings, the geysers on Neptune's moon Triton, and hints of Saturn's moon Enceladus feeding the planet's E-ring Wishes for future exploration of the outer solar system, focusing on the ice giants Uranus and Neptune, Pluto, and other small worlds with rings Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Dr. Linda Spilker Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Pravda pod mikroskopem: Ronald McNair (2/2): Manželčina nezdolnost. Autor: Dave Fisher, čte: Daniel Zeman, Pavel Hromádka, Lída Matušková, překlad: Mája Pavlatová.

Pravda pod mikroskopem: Ronald McNair (1/2): Exploze raketoplánu Challenger. Autor: Dave Fisher, čte: Daniel Zeman, Pavel Hromádka, Lída Matušková, překlad: Mája Pavlatová.

The University of Alberta fired the head of its campus sexual assault centre after she signed an open letter calling reports of sexual violence during Hamas's Oct. 7 attack on Israel an “unverified accusation.” What the hell was she thinking? Whatever happened to believing survivors? And what's with union leaders and Pride Centre execs signing on, too? Is anybody actually thinking this through?  3:05 | Ariella Kimmel and Kristin Raworth talk to us about the "so-called feminists" who signed the open letter, and why it's inherently anti-Semitic.  READ THEIR PIECE: https://www.readtheline.ca/p/kristin-raworth-and-ariella-kimmel SEE WHO ELSE SIGNED THE OPEN LETTER: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeQunbQuMjaKhUF90LqP7rmRPYLGHzSX5FjPMzHPC-rVPromw/viewform?pli=1 34:50 | Charles Adler might still be a bit stunned by what happened to his Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the final 20 seconds of the Grey Cup. We talk CFL, unions making political endorsements, and whether or not Canadians still care about the environment (based on a recent Angus Reid poll).  1:14:10 | Real Talker Stacey writes in from New Brunswick in response to our November 17 Real Talk Round Table on Canada's affordability crisis.  1:17:45 | Real Talker Landon shares the story of Ronald McNair, whose left an amazing legacy despite his tragic death at just 35 years of age. Positive Reflections is presented Mondays on Real Talk by our friends at Kuby Renewable Energy.  SEND US YOUR POSITIVE REFLECTION: talk@ryanjespersen.com  GET A FREE SOLAR QUOTE: https://kubyenergy.ca/ BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: https://www.patreon.com/ryanjespersen WEBSITE: https://ryanjespersen.com/ FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM: @realtalkrj  THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR SPONSORS! https://ryanjespersen.com/sponsors The views and opinions expressed in this show are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Relay Communications Group Inc. or any affiliates.

Nella quarta puntata della stagione 8.News dal futuroi mattoni della vita trovati in un asteroidenuovo tipo di mano bionicastrumenti per combattere le fake newsauto elettriche a Stoccolmaaffitti brevi a New York dopo la nuova legge "anti" AirbnbExtreme future:virtual retinal displaysRetro-futureun aneddoto su Ronald McNair, astronautaDal blogAI generativa a rischio bollaHome - The Future Of (the-future-of.it)Le 10 grandi domande sul futuro: Conversazioni virtuali con i Maestri dell'innovazione del passato eBook : Ferrante, Andrea Marco: Amazon.it: Kindle Store

In this episode, I talk about how I helped my son through a tough time in his basketball career by helping him remember who he is. And how you can use this too. Plus, how much do you know about Dr. Ronald McNair? I didn't know enough until I read an awesome post by Jon Finkel on Twitter https://twitter.com/jon_finkel Don't miss that one, so powerful! Please support my sponsors! I know them all personally and can vouch for their integrity and quality. -For website design, graphic design, internet marketing, and more check out McWilliams Marketing at ⁠⁠http://www.McWilliamsmarketing.com ⁠⁠ -Use Patnaik Realty for ANY real estate needs you have. I mean anything! Residential, commercial, property management, investments, acquisitions. He does it all.  Call Teek at 256-694-0117 or e-mail him at Teek@PatnaikCo.com -Go Check out Valley Leadership Academy and please consider sponsoring their new building! ⁠⁠https://www.valleyleadershipacademy.org/⁠⁠ -And if you need some positive and encouraging support on your health and fitness journey, please join me at Relentless Positivity Fitness https://fitandpositive.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/relentlesspositivity/message

The New Guys by Meredith BagbyI am delighted to welcome author and space historian Meredith Bagby to our show today. Meredith has just released her latest book, "THE NEW GUYS: The Historic Class of Astronauts That Broke Barriers and Changed the Face of Space Travel". In this captivating work, Meredith delves into the story of the first class of civilian astronauts for the space shuttle, and their enduring impact on the American space program.The first class of civilian astronauts for the Space Shuttle program was selected in 1978, as part of NASA's effort to diversify the astronaut corps and bring in more non-military personnel. The class included two women, Sally Ride and Judith Resnik, as well as three men, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, and Gregory Jarvis. The civilian astronauts brought a range of expertise to the space program, from physics and engineering to medicine and social sciences. Their selection marked an important shift in the space program, demonstrating NASA's commitment to opening up space travel to a broader range of Americans. Tragically, two members of the class, Resnik and Onizuka, were among the crew of the Challenger space shuttle that was lost in the 1986 explosion, underscoring the risks and challenges of space exploration. However, their legacy lives on, inspiring new generations of astronauts and space enthusiasts to continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible in space travel.As a historian and expert on space exploration, Meredith's research and insights are second to none. Her book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of space travel, and for those who are inspired by the courage and determination of the early pioneers of spaceflight. 

On April, 14, 2023 , I was asked to speak , briefly, to the Confederation of Local Historical Societies in my new role as Chairman of the South Carolina Hall of Fame. I only spoke for a few minutes just to introduce myself and inform them of our three inductees this year in 2023. They are Francis Salvador, the first Jewish American casualty in the fight for American Independence, Rudy Mancke the contemporary inductee and the Naturalist for SCETV, and "Smoking" Joe Frazier , the former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion. I thought it might be fun to tell our audience here about the Hall of Fame, let them listen in on my brief address and introduce the audience to just a few of the currently 99 inductees in the South Carolina Hall of Fame. I cannot remember anything I was as excited about as being selected to serve in this role, as the Chairman of this organization, that has happened to me in a long time. So I wanted to share it with you , our audience, here on the podcast. So I hope you will enjoy this introduction to the South Carolina Hall of Fame, and enjoy the videos put together by SCETV. They have done a splendid job and I invite you to come over to look at their website Knowitall.org and check out all 99 inductees to the South Carolina Hall of Fame. In this episode we chose just a handful, from one signer of the Declaration of Independence, to three South Carolina astronauts, to a rock star, and a race car driver. Just a small look at the many faces that have helped make South Carolina such a wonderful and inspiring place to live.  Questions or comments at , Randalrgw1@aol.com , https://twitter.com/randal_wallace , and http://www.randalwallace.com/Please Leave us a review at wherever you get your podcastsThanks for listening!!

This episode is dedicated to the men and woman of the Space Shuttle Challenger who left this earth on January 28, 1986. We talk about Space Shuttle: A Journey into Space, the Activision game that attempted to give 80s space kids a taste of flying on the shuttle. The world misses you Michael Smith, Dick Scobee, Ellison Onizuka, Judith Resnick, Ronald McNair, Gregory Jarvis and Christa McAuliffe. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/intheshadeofan80sarcade/support

This is a dynamic conversation about the importance of always being open to learning new things. Essentially, being a student of life. We talk about his education at one the top HBCU's (Historically Black Colleges) and how his path to academic achievement at Howard University came from a dream. We also discuss his upbringing and an array of other experiences.  Dr. Justin L. Wilson received his Ph.D. in Physiology and Biophysics from Howard University College of Medicine. Recently, Dr. Wilson created a high stakes exam for the United States and Canada, for the American Institutes for Research (Washington, DC). In addition, he served as a professor in the department of biology at Cleveland State University (Cleveland, OH) and the department of biology at Hampton University (Hampton, VA). Dr. Wilson managed the Ronald McNair grant and scholars at Cleveland State University. Dr. Wilson also served as a Co-PI for the Robert Noyce Teaching Fellows grant. He brings a wealth of innovative teaching pedagogy to the future pharmacy and physician assistant students.https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjustloveInstagram: @drjustlovehttps://linktr.ee/thirdeyepixelsSupport the show

#OTD Physicist Ronald McNair was selected to be a NASA astronaut. He was one of the seven crew members to perish in the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion.

Do athletes use artificial intelligence? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Gary O'Reilly & Chuck Nice answer patron questions about the Olympics and have a nerd fight with physics professor and martial artist John Eric Goff. NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can watch or listen to this entire episode commercial-free. Thanks to our Patrons Dave Armstrong, Jamie Ferns, Sam Arnold, Jesse Pinette, evan stegall, Sam Couch, and Payton Hawk for supporting us this week. Photo Credit: ​​President.az, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

HBCU Highlights presents Dr. Christopher M. Jones! HBCU Highlights spotlights HBCU graduates who tell their inspiring stories. Let's take a walk in Chris's shoes! An Arkansas native, Chris grew up in the surrounded by an HBCU! He aspired to be an astronaut after learning about Dr. Ronald McNair. Chris holds FIVE degrees, including a B.S. in mathematics and a B.S. in physics from Morehouse College, where he received a full scholarship from NASA and served as student body president; an M.S. in nuclear engineering and an M.S. in technology and policy from MIT, and a Ph.D. in urban studies and planning from MIT. He only applied to Morehouse College for undergrad! Chris worked as an assistant dean for graduate education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where he led efforts that doubled minority enrollment and more than tripled minority applications to MIT graduate programs. Christopher M. Jones is currently Executive Director and Lead Maker of the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub. He has 20 years of experience in energy and infrastructure, diversity, community development, housing and management. He and his wife live in Little Rock with their three beautiful daughters. For more information about Dr. Christopher Jones, please visit: https://arhub.org/ For more information about Andrea, please visit: www.evansiplaw.com For more information about Ashley, please visit: www.ashleyinsureme.com To make a donation to Morehouse College, please visit: www.morehouse.edu For more amazing interviews, please visit www.hbcuhighlights.com

Dr. Toby Nelson, an associate professor in the Department of Chemistry, was inspired by his hometown hero – Ronald McNair, the second Black astronaut. Dr. Nelson talks about that and how he is working with RPX Technologies, a Stillwater-based company founded by OSU alumni, to save lives with a product called DRACO. And he explains his view that chemistry is awesome, with highlights from his other research areas, which are based on melanin. You will learn that it can do a whole lot more than you think.

Thirty-five years ago the space shuttle, Challenger malfunctioned on lift-off. Millions of American school children watched as the event happened live. I was not one of them, but I remember the exact moment my fourth-grade teacher told me of the disaster. It is a day I will never forget. I tell that story in this lesson in slow, easy to understand English to help you improve your English Comprehension. In addition to story telling, I also mention some English phrasal verbs like blast off and lift off and talk about some American English vocabulary words recess and attempted assassination. Remembering Christa McAuliffe, Gregory Jarvis, Judith Resnik, Dick Scobee, Ronald McNair, Mike Smith, and Ellison Onizuka.

Reggie and Armondi remember the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster that happened 35 years ago on January 28, 1986. Carl S. McNair, brother of the late African American Challenger Astronaut, Ronald McNair, visits the Boomer & Millennial Island to talk about the challenges and triumphs of his brother as he worked his way out of the segregated south to the stars. Join us for this fascinating and inspiring story. With all that is going on today, let’s pause and remember the ultimate sacrifice of the heroic crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger.

He exploded too. Nobody remembers him though. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/kenneth-broussard3/support

Dans les années 80, Judith Resnik vit son rêve. Elle est astronaute pour la Nasa et la deuxième femme américaine à s'être rendue dans l'espace. En janvier 1986, elle embarque à bord de la navette Challenger avec le reste de l'équipage.Cette femme moderne sera l'une des victimes de la tristement mémorable explosion de Challenger. Cet épisode de Chasseurs de science vous propose de revivre ce tragique épisode de l'histoire de l'aérospatiale aux côtés de Judith.Pour aller plus loin :28 janvier 1986 : explosion de la navette spatiale ChallengerIna : il y a 25 ans, la navette Challenger explosaitLe 12 avril 1981, premier vol d'une navetteColumbia : toutes les leçons n'auraient pas été tirées après ChallengerDécouvrez le documentaire de la chaîne Stardust sur le drame de Challenger.Rendez-vous sur CielMania pour y lire l'article de Jean-Baptiste Feldmann sur le mémorial lunaire créé en hommage à ces astronautes.Voir Acast.com/privacy pour les informations sur la vie privée et l'opt-out.Transcription du podcast :Bienvenue dans Chasseurs de science, un podcast produit par Futura. Je suis Julie et je serai votre guide temporelle au cours de cette excursion. Aujourd'hui, nous partons pour le pas de lancement de la navette Challenger, en Floride. Vous écoutez Chasseurs de science, si ce podcast vous plaît, n'hésitez pas à nous soutenir en le partageant sur les réseaux sociaux et en nous laissant une note sur les plateformes de diffusion.En janvier 1978, Judith Resnik a 29 ans et elle vient de recevoir une nouvelle qui va bouleverser sa vie : elle est sélectionnée pour devenir astronaute pour la Nasa parmi plusieurs milliers de candidats. Elle prévient immédiatement ses parents Marvin et Sarah, tout deux immigrants d'Ukraine. Tout sourit à Judith. L'année précédente, elle a obtenu un doctorat en génie électrique et elle occupe un poste d'ingénieur à l'Institut national de la santé à Bethesda. Devenir l'une des premières femmes astronautes, c'est juste incroyable !Après l'annonce de sa sélection, Judith intègre un programme d'entraînement qui lui permet de devenir spécialiste de mission. À ce poste, elle sera en charge d'une partie bien précise des missions scientifiques que devront réaliser les astronautes une fois dans l'espace. Six ans après son entrée à la Nasa, Judith prend part à la mission Discovery. Elle est la seule femme de son équipage.Le 30 août 1984, alors que la navette décolle du pas de tir 39A du Kennedy Space Center à Cap Canaveral, elle sait que son nom marquera l'histoire avec un grand H. En effet, à ce moment-là, elle devient la deuxième femme américaine à rejoindre l'espace, et seulement la quatrième au niveau international, après deux astronautes russes et sa compatriote Sally Ride.Elle expérimente alors la sensation indescriptible d'impesanteur, voit ses cheveux flotter autour de sa tête et tous les outils qu'elle manipule ne jamais retomber sur le sol. À bord de Discovery, une image de Judith fera le tour du monde. Devant les caméras, elle brandit un carton où elle avait inscrit « Hi Dad ! » (« Salut, Papa ! »), en sachant pertinemment que son père suivait avec attention ses aventures spatiales.Après le succès du premier vol de Discovery, Judith intègre immédiatement un autre programme ambitieux de la Nasa : STS 51-L Challenger. La mission doit se dérouler comme suit. Le premier matin sera dédié à la préparation de la mise en orbite du satellite TDRS-B ; l'après-midi à son déploiement. Le deuxième jour, le programme de suivi de la comète Halley débute et Christa McAuliffe, deuxième femme de l'équipage et institutrice tiendra le premier cours donné depuis l'espace à des enfants. Les jours 3, 4 et 5 seront destinés à la mise en orbite du satellite Spartan. Judith est en charge de manier le bras robotique de la navette pour le déployer. Enfin, le retour de l'équipage est prévu 144 heures et 34 minutes après leur départ.Tout est organisé au millimètre. Judith et ses collègues connaissent par coeur les gestes et les procédures pour faire face à toutes les situations. Malheureusement, rien ne va se passer comme prévu.Dès le lancement, la 25e mission de Challenger accumule les couacs. Le 22 janvier 1986 à 15h43, sur le pas de tir B, tout est prêt pour le décollage. Mais la météo fait des siennes. On reprogramme le lancement le 23, puis le 24 janvier. Challenger est toujours clouée au sol. Le 25 janvier, c'est une tempête de l'autre côté de l'Atlantique qui empêche le départ. Le mauvais temps atteint la Floride, repoussant encore le lancement. La tension est palpable entre les astronautes. Arriveront-ils à décoller un jour ? Une nouvelle date est planifiée : le 27 janvier 1986 à 9h37. Repoussée encore. Cette fois-ci, c'est une trappe qui refuse de se fermer.Finalement, la navette Challenger décolle le 28 janvier 1986 à 11h38, soit 2 heures après l'heure prévue. Un logiciel qui pilote le système anti-incendie connaît une panne alors qu'on remplit les réservoirs externes d'hydrogène liquide, avant le départ. Dans le cockpit, Judith et le reste de l'équipage échangent un regard. Challenger quitte enfin le sol de la Floride et son funeste destin est scellé.Seulement 0.678 secondes après le décollage, les spectateurs au sol voient une inquiétante fumée grise s'échapper de l'arrière du fuselage. Le père et le frère de Judith sont présents. Entre 0,836 et 2,5 secondes, la fumée se fait plus dense. La navette prend de la vitesse et rencontre ses premiers vents de haute altitude à 37 secondes. En réponse au cisaillement du vent, le système de navigation augmente la puissance des propulseurs pour maintenir la direction de la navette.58 secondes. Une petite flamme apparaît. Elle grandit rapidement et l'ordinateur de bord alerte sur la diminution de la pression dans le propulseur droit. De toute évidence, il fuit. À l'intérieur, l'équipage surentraîné est prisonnier. Les sept astronautes n'ont aucun moyen de sortir de Challenger. La navette n'est pas équipée de sièges éjectables et la présence d'un système d'évacuation a été jugée « d'une utilité limitée ».À 64 secondes, le feu change de couleur, signe que l'hydrogène s'est mêlé aux flammes. L'ordinateur de bord tente de mettre fin au drame qui se joue, en vain. 73 secondes. Le réservoir d'hydrogène liquide perd son dôme et plus de 1.200 tonnes de carburant alimentent le brasier. En un battement de cil, Challenger explose à 46.000 pieds d'altitude dans le ciel de Cap Canaveral. La navette se désintègre dans une boule de feu entourée d'une fumée brune sous les yeux horrifiés du personnel de la Nasa, des spectateurs et de la famille et des amis de l'équipage.Judith Resnik, spécialiste de mission,Christa McAuliffe, spécialiste des charges utiles,Gregory Jarvis, spécialiste des charges utiles,Francis Scobee, commandant,Ronald McNair, spécialiste de mission,Ellison Onizuka, spécialiste de mission,et Michael Smith, pilote, ont disparu en même temps que Challenger. Les restes de la navette spatiale finissent leur course dans l'océan à 334 km/h, emportant avec eux tout espoir de retrouver des survivants. La Nasa lance immédiatement une mission pour récupérer les débris de la navette et d'éventuels restes humains. Le corps de Judith est le premier retrouvé au milieu des décombres. Elle n'avait que 36 ans.Devant son écran de télévision, sa mère, Sarah, a vu l'explosion. Elle se rend chez une voisine en criant : « Ils sont morts là-haut. Ils sont morts, ils sont morts ! » La nuit du drame, le président Ronald Reagan rend hommage aux victimes lors d'un discours devant le Congrès. Trois jours après, une cérémonie nationale, retransmise en direct, se tient au Centre spatial de Houston en présence de plus de 10.000 personnes.Une commission chargée d'enquêter sur les circonstances de l'accident est créée par le président américain. Richard Feynman en est l'un des membres les plus célèbres. Il remarque que les estimations de fiabilité communiquées par la Nasa étaient irréalistes et divergeaient totalement de celles faites par les ingénieurs. Il déclare alors : « Pour qu'une technologie soit couronnée de succès, la réalité doit prendre le dessus sur les relations publiques, car on ne peut pas tromper la Nature. »L'enquête n'a pas permis d'établir avec certitude les causes de la mort de l'équipage. Le rapport émet l'hypothèse, sans assurance, que les astronautes auraient perdu conscience peu avant l'explosion. Judith Resnik et ses collègues deviennent alors des héros, mais ils étaient avant tout des femmes et des hommes avec des amis, une famille et des collègues qui se souviennent d'eux.Michael Coates, pilote sur la première mission de la navette Discovery, se rappelle de Judith – ou Judy, comme ses proches l'appelaient – en ces termes : « C'était quelqu'un qui comptait beaucoup. Elle vivait, travaillait et s'amusait intensément. Elle n'était pas parfaite, elle était têtue, et elle devait toujours avoir son mot à dire. Mais à la fin d'un dispute, elle souriait et c'était tout. On se sentait à l'aise avec elle. À bien des égards, c'était une astronaute idéale. Elle laissera un grand vide. »Merci d'avoir écouté Chasseurs de science. La musique de cet épisode a été composée par Patricia Chaylade. Au texte et à la narration : Julie Kern. Merci à Vincent Heidelberg, qui prête sa voix à Michael Coates. Rendez-vous sur sa chaîne Youtube Stardust pour y découvrir son documentaire consacré à l'histoire de Challenger.Si vous appréciez notre travail, n‘hésitez pas à nous laisser un commentaire et cinq étoiles sur les plateformes de diffusion pour nous soutenir et améliorer notre visibilité. Vous pouvez aussi vous abonner sur Spotify, Deezer et Apple Podcast pour ne plus manquer un seul épisode. Quant à moi, je vous retrouverai bientôt pour une future expédition temporelle dans Chasseurs de science. À bientôt ! Voir Acast.com/privacy pour les informations sur la vie privée et l'opt-out.

Next up, we talk about a new 4-episode limited series from Netflix: Challenger – The Final Flight Created by Steven Leckart and Glen Zipper Challenger: The Final Flight Synopsis: A 4-part limited series that covers the tragic loss of the shuttle Challenger in 1986, with an emphasis on the crew’s stories, leading up to the … Continue reading Challenger: The Final Flight

Another episode from our socially distant bunkers - Matt tells Amberly about the Irish Prime Minister's hobby and how Lin-Manuel Miranda is making dreams come true in John Krasinski's Some Good News internet show. Amberly tells Matt about some goats taking over a town and the legacy of an amazing astronaut: Ronald McNair

1959. Elvis Presley era uma super-estrela. Fidel Castro sobe ao poder em Cuba. Ben-Hur é o filme mais famoso do ano. Ronald Mcnair é quase preso só porque quer ler.-Produção: Razzmatazz ProduçõesNarração e Guião: Pedro Barbosa

Here's a look at 'Today in Rock History' featuring: Will Poulter is 27. He was Kenny the virgin in "We're the Millers." Sarah McLachlan is 52. Singer whose main talent is making people feel sorry for stray kittens and abused beagles. Today in 1974, Muhammed Ali beat Joe Frazier at Madison Square Garden in their second match of three fights. Frazier had won the first one. In 1986, The Space Shuttle Challenger exploded. It happened 73 seconds after liftoff, and killed all seven crew members: flight commander Dick Scobee; pilot Michael Smith; Ronald McNair; Ellison Ozinuka; Judith Resnik; Gregory Jarvis; and schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe.

Here's a look at 'Today in Rock History' featuring: Will Poulter is 27. He was Kenny the virgin in "We're the Millers." Sarah McLachlan is 52. Singer whose main talent is making people feel sorry for stray kittens and abused beagles. Today in 1974, Muhammed Ali beat Joe Frazier at Madison Square Garden in their second match of three fights. Frazier had won the first one. In 1986, The Space Shuttle Challenger exploded. It happened 73 seconds after liftoff, and killed all seven crew members: flight commander Dick Scobee; pilot Michael Smith; Ronald McNair; Ellison Ozinuka; Judith Resnik; Gregory Jarvis; and schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe.

Learn about a 9 year old Robert McNair who battled racial discrimination to become one of the first three African American astronauts to leave planet Earth! Source: NPR Intro Music: On the Verge by Joseph McDade

Today we shine a spotlight on NASA astronaut Ronald McNair, the second African American in space and one of seven crew members lost in the tragic Space Shuttle Challenger explosion.

Today we shine a spotlight on NASA astronaut Ronald McNair, the second African American in space and one of seven crew members lost in the tragic Space Shuttle Challenger explosion.

Joined today by retired US Marine Corps Major General, former astronaut and the 12th administrator of NASA, Charles Boden. Charles tells us about his relentless pursuit to join the Military despite racial hurdles and segregation in South Carolina. We hear about his time in Vietnam, how it was coming home and how he climbed the ranks in the Marine Corps. We hear two incredibly emotional stories: first about his mother being a 16-year-old slave and then about his relationship with Ronald McNair who died in the Challenger explosion and how Ronald changed his life and pushed him to being an astronaut. Charles gives us his thoughts on the age old question “Are we alone in this universe”, and why he gave away most of his astronaut memorabilia. From seeing the earth for the first time to meeting President Obama. Follow Charles on twitter: https://twitter.com/cboldenjr  

Show Notes for Lance Bush In the aftermath of the Challenger accident, the crew’s families came together, firmly committed to the belief that they must carry on the spirit of their loved ones by continuing the Challenger crew’s educational mission. Their efforts resulted in the creation of Challenger Center for Space Science Education. Challenger Centers use space-themed simulated learning and role-playing strategies to help students bring their classroom studies to life and cultivate skills needed for future success, such as problem solving, critical thinking, communication and teamwork. A not-for-profit 501(c)(3) education organization, Challenger Center reaches hundreds of thousands of students, and tens of thousands of teachers every year. In his own words, Challenger Center CEO Lance Bush explains what a Challenger Center is, and how each center provides inspiration, in memory and in celebration of the Challenger crew, to students all over the world. With over 40 Challenger Centers throughout the United States and in 4 countries around the world, more than 5 million students have been encouraged and inspired to pursue STEM careers. Students who attend range from pre-K up to adult, but focus mainly on middle school students. When a student attends a center, they have to work together as a team and as individuals to “overcome anomalies” during their “missions” in order to achieve success… Alumni often write to the centers sharing their professional STEM career success based on their experiences that began at a Challenger Center. Some alumni are part of the biggest space companies in the US including Lockheed Martin, Blue Origin, and NASA, and they pay it back- even as young professionals- come back to volunteer at their local Challenger Centers to impact future generations. Christa McAuliffe’s lesson plans (Teacher in Space Mission) were recently flown on board the International Space Station, where NASA Astronauts Ricky Arnold and Joe Acaba completed her lessons, filmed them and are now currently available to download and implement for any classroom! https://www.challenger.org/challenger_lessons/christas-lost-lessons/   Key Takeaways: You never know where inspiration can be found for young students, who may be the next people on the Moon and Mars. The impact of the Challenger crew; Christa McAuliffe, Gregory Jarvis, Judy Resnik, Dick Scobee, Ronald McNair, Michael Smith and Ellison Onizuka continues through the work of the Challenger Center. Classroom Adventures take the mission experience from the Challenger Centers and bring them directly into the classroom, and will be available in 2020! https://www.challenger.org/what-we-do/#classroomAdventures    “I think I have one of the best jobs in the world, all because we (the Challenger Center team and staff) get to see the mission fly, and experience seeing the students come out of a mission high-fiving,  then hearing teachers say they’re much more motivated and engaged in the related STEM topics presented in the classroom as a result” -Lance Bush, Challenger Center CEO   About The Challenger Center(s): About Challenger Center As a leader in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, Challenger Center provides more than 260,000 students annually with experiential education programs that engage students in hands-on learning opportunities. These programs, delivered in Challenger Learning Centers and classrooms, increase engagement in STEM subjects and inspire students to pursue careers in these important fields. Challenger Center was created by the Challenger families to honor the crew of shuttle flight STS-51-L.   Casual Space Show BONUS Links & Resources:  Website: Challenger.org Facebook: @ChallengerCtr Twitter: @ChallengerCtr Christa’s Lessons: Challenger.org/christa STEM Resources: Challenger.org/stem-resources

Today we celebrate NASA astronaut Ronald McNair, the second African American to go into space

Today we celebrate NASA astronaut Ronald McNair, the second African American to go into space

Mike is now traveling through the upcountry of South Carolina. This episode features stories from the inland portion of the state. Hear about the rise of The Marshall Tucker Band and where they got their name. Learn why Shoeless Joe Jackson wasn't wearing shoes and about his rise from the cotton mills to the big leagues and his subsequent fall from grace. Before there was Brown vs. The Board of Education, there was Briggs vs. Elliott; find out how school desegregation started over a bus. James Brown was the Godfather of Soul; hear his rags to riches story. Finally, Ronald McNair was the second African American to go into space, learn about where he came from and about his tragic death on the Space Shuttle Challenger. Music from this episode comes from legendary Piedmont blues artist Dr. Mac Arnold and was recorded live at a fundraiser for NEXT Charter School at 13 Stripes Brewery in Taylor, S.C.

Today we celebrate physicist and NASA astronaut Dr. Ronald McNair

Welcome to rememberinghistory.com where we are remembering history and we’re making it. I’m Robin Lofton, the Chief In-house Historian and host of this great and groundbreaking show that will inspire YOU and your FAMILY with true stories, real experiences, practical lessons, cultural traditions, and fun celebrations—all inspired by African American history. I find history to BE inspirational, instructional and entertaining. And African American history fits the bill in all of these ways. Personally, I hate boring stuff. So boring stuff is not allowed at rememberinghistory.com or at this Wiki history podcast show.   Speaking of the show, today’s podcast show is about Black explorers and adventurers. I think that this is a great time to learn about Black explorers. Why? Because it’s October. In the United States, October is the month that many people celebrate Columbus’s birthday. Yes, it’s a federal holiday celebrated on the second Monday in October. But it’s important to know many individual states are celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ day instead of Columbus’s birthday. And I think that we all know the reason for that.   Here at rememberinghistory.com, we are celebrating Black explorers as we have for the past several years by discussing a few Black explorers and their inspirational stories. However, this year, we’re doing something a bit different. We are going to examine WHY people explore, why exploration is so important, and then we’re gonna ask for your thoughts about what exploration means to you and where you might like to explore one day.   During this podcast, you will hear about people, places, events and issues. You will HEAR about them, but I completely understand if you want to actually SEE them, too. You can find pictures of them on the Wiki History Podcast Page on Facebook. You will find pictures, animated videos and a community of history lovers. There is also a place for comments, which I hope that you will leave for me because I really appreciate them and I do respond. Also, if you enjoy this show, please let others know about it. They might like it and find it inspirational too. Let’s change the way that we think of history—one friend at a time.   So, why is exploring important? First let’s look at what exploring actually is.   To explore means to travel to an unfamiliar area in order to learn about it.   Throughout the centuries, exploring has taken different forms. Yet there was always the aspect of a “new and unfamiliar” place. In days past, many people explored new areas to find new riches and wealth like gold or other precious minerals. Others explored new areas to acquire land that they could homestead and farm. Still others were interested in the peoples of new and unfamiliar lands for reasons such as enslavement, slave trading or promoting “civilization.”   Wow, these past purposes of exploration were not so noble or endearing. Exploitation was the focus. And we know the damage and destruction that was done to indigenous peoples and their land. Gee, this makes me think of the quote “I fear the evil that men do in the name of evil but God save us from the evil that men do in the name of good.” Lots of death and destruction in the wake of many early explorers. Columbus included. But did you know that there were several Black explorers who traveled with Columbus like the Nina brothers Juan (he actually helmed La Nina), Francisco who was a sailor and Pedro who was actually with Columbus when he landed in Trinidad. Another Black explorer, Juan Guarrido, accompanied Vasco de Gama in his search of the Fountain of Youth. Juan Guarrido was also part of the Cortez-led invasion of Mexico, which led to the conquest of the Aztecs in 1519. (Okay, that’s not a great legacy for an explorer but he is also credited with harvesting the first commercial wheat crop in the Americas.)   Modern exploration is MUCH different from exploring in days long past. (Unless perhaps you’re thinking of exploration for oil, rubber or other precious commodities.)   Modern explorers focus more on the educational and observational aspects of exploring. Today’s explorers really want to learn about a new place or to discover the existence of the new place. Take Matthew Henson for example. He is credited as being the first African American to reach the North Pole. (Some say that he was actually the first person from anywhere to reach the North Pole!)   But Matthew Henson was an able and experienced sailor, navigator and craftsman. He learned the Inuit language and culture, married an Inuit woman and learned to build igloos and drive dogsleds in the Inuit way. I remember an iconic quote from Henson saying, “I think that I am the first man to sit on the top of the world!”           And, of course, there was William Henry Sheppard who explored the Congo river area in Central Africa. Born a free man in Virginia in 1865, he attended a “colored” school where he learned to read and write then actually took classes with Booker T. Washington at Hampton College. After becoming a Presbyterian minister, he developed a burning desire to become a missionary in Africa. He was finally allowed to go to the Congo river basin in what is today called the Democratic Republic on Congo. He settled in a village called Luebo.   He met the Bakuba people and learned their methods of survival and culture. He studied their crops, textiles and music. He studied the way that the Bakuba people worshipped their ancestors. He learned to hunt and killed snakes and large game to help feed the villagers. He even killed a hippopotamus and learned to dry the meat to trade and share with the villagers.   Sheppard learned to speak the Kuba language, which helped him to discover parts of the Congo region where no American or European had ever gone. Sheppard and his local Bakuba guide would go from village to village buying eggs at different markets. For three months, he would buy and eat eggs and preach the gospel at every village where he stopped. For years, he stayed and studied the culture and, because of his excellent language skills and respectful manner, he was welcomed into the villages by the local leaders. William Henry Sheppard was definitely an explorer!   As a boy, Sheppard had often said of Africa, “When I grow up, I shall go there.” And that’s exactly what he did!   Barbara Hillary also went there! Not to the Congo but to the North Pole. Then to the South Pole. Many people told her that she was too old and that she would die from the cold and hardships. That the North Pole was no place for a 75-year old woman from New York who had reduced breathing capacity about a bout with lung cancer. But she went there anyway. At the age of 75, she went to the North Pole. Then at 79 years old (in her case, 79 years young), she went to the South Pole! She always said that age was just a number. To get out a challenge yourself. That was exactly what she did.       Another explorer who wouldn’t let age stop her was Sophie Danenberg who at age 34 became the first African American woman to climb Mount Everest. Through the urging of a childhood friend, she started mountain climbing while living in Illinois.   Danenberg's first major climb was at Mount Rainier in Washington State in 2002.  Over the next two years, she scaled Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Baker in Washington state, and Mount Kenya, 2003.  In 2005 she scaled five more major peaks including Denali and Mount Tasman.   But 2006 proved to be her big year!   Sophie received a surprise phone call to inform her that she was permitted to join the expedition that was going up Mount Everest. And she only had one week to prepare! Yes, it was a struggle. On the mountain of mountains, she developed bronchitis, frostbite and a clogged oxygen mask. Yet but she persisted and prevailed. And, on May 19, 2006, she became the first Black woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest.   Sophie was the first Black person but definitely NOT the last. With privately raised funds and sheer focus and determination, men and women from the African continent have scaled Mount Everest. Notably, Saray Khumalo from South Africa climbed Kilimanjaro, Mera Peak, LoBuche East, Elbrus and Aconcagua—all in four short years. She has faced Everest but, unfortunately, nature stood in the way. In 2014, she was deterred by deadly avalanche that killed 16 sherpa. The following year, an earthquake prevented her from climbing Everest. But Saray Khumalo will not be forever deterred and she’s already started raising the money for her next excursion—this time to the summit!—going up Everest, encouraged by a quote from Nelson Mandela: It always seems impossible until it’s done! Saray climbs for herself but also for others: she has raised money to building libraries and schools in South Africa and to provide lunches for school children. And, by the way, another South African, SibuSiso Vilane, became the first Black man to climb Mt. Everest in 2003 and has actually climbed all seven major peaks and completed the 3 Poles Challenge (you know, North Pole, South Pole and Everest).     But explorers have not stopped with Mount Everest. That’s the highest peak offered on this planet but other Black explorers went beyond the limits of planet Earth. Where did they go? They went into space! African American astronauts are a group of extreme explorers and have gone “where no man (or no ONE) has gone before!” (Sorry I just couldn’t resist that Star Trek quote!)   Let’s quickly meet them:   *Colonel Frederick Gregory—an accomplished pilot and test pilot BEFORE joining NASA. He spent more than 18 days in space and he was the first African American to pilot and command a space shuttle mission.   *Mae Jemison was a scientist and medical doctor before joining NASA. She spent 190 hours in space as a mission specialist and conducted groundbreaking experiments in space on weightlessness and motion sickness. In 1992, she became the first African American woman to go to space.   *Major General Charles Bolden was an experienced marine aviator and test pilot before joining NASA. He went on 4 flights and served as commander and pilot on the different flights. Major General Bolden spent more than 28 days in space.   *Colonel Guion Bluford, Jr.—a fighter pilot and engineer before joining NASA. In 1983, Colonel Bluford became the first African American to go to space, logging in more than 28 days in space as a mission specialist.   *Stephanie Wilson was an aerospace engineer before joining NASA as an astronaut. She has spent more than 42 days in space as a mission specialist and was responsible for robotics for spacewalking support. Ms. Wilson is still in active duty with NASA.   *Joan Higginbottam was an electrical engineer before joining NASA. She logged in more than 12 days in space where she operated the space station remote manipulator system.   *Robert Satcher was a surgeon, chemical engineer and professor at Feinburg School of Medicine before joining NASA. He was a mission specialist logging in 10 days and 2 walks in space. *Robert Curbeam was a Naval flight officer, pilot and engineer before joining NASA as an astronaut. He worked as the spacecraft communicator and spent 37 days in space, including 45 hours on 7 walks in space. And yes THAT is the record for time spent walking in space!   *Lieutenant Colonel Michael P. Anderson was a physicist before joining NASA as an astronaut. He spent more than 593 hours in space as a mission specialist, payload commander and lieutenant colonel in charge of science experiments.   *Captain Winston E. Scott is an engineer, pilot and (today) Dean of the Florida Institute of Technology before joining NASA. Captain Scott logged in 24 days in space, including 19 hours spent on 3 WALKS in space.   *Alvin Drew was a physicist and aeronautical engineer before joining NASA. He spent more than 25 days in space as a mission specialist and CAPCOM officer. He also did 2 walks in space for 12 hours!   *Leland Melvin was a materials science engineer before joining NASA. He has since logged in more than 23 days in space as a mission specialist.   *Bernard Anthony Harris was a biologist, medical doctor and pilot before joining NASA. He logged in 18 days in space as mission specialist and payload officer. In 1995, he became the first African American to do extra-vehicular activities, meaning that he actually WALKED in space.   Wow, we could make an entire show of the African American astronauts who have graced the NASA program AND ventured into outer space.   I want to give a special salute to two astronauts who died during their explorations:   *Major Robert Lawrence, Jr. was a skilled pilot and scientist. He was the First African-American astronaut; the first to be selected for astronaut training in 1967 in the Manned Orbital Laboratory program, which predated NASA. Major Lawrence was killed in a jet accident.   *Ronald McNair—was an optical physicist when he was selected by NASA. McNair was killed in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster mission in 1986.   Before we move on to another interesting group of explorers, I do want to mention one more astronaut: Jeannette Epps. She has not yet gone into space but her time is coming. In 2016 NASA announced that Ms. Epps will launch on her first spaceflight in May 2018. She will be a flight engineer on Expedition 56, remaining on board for Expedition 57. Ms. Epps will become the first African-American crew member on the space station!   Let’s cheer her on in May of 2018. Great to watch a first flight AND a great step forward for African Americans and women everywhere!   But African American explorers didn’t only just aim higher and higher. They also set their sights on what lies beneath. In this case, they aimed—and conquered—the Mammoth caves in Kentucky.   We’re gonna stop here in this podcast show. We’ve covered a lot of great explorers; people who explored the North and South poles and the Congo. We just discussed people who have explored outer space and even walked in space! I think that we’ve gone high enough for now. In the next podcast show, we’re gonna explore another dark and untouched part of THIS planet. And we’re gonna continue our discussion about why we explore and why exploring is so important. I hope to see you at Part II of this great and groundbreaking discussion.   Also, please remember that you can “meet” many of these people on Facebook at out Wiki History Podcast page. Or at least you can see them. Pictures really do say a thousand words and seeing these people can help to bring them to life. You will also find our newsletter that helps you to learn history and teaches ways that you can MAKE history. Remember, we’re all history makers. We all have something to contribute. These stories show that ordinary people can do extraordinary things and live extraordinary lives.   So, I look forward to seeing you at Part II of the Black explorers podcast show at rememberinghistory.com where we are remembering history and we’re making it every day. Bye for now!                                                                           Welcome back to rememberinghistory.com where we are remembering history and we’re making it. I’m Robin Lofton, the Chief In-house Historian and host of this great and groundbreaking show that will inspire YOU and your FAMILY with true stories, real experiences, practical lessons, cultural traditions, and fun celebrations—all inspired by African American history.   This is part II of the podcast show on Black explorers. In the previous show, we discussed the importance of exploration and how exploration has changed over the centuries. And we discussed people who had aimed high (Mount Everest high) and even higher (outer space). Those were such interesting and inspirational stories. I hope that you’ve listened to part I of this series. I promise that you’ll be ready to stand and salute these brave men and women. But for now, I think that we should continue with the discussion of Black explorers.   Remember at the end of the show, I introduced the next group of explorers. They didn’t aim to go higher and higher. They were focused on discovering a part of this planet that had been ignored and feared: the Mammoth Cave system in Kentucky. Let’s get straight to their fascinating stories and then we’ll end with a discussion of why exploring is important and why it’s important to learn the stories of these great explorers.   The Mammoth caves make up the longest known cave system in the world, with more than 400 miles explored. Did that stop or scare these explorers? Not for a minute. In fact, many African Americans (some former enslaved persons) extensively explored this grand, gloomy and peculiar place.   Let me just mention a few of these courageous and skilled cave navigators.   Although human activity has been recorded in the Mammoth caves for more than 6,000 years, Stephen Bishop was one of the lead explorers and guides in the complex and yes dangerous subterranean cave system. In fact, he is the person who coined the “grand, gloomy and peculiar” term to describe the Mammoth Caves.   Stephen Bishop came to the Mammoth caves in 1838. He was African American, 17 years old and enslaved. Yet because of his great exploration and guiding skills, he did enjoy some freedoms and privileges in the Mammoth caves—and avoided the grueling physical work and suffering endured by other enslaved people. In fact, he was first introduced to the Mammoth caves by a white explorer. This developed Bishop’s love of exploration—and he spent the next two decades exploring the Mammoth caves.   Although he was introduced to the caves by other explorers, Stephen Bishop went far beyond those explored and toured areas. Bishop discovered miles of new routes that no human eye had ever seen. And he opened the gateway for modern exploration of these vast and incredible caves. Bishop also worked to draw a map from memory of the different passages in the caves. It was published in 1844 and was the defining map of the caves for over 40 years!   Yes, he made history: Stephen Bishop was the first to cross the “Bottomless Pit” which was a series of deep vertical shafts. Other explorers had stopped at the Bottomless Pit, refusing to cross over that dangerous abyss. Quite understandable but Bishop was not scared or stopped. He continued past the Bottomless Pit and into areas that had been completely unexplored. And he later safely guided others over the Bottomless Pit and into new regions of the caves. Bishop also explored and guided others into areas of the Mammoth Caves called Fat Man’s Misery (I can only guess why it was given that name!), Cleveland Avenue and the Mammoth Domes. Those are some of the most famous areas of the caves, made famous and popular by Stephen Bishop. Other popular attraction discovered by Stephen Bishop He discovered strange blind fish, snakes, silent crickets, and the remains of cave bears.     He absolutely loved the Mammoth caves and had a real drive for exploration. Still it was hard work and he crawled through tight winding passageways, discovered an underground river, scaled huge rocks, and dared to walk on a rickety nature-made ladder across the "Bottomless Pit."   In 1856, Stephen Bishop received his freedom but unfortunately died the following year at the age of 37.   Stephen Bishop might have been born into slavery, but he was never a slave. He was an explorer! And today he is a legend!   Another Black explorer who came to the Mammoth caves in 1838 was Nick Bransford. However, Bransford didn’t become a full-time explorer for nearly 20 years after moving to the caves. He started full-time guiding in 1857, after the death of Stephen Bishop.   Nick Bransford was an enslaved person (born during the period of slavery). Like Bishop, he was leased out and sent to the Mammoth caves to work. And interestingly there were records showing that he was valued at $800, which was substantially more than for other enslaved persons. This was most likely because of his skills as an explorer and guide.   Bransford later purchased his freedom by selling eyeless fish that he captured in the underground rivers within the caves.   The Mammoth Caves attracted many formerly enslaved people. Ed Bishop for example. No relation to Stephen Bishop. He came to the Mammoth caves in 1886.   Among his greatest achievements was to guide the German cartographer, Max Kamper, into the Mammoth Caves. For 8 months, he and Kamper remained at the cave, visiting all the known sections. But Ed Bishop also discovered new sections that he presented to Max Kamper. One such newly discovered point (located on the Violet City Lantern route) was named Bishop’s Pit in 1908, in honor of Ed Bishop. Together Bishop and Kamper produced a map representing more than 35 miles of passages in the cave. Ed Bishop was widely recognized for his knowledge of the cave and as a teacher for the guides.   Ed Hawkins discovered a monumental series of vertical shafts. The passage leading up to these incredible shafts was later named Hawkins Pass. A great honor to this great explorer. And, yes, visitors can still see these shafts. Just take the Wild Caves Tour!         The last person that we’ll discuss who was important at the Mammoth Caves was Will Garvin. He was a private in the army, serving in a Colored Troop during the Civil War. Will Garvin was never an enslaved person. Following the Civil War, he began exploring and guiding in Mammoth caves where he made his mark for discovering an area later call the Corkscrew. This was actually a maze through collapsed rubble that linked the upper levels of the cave system to the lower levels near the water table. This area also provided an exit from the cave so visitors wouldn’t have to retrace their steps.   Some people say that Will Garvin also discovered the Colossal Caverns. This area was so treacherous that it even wasn’t opened to the public until 1972 (some 70 years after its discovery). It is one of the caves still protected within Mammoth Cave National Park.   But Will Garvin also made another important discovery—or had an important experience. This is really interesting.   He was the first person to experience the optical illusion called the Statue of Martha Washington. As he was exiting the cave, he saw a spectral silhouette of a woman who looked just like Martha Washington! I know strange things can be seen in the caves but this was one of the strangest! And it is still occasionally seen on certain tours in the historic section!   So, that concludes the discussion about Black explorers at the Mammoth Caves. And it concludes the presentation of Black explorers.   Now I just have one question:     Why do we care about these explorers?   Because they faced their challenges with honor, courage, and determination.   Whether it was Mount Everest, the Mammoth caves, the mighty Congo River, the North and South poles or outer space, they went there (using the words from Henry Sheppard in the Congo!) And they went boldly!   Everyone has an Everest. Everest can take many forms: going to school, applying for a job, fighting injustice, writing a book, public speaking or fighting an addiction. We all have our Everests. We are ALL explorers. The personal accounts in this podcast are stories of REAL people. And we can have a story too. We just have to find our challenge and face it. Victory is inevitable.   So we have much to learn from explorING and from exploRERS. Like many other people, I have done my share of exploring. And I think that the main thing that explorers discover is actually something within themselves. It is strength, courage, determination, creativity, persistence and other qualities that helped them to endure hardships, face their fears and rise to new heights. As Barbara Hillary said, when she reached the North Pole at the age of 75, there are no limits to what we can do and we can all challenge ourselves to do great things.   On that high note, I think that this is a great place to conclude this podcast. I hope that you have found it fun, educational and inspirational. I definitely have!   One interesting thing that I noticed about all of these great explorers is that they had so many different interests. Of course, they were completing committed to their explorations and their time, energy and focus were always in that direction. But they were multi-dimensional people in every respect. Matthew Henson—who went to the North Pole—was also a survivalist and linguist who loved the Inuit culture.   William Henry Sheppard –who explored the Congo—was also an avid art collector.   Mae Jemison—the first African American woman in space—loves African history and dance and speaks four languages: Swahili, Russian and Japanese in addition to English.   Others are voracious readers, cartologists, scuba divers, marathon runners, musicians, public speakers, sculptors and so many different interests. So, it’s important to remember that we can have many interests—some might be consistent with your dharma (life’s purpose) but others might conflict. Yet these interests make us complete people.   And, since I mentioned Mae Jemison, I read a story about her. After she had finished her medical studies and returned from the Peace Corps, she received a phone call. It was from NASA. She had submitted an application to NASA years before. On the phone call, they asked her: “Are you still interested in becoming an astronaut?” She answered simply “yeah”. That answer opened up a whole new world to her and within 2 years she went to outer space. Lesson here: Say “yes!”.   All of these explorers said yes to new experiences even when others were telling them to say no. But saying yes opened them to becoming great explorers.   Finally, Charles Bolden, the astronaut who was the first African American to become head of NASA, showed how there are no limits except what we can envision. He said,   "You know, the universe is a big place. I'm a practicing Christian, so in my faith, I learn about omnipotent, omnipresent God, which means he's everywhere. He's all-knowing. He does everything. And I just cannot bring my little pea brain to believe that a God like that would pick one planet of one of millions of suns and say that's the only place in the vast universe that I'm going to put any kind of life. And so the problem is I haven't been far enough away." [29]   I realize that I mentioned lots of names, places, events, experiences and other information that you might want more information about. The rememberinghistory.com team has you covered. You can get more information, see the people and places, read the “What You Can Do” list, see great pictures and even find good a book list at the Wiki History podcast page on Facebook. You can also find the newsletter called Making History Today! which discusses practical ways that you can actually MAKE history through education, the arts, political activism or whatever interests you.   Finally, I just want to remind you that 2017, the Wiki History podcast show is dedicated to the National Museum of African American History & Culture. Located in Washington, DC, the National Museum of African American History & Culture opened in 2016. This kind of museum was long overdue but it finally happened and it is a place that everyone should visit and explore. Museums are a great way to bring history to life and to keep it alive for future generations. Wiki History is honored to be a part of this important process. For every person that listens to this podcast show, rememberinghistory.com will donate $1 to the National Museum of African American History & Culture.   Come back soon to Remembering History where we ARE remembering history and we’re making it. Every day! And, like Matthew Henson, get ready to sit on top of the world! Bye for now!    

点击每期节目可以看到具体文稿内容Ladies and Gentlemen, I'd planned to speak to you tonight to report on the state of the Union, but the events of earlier today have led me to change those plans. Today is a day for mourning and remembering. Nancy and I are pained to the core by the tragedy of the shuttle Challenger. We know we share this pain with all of the people of our country. This is truly a national loss.Nineteen years ago, almost to the day, we lost three astronauts in a terrible accident on the ground. But we've never lost an astronaut in flight. We've never had a tragedy like this.And perhaps we've forgotten the courage it took for the crew of the shuttle. But they, the Challenger Seven, were aware of the dangers, but overcame them and did their jobs brilliantly. We mourn seven heroes: Michael Smith, Dick Scobee, Judith Resnik, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Gregory Jarvis, and Christa McAuliffe.We mourn their loss as a nation together.For the families of the seven, we cannot bear, as you do, the full impact of this tragedy. But we feel the loss, and we're thinking about you so very much. Your loved ones were daring and brave, and they had that special grace, that special spirit that says, "Give me a challenge, and I'll meet it with joy." They had a hunger to explore the universe and discover its truths. They wished to serve, and they did. They served all of us.We've grown used to wonders in this century. It's hard to dazzle us. But for twenty-five years the United States space program has been doing just that. We've grown used to the idea of space, and, perhaps we forget that we've only just begun. We're still pioneers. They, the members of the Challenger crew, were pioneers.And I want to say something to the schoolchildren of America who were watching the live coverage of the shuttle's take-off. I know it's hard to understand, but sometimes painful things like this happen. It's all part of the process of exploration and discovery. It's all part of taking a chance and expanding man's horizons. The future doesn't belong to the fainthearted; it belongs to the brave. The Challenger crew was pulling us into the future, and we'll continue to follow them.I've always had great faith in and respect for our space program. And what happened today does nothing to diminish it. We don't hide our space program. We don't keep secrets and cover things up. We do it all up front and in public. That's the way freedom is, and we wouldn't change it for a minute. We'll continue our quest in space. There will be more shuttle flights and more shuttle crews and, yes, more volunteers, more civilians, more teachers in space. Nothing ends here; our hopes and our journeys continue.I want to add that I wish I could talk to every man and woman who works for NASA, or who worked on this mission and tell them: "Your dedication and professionalism have moved and impressed us for decades. And we know of your anguish. We share it."There's a coincidence today. On this day three hundred and ninety years ago, the great explorer Sir Francis Drake died aboard ship off the coast of Panama. In his lifetime the great frontiers were the oceans, and a historian later said, "He lived by the sea, died on it, and was buried in it." Well, today, we can say of the Challenger crew: Their dedication was, like Drake's, complete.The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and "slipped the surly bonds of earth" to "touch the face of God."Thank you.968重庆之声每周一至周五8点56分每天三分钟养成良好英语听说习惯

Today we pay tribute to astronaut Ronald McNair

Today we pay tribute to astronaut Ronald McNair

Podcast: African American Explorers 1   Hi and welcome to rememberinghistory.com where we are remembering history and we’re making it. Today we begin our great and groundbreaking podcast series about Black explorers! And we also have a very special guest who will introduce them: Frederick Lofton who is known as the Lawyer Explorer. Frederick has made many incredible explorations and today he is on the Big Island of Hawaii making even more discoveries. We are so lucky that he is taking the time to tell us about explorations made by other African Americans. You might not have heard of these great people—which is very sad—but hopefully they will one day become household names because there is so much that we can learn from them and their stories are so inspirational. Let’s do a bit of housekeeping then let’s hear from Frederick, the Lawyer Explorer.   As you may know, October 12, 2015 is Columbus Day in the United States. Columbus is celebrated for his explorations in the 15th century. Although he set out for a short route to India, he landed in present day Bahamas, convinced that it was India. Today, we know that he didn’t actually land in the East Indies but instead landed in the Americas. We don’t want to discuss what he did in the Americas, but there is no denying that Christopher Columbus was an explorer. Of course, there have been (and still are) many people who show the courage to leave their own shores in search of distant lands and adventure. We hear their stories of courage (and sometimes conquest) in history classes and on the Discovery Channel or PBS. But we don’t often learn about African American explorers or women explorers and their burning desire to discover strange new lands and go boldly where no one has gone before.   This month’s podcast series will introduce you to more African American explorers and show you that while the world is getting smaller and smaller, the adventures and explorations are getting bigger and bolder. The boundaries are endless. The only limit is your imagination, your courage, and your willingness to test your personal limits.   What is your limit? How far are you willing to go for glory?   These stories will show that exploration is not about finding gold or conquest (many explorers, including Columbus, forgot that golden rule.) Exploration is a test of your limits and transcending them. And that’s about more than finding new lands…it is about finding yourself. And this applies to any new endeavor like taking a new job or following a new career, getting an education or going back to school, learning a new language or studying a new subject, moving to a new city or country or, like some of our explorers, even searching for new planets!   The people in this podcast series on African American explorers challenged themselves in many ways. They went beyond their perceived limits and ultimately expanded their life, their worlds, and themselves. And this continued long after they “returned home” from their journeys.   You might remember that last October (2014), we began this podcast series by introducing Matthew Henson who was the first African American to reach the North Pole, some say he was the first person of any race to reach the North Pole. And we mentioned George Gibbs who was the first African American to reach the South Pole. We also discussed the many heroic and distinguished Black astronauts, like Ronald McNair and Mae Jemison. So impressive. And, of course, we can never forget Sophie Danenberg who, in 2004, became the first African American to climb Mount Everest. Her story is incredible and so inspirational. Actually, all of these stories are amazingly inspirational. You can find these podcasts at the rememberinghistory.com website or on Stitcher Radio. You will be impressed and inspired!   These history makers faced difficulties, obstacles and hurdles like the North Pole and Mount Everest and they kept going. They kept pushing. They kept digging deeper and aiming higher. And they reached their goals.   So, if you’re up to the challenge, let’s begin our next exploration into uncharted territory. Let’s begin our journey with an African American man who endured many obstacles and hardships to explore what used to be called “the dark continent” and, in doing so, save millions of people from modern day slavery!   Without further ado, let’s hear from Frederick Lofton, the Lawyer Explorer. Frederick, welcome to the show!   ****   Thanks, Robin, I’m really happy to be here to present a great explorer and a great human rights activist. He is not so well known yet but he deserves a place right at the table with many of the greatest explorers and humanitarians.   So, who is this great explorer and activist? I’m glad that you asked. His name is William Henry Sheppard. His story is both inspirational and incredible so sit back and get ready to be impressed!   William Sheppard was born in Waynesboro, Virginia on March 6, 1865. Now many listeners might know that Virginia in March of 1865 was still part of the Confederacy. Virginia was still a slave-owning state—but only for a short while longer. On December 31, 1865, slavery was abolished by the 13th Amendment. Now I digressed away from William Sheppard for a moment to discuss this important development. You see, Sheppard was NOT born into slavery. His mother was a free woman of mixed race ancestry and his father was a barber and the sexton at a predominantly white Presbyterian church. Sheppard attended Waynesboro’s “colored” school and learned basic reading and technical skills. At the age of 12, Sheppard left home and worked as a servant for a dentist from the Presbyterian Church and improved his literary skills by reading books that had been discarded by the dentist’s children. At the age of 15, he attended Hampton University and attended classes by Booker T. Washington. After graduating from Hampton, Sheppard took classes at the Tuscaloosa Theological Institute (now called Stillman College) where he was ordained as a Presbyterian minister. Sheppard became pastor of Zion Presbyterian Church in Atlanta but had a burning desire to become a missionary in Africa. He submitted numerous applications but they were all rejected because church leaders were not comfortable with an African American pastor travelling to Africa, especially without the supervision of a white minister. However, Sheppard boarded a train and personally confronted the Church board to demand that a position as a missionary in Africa. In 1890, Sheppard’s application was accepted and he was allowed to travel to Africa under the supervision of a white pastor named Samuel Lapsley. And Sheppard’s real adventures began!   The following year, Sheppard and Lapsley arrived at the mouth of the Congo River in what is today called the Democratic Republic of Congo. They established a mission in a village called Luebo. The first Africans to meet Sheppard thought that he was a rubber trader but Sheppard explained that he was there to teach about God. Because of his work and partnership with Lapsley, Sheppard had a dubious position with the local population to whom he was known as a “Black white man.”   But William Sheppard was a true explorer. He got to know and learn about the Bakuba people. He studied their crops, textiles and music. He studied the way that the Bakuba people worshipped their ancestors. He learned to hunt and killed snakes and large game to help feed the villagers. He even killed a hippopotamus and learned to dry the meat to trade and share with the villagers.   Sheppard learned to speak the Kuba* language, which helped him to discover parts of the Congo region where no American or European had ever gone. Sheppard and his local Bakuba guide would go from village to village buying eggs at different markets. For three months, he would buy and eat eggs and preach the gospel at every village where he stopped. For years, he stayed and studied the culture and, because of his excellent language skills, he was welcomed into the villages by the local leaders.   In 1893 (after an extended trip to London where he met with Queen Victoria), Sheppard returned to the Congo where new challenges faced him from Belgium’s King Leopold II who was the Congo’s colonial ruler at the time. The colonial government of the Congo Free State was using Africans as slaves to harvest rubber and build railroads, setting one African group against another in order to find traders with whom they could deal in the traffic of human lives. The Presbyterian Church in the United States opposed these activities and especially the atrocities that were occurring against the local people. The Church aimed to bring international attention to this situation.   Sheppard visited villages and people whom he had met years before upon his arrival in the Congo region. He was dismayed to witness the enslavement of the people, destruction of villages and food sources and the torture and killings of African men, women and children by the Belgians and their African allies known as La Force Publique. He was determined to bring international attention to this terrible situation. One of the most common forms of punishment imposed on the Congolese and Belgians was to sever the hands of any person who failed to meet their daily quota of rubber. Sheppard painstakingly made an exact count of severed right hands, noting 81 of them in a report that was later presented to colonial authorities.   Sheppard, together with two other missionaries, formed the Congo Reform Association, which was one of the world’s first humanitarian organizations. Through the Congo Reform Association, Sheppard continued to document and report on the atrocities committed in the Congo.   Back in the United States once more, Sheppard began to publicize his findings and wrote articles about them for church magazines. His allegations gained international attention and Sheppard quickly became well known around the United States and Europe as a human rights activist. In 1908, Belgium’s state-owned rubber company (the Kasai Rubber Company) sued Sheppard for libel and slander but the suit was later dropped because of Sheppard’s international acclaim as an explorer and humanitarian.   In 1910, William Sheppard returned to the United States, to settle with his family in Kentucky. He worked as a writer, speaker and pastor at Grace Presbyterian Church. He brought the courage that he displayed in the Congo to his work in the racially segregated state of Kentucky where, for the next 17 years, he spoke about equality and human rights to audiences throughout the American South.   You know, many people refer to William Sheppard as the “Black Livingstone”. But I take exception to that. (Of course, you know that they are referring to the explorer, David Livingstone. Remember, “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?”) While David Livingstone did make many important explorations and discoveries in Africa, William Sheppard approached Africa and the Africans in a different way. He was a humanitarian, a man of God and an African American man (remember a “black white man”) who opened his mind and heart to learn and observe. He was an explorer in the truest sense of the word.   Sheppard’s story is filled with courage and determination. He used his experiences, opportunities and innate curiosity and drive to become one of the earliest Black missionaries in Africa, a respected and multi-lingual explorer, an avid collector of African art and a human rights activist. That’s a lot for anyone to accomplish but particularly an African American man in the American South during the Reconstruction era.   But he persisted and demanded. He fought crocodiles. He persisted through 22 bouts of malaria. He researched and wrote about the sufferings of the people. He spoke to kings in their languages. And he followed his dream of going to Africa. As a boy, he often said of Africa, “When I grow up, I shall go there.”   That’s exactly what he did. William Henry Sheppard “went there.”   Where do you want to go? What will you do to “go there”?   That is what this Black explorers series is all about: having the courage to “go there”.   William Sheppard did it. And you can too!   So, that’s all for this first show in this great and groundbreaking podcast series. It’s a lot and there is more coming. I hope that you enjoyed this show and brief story of William Sheppard—explorer, humanitarian, activist, and art collector. I hope that you see that he followed his dreams, overcame terrible hardships and improved his life and the lives of many others. His legacy lives on.     Thanks so much, Frederick for that interesting and enlightening discussion of William Sheppard. There is so much that we can learn from his story and I hope that his story will be told in schools and other learning circles, great and small. He deserves it. And we all benefit from it.   In the next podcast, we will focus on Black women explorers who also “said that they “shall go there”. And they did! They had a dream and they followed it. I won’t ruin the surprise but I will just say that these women went in many directions in their explorations. They definitely “went there”. Spoiler alert: one of these women explorers “went there”--to the North Pole, that is--at the age of 75! You won’t want to miss her exciting story—or the other inspirational stories.   So, that is all for now. I do want to remind all the listeners that you can get additional information and pictures of the William Sheppard on the Remembering History Podcast Page on Facebook. There is a great community of fun and friendly historians there who love to discuss these great people and their even greater adventures. And I would love to hear your comments and thoughts about today’s podcast or really any history topic that you’re interested in. I really enjoy hearing from you!   Oh and I almost forgot to mention that rememberinghistory.com website has a great store where you will find books, DVDs, and lots of other fun and educational products, including two amazing books about William Sheppard.   So, thanks for listening to the first part in the great and groundbreaking podcast series on Black Explorers. I hope to “see” you at part II of the series where we will focus on Black women explorers. We are doing fantastic work here and I’m glad that you’ve joined us for this great adventure.   Again, a big thanks to Frederick, the Lawyer Explorer whose adventures you can follow at thelawyerexplorer.com. I encourage you to visit his exciting website and follow his great adventures. The lawyer Explorer goes to many uber-interesting places and collects, learns and shares fascinating facts, legends and stories of the people and places in his adventures.   See you next time at rememberinghistory.com where we are remembering history and we’re making it.   Bye for now.    

Black Explorers Part II   Welcome back to robinlofton.com for another Wiki History lecture. Today is the second lecture about black explorers. In the first Wiki history lecture, we discussed Matthew Henson, who was the first person to reach the North Pole. While there is some dispute about this, we recognized that Henson made incredible contributions as a navigator, ocean surveyor, and explorer.  There is a lot more to know about this great man and his explorations so I encourage you to listen to the first Wiki History lecture and to read his book, A Negro in the North Pole, which you can find on robinlofton.com.   In today’s wiki lecture, we will discuss explorations that are out of this world!  These black explorers went longer and farther than many people ever dream of going.  They are great examples of why we are studying explorers. We can learn so much from them. They had a grand vision and never-ending determination. They worked hard and never gave up. Remember it took 20 years and numerous failed attempts for Matthew Henson to reach the North Pole.  But he eventually made it. And that’s what we can learn from these explorers.   Let’s get started with today’s great Black explorers.   Today’s explorers won’t go north or south. Today, they go up!   We begin with Guion Bluford, who on August 30, 1983, was the first African American astronaut to make a space flight.  But let’s back up for a minute. Dr. Bluford was born in Philadelphia in 1942. He earned his pilot’s license when he was just 24. Then he went on to earn his doctorate in aerospace engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 1978.  He also joined NASA in 1978. And made his maiden voyage in space was just 5 years later. He operated the remote manipulator system, Spacelab-3 experiments, shuttle systems, and the flight systems lab. During his career, Dr. Bluford made numerous space flights and spent a total of 688 hours in space before his retirement from NASA in 1993.      Other African Americans also dedicated themselves to space flight and exploration.   Frederick Gregory was the first Black person to actually command a space shuttle mission. In 1985, he served as a pilot on Challenger for a 7-day mission. Commander Gregory joined NASA shortly after receiving his masters degree in information systems. In 1989, he was given command of the Discovery mission, which orbited the Earth 79 times in 120 hours. In total, he commanded 3 major space missions and spent over 450 hours in space. By the end of his career, he reached the rank of Colonel in the United States Air Force.   In 1987, Mae Jemison was the first black woman astronaut and the first Black woman to fly in space. She was the science mission specialist on the historic 8-day mission on the Endeavor space shuttle. By her retirement from NASA, Dr. Jamison logged in 190 hours in space. Her educational background is as varied as it is impressive having graduated from Stanford University with a degree in both chemical engineering and African American studies.  She also earned a doctorate degree from Cornell University and worked as a staff doctor for the Peace Corps in Sierra Leone.  Today, Dr. Jamison owns a private firm, called the Jamison Group, and teaches at Dartmouth University.   Coming out of the shuttle, Bernard Harris, Jr. became the first black astronaut to actually walk in space. He walked in space for 5 hours and logged in more than 230 hours in space.  He was also a medical doctor and trained as a flight surgeon.  After leaving NASA, he founded the Harris Group, which is a Texas-based organization that works to empower individuals, in particular minorities and other economically and/or socially disadvantaged, to recognize their potential and pursue their dreams. Dr. Harris first became interested in being an astronaut watching the Apollo 11 mission on TV in 1969. Twenty years—and lots of hard work and determination later—he was asked to join NASA. By the end of his career, he logged more than 4,164,183 miles in space.   Finally, and sadly, in 1986, Ronald McNair became the first black astronaut killed during a space mission. He was aboard the ill-fated Challenger when it exploded shortly after liftoff. Dr. McNair was an extraordinary explorer who was born in South Carolina and able to read and write by the age of three.  At the age of four, he successfully challenged the whites-only borrowing privileges at the local library. In 1976, he received a scholarship to MIT where he graduated magna cum laude with a doctorate in physics. He was invited to join NASA in 1978. Dr. McNair is remembered as having encouraged and supported young black engineers and scientists in the aerospace program. In his short life, he was an extraordinary student, physicist, and astronaut.    He once said, "Whether or not you reach your goals in life depends entirely on how well you prepare for them and how badly you want them. . . ..You're eagles! Stretch your wings and fly to the sky."   Words to live by!   There are so many others that have contributed to space exploration. However, we only have time to acknowledge the contributions of these five astronauts who committed themselves to exploring where no one had gone before. And they also made great contributions on earth too.   Remember the names: Guy Bluford, Frederick Gregory, Mae Jamison, Bernard Harris, and Ronald McNair.  Great explorers. Great scientists. Great people!   Now here is another great explorer. She was not an astronaut. She did not go into outer space. But she set her sights high and she reached incredible heights: The top of Mount Everest!   Sophia Danenberg was always a high flyer and explorer.  Born in Illinois in 1972, Sophia became the first African American woman and the first Black woman from anywhere in the world to climb Mt. Everest.   Sophia became involved in mountaineering after receiving her degree from Harvard University. For 2 years, she did technical rock climbs with her local Appalachian Mountain Club.   Danenberg's first major climb was at Mount Rainier, in Washington State in 2002.  Over the next two years she climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Kenya, Mount Baker in Washington state and Mount Kenya.  In 2005 she scaled five peaks plus Mount McKinley in Alaska. That’s right, she climbed the highest peak in North America.   But her great challenge was yet to come. In the spring of 2006, at the age of 34 and with only one week of planning, she started climbing Mount Everest—the highest mountain in the world.    She signed up for an unguided climb, which meant that she had to carry all of her own gear, pitch her own tent, and make all the decisions, and basically find her own way. On May 19, 2006, after two months of climbing, she reached the summit of Mount Everest at 29,000 feet. She was suffering from bronchits, a stuffed nose and frostbitten cheeks but she was determined to push through the bad weather and sit on top of the world!   But she did not stop with Everest. She has now climbed more than 19 peaks around the world.   Back on lower elevations, Sophia Danenberg has continued her upward journey. She received her masters in economics from the University of Connecticut and works with inner city children.   About her historic climb, she says, “It’s not really about having the ability to climb. It’s about this ability to say, ‘I can do it really well.”   That’s a great goal.  Whatever you do, do it really well.   Thank you for visiting robinlofton.com for this Wiki history lecture about great Black explorers.  Remember to subscribe so that the Wiki History lectures will come directly to your mailbox. Please visit robinlofton.com and leave your comments.  I would love to hear about your explorations. Future Wiki History lectures will focus on Blacks in the Military (lots of interesting information and lessons from the African Americans who fought in America’s wars beginning with the Civil War) and we will post Part II about the importance of African American history and how it can inspire and motivate us.   Remember that we can learn a lot from the great explorers. We can learn from their courage, vision, determination, and positive outlook.  Life is an exploration. Keep exploring higher and farther! See you again soon.

The Challenger Seven are... alive?! Join 13-year-old Norm Scott in this live news report.