Scobee, Francis Richard (Dick), 1939-1986

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Francis Richard "Dick" Scobee (May 19, 1939 – January 28, 1986) was an American pilot, engineer and astronaut. He was killed while he was commanding the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1986, which suffered catastrophic booster failure during launch of the STS-51-L mission.

He held a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering. He was a reciprocating engine mechanic for the United States Air Force and served as a combat aviator in the Vietnam War.

Selected for NASA Astronaut Corps in January 1978, Scobee completed his training in August 1979. While awaiting his first orbital spaceflight mission, he served as an instructor pilot for the Shuttle's 747 carrier aircraft. In April 1984, he piloted Challenger mission STS-41-C, which successfully deployed one satellite and repaired another.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn White House Office of Records Management File Systems (White House Central Files), 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989. White House Office of Records Management (WHORM) Subject File, 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989. White House Office of Records Managment (WHORM) Subject File case file OS001 381110. Memo to President Reagan Recommending Telephone Call to June Scobee. Ronald Reagan Library
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-04-125 - STS-41C - Candid views of the STS-41C crewmembers on the flight deck. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-06-212 - STS-41C - Candid views of astronauts Hart and Scobee on flight deck. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-04-129 - STS-41C - Mission pilot Scobee uses treadmill on middeck. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-11-403 - STS-41C - Astronauts Scobee and Nelson on middeck. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-03-090 - STS-41C - Candid views of STS 41-C crew during retrieval of the Solar Max satellite. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-07-262 - STS-41C - Photo of STS-41C crew taken in aft flight deck on orbit. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-10-344 - STS-41C - Astronauts Crippen and Scobee on forward flight deck. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn SPACE SHUTTLE ORBITER 099 CHALLENGER 41-C STS-13 ON BOARD MAGAZINES 91,94,95 AND 96 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-07-261 - STS-41C - Photo of STS-41C crew taken in aft flight deck on orbit. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Stock Footage, ca. 1960 - ca. 1987. SPACE SHUTTLE ORBITER 099 CHALLENGER 41-C STS-13 LAUNCH AND TRACKING FROM PAD 39A, 4/6/1984. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn SPACE SHUTTLE ORBITER 099 CHALLENGER 41-C STS-13 ON BOARD MAGAZINES 70,61,68,69,71 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-04-126 - STS-41C - Candid views of the STS-41C crewmembers on the flight deck. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Stock Footage, ca. 1960 - ca. 1987. SPACE SHUTTLE ORBITER 099 CHALLENGER 41-C STS-13 COUNTDOWN DEMONSTRATION TEST AND EXPERIMENT INSTALLATION, 3 3 3/6 21 23/1984 1984 1984. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn SPACE SHUTTLE ORBITER 099 CHALLENGER 41-C STS-13 ON BOARD MAGAZINES 72,73,74,75,76,77 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-05-164 - STS-41C - Candid view of astronaut Scobee on shuttle Challengers flight deck. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-16-591 - STS-41C - STS-41C crewmembers perform in-flight maintenance. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-12-436 - STS-41C - Astronaut Scobee on middeck. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-16-589 - STS-41C - STS-41C crewmembers with student experiment on Challenger. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-16-592 - STS-41C - STS-41C crewmembers perform in-flight maintenance. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-04-145 - STS-41C - Mission commander performs visual acuity testing. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-01-017 - STS-41C - Candid view of Astronaut Scobee on aft flight deck. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-16-594 - STS-41C - STS-41C crewmembers perform in-flight maintenance National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-16-595 - STS-41C - STS-41C crewmembers perform in-flight maintenance. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-03-082 - STS-41C - Candid views of Astronaut Scobee on middeck. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-08-271 - STS-41C - Candid views of the STS-41C crew on the Challenger's middeck. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006Series: Stock Footage, ca. 1960 - ca. 1987. FLIGHT CREW ARRIVES AT SHUTTLE LANDING FACILITY (SLF), 4/3/1984. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-07-235 - STS-41C - STS-41C crew on middeck. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-06-213 - STS-41C - Candid views of astronauts Hart and Scobee on flight deck. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-10-345 - STS-41C - Astronaut Scobee on forward flight deck. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-14-496 - STS-41C - Astronauts Scobee on flight deck. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-10-360 - STS-41C - STS-41C crewmembers on middeck. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-10-359 - STS-41C - STS-41C crewmembers on middeck. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-11-399 - STS-41C - Astronauts Scobee and Nelson on middeck. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-02-040 - STS-41C - Pilot Dick Scobee reviews checklist on flight deck. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-09-305 - STS-41C - Astronauts Scobee and van Hoften on middeck. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Stock Footage, ca. 1960 - ca. 1987. LDEF [I.E., LONG DURATION EXPOSURE FACILITY] AND THE SOLAR MAXIMUM REPAIR MISSION. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-13-490 - STS-41C - Astronaut Scobee on aft flight deck with RMS controls. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-37-1734 - STS-41C - Astronaut Scobee on aft flight deck during satellite capture. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Moving Images Relating to Documentary Stock Footage , 1959 - 1993. JSC (MS) - 1978 Astronaut Candidates: Francis Scobee, Steven Hawley, and Terry Hart, 1978. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Stock Footage, ca. 1960 - ca. 1987. MISSION 41-C TCDT [I.E., TERMINAL COUNTDOWN DEMONSTRATION TEST], 3/21/1984. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-12-437 - STS-41C - Astronaut Scobee on middeck. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Sound Recordings Relating to Mission Activities, 1961 - 1993. Astronaut Candidate Francis R. Scobee, 3/1/1978. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-08-269 - STS-41C - Candid views of the STS-41C crew on the Challenger's middeck. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Sound Recordings Relating to Mission Activities, 1961 - 1993. Astronaut Candidates Brewster H. Shaw, Jr., Francis R. Scobee and Steven R. Nagel, 3/1/1978. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-07-263 - STS-41C - Photo of STS-41C crew taken in aft flight deck on orbit. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-13-491 - STS-41C - Astronaut Scobee on aft flight deck with RMS controls. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-08-271 - STS-41C - Candid views of the STS-41C crew on the Challenger's middeck. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-03-104 - STS-41C - Candid views of STS 41-C crewmembers on aft flight deck. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011STS-41C. . 41C-13-489 - STS-41C - Astronaut Scobee on aft flight deck with RMS controls. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-16-588 - STS-41C - STS-41C crewmembers with student experiment on Challenger. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-06-225 - STS-41C - Astronauts Scobee and Nelson on flight deck. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Stock Footage, ca. 1960 - ca. 1987. SPACE SHUTTLE ORBITER 099 CHALLENGER 41-C STS-13 LAUNCH DAY ACTIVITIES, 4/6/1984. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-11-397 - STS-41C - Astronauts Scobee and Nelson on middeck. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Johnson Space Center Motion Picture Films and Video Recordings, 1985 - 1986. SHUTTLE FLIGHT 51L CREW TRAINING, 1985?. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-13-492 - STS-41C - Astronaut Scobee on aft flight deck with RMS controls. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn SPACE SHUTTLE ORBITER 099 CHALLENGER 41-C STS-13 LANDING AT EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, CALIFORINA National Archives at College Park
referencedIn White House Office of Records Management File Systems (White House Central Files), 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989. White House Office of Records Management (WHORM) Subject File, 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989. White House Office of Records Managment (WHORM) Subject File case file OS001 381110. Note from Ronald Reagan re His Telephone Condolence Call to June Scobee, ca. 1/29/1986. Ronald Reagan Library
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-11-402 - STS-41C - Astronauts Scobee and Nelson on middeck. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn White House Office of Records Management File Systems (White House Central Files). 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989. White House Office of Records Management (WHORM) Subject File. 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989. White House Office of Records Managment (WHORM) Subject File case file PR007-02 366117 Ronald Reagan Library
referencedIn Education -- Scobee Elementary School. Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Sound Recordings Relating to Mission Activities, 1961 - 1993. Astronaut Candidate Francis R. Scobee, 3/1/1978. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn White House Office of Records Management File Systems (White House Central Files), 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989. White House Office of Records Management (WHORM) Subject File, 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989. White House Office of Records Managment (WHORM) Subject File case file OS001 381110. Talking Points and Information for Ronald Reagan's Condolence Call to June Scobee, ca. 1/29/1986. Ronald Reagan Library
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-03-087 - STS-41C - Candid views of STS 41-C crew during retrieval of the Solar Max satellite. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-11-398 - STS-41C - Astronauts Scobee and Nelson on middeck. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-01-002 - STS-41C - Astronauts Scobee and Nelson on middeck. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-03-091 - STS-41C - Candid views of STS 41-C crew during retrieval of the Solar Max satellite. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-10-353 - STS-41C - Astronaut Scobee on flight deck. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-07-259 - STS-41C - Photo of STS-41C crew taken in aft flight deck on orbit. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-16-586 - STS-41C - STS-41C crewmembers with student experiment on Challenger. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-04-128 - STS-41C - Mission pilot Scobee uses treadmill on middeck. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Stock Footage, ca. 1960 - ca. 1987. SPACE SHUTTLE ORBITER 099 CHALLENGER 41-C STS-13 ON BOARD MAGAZINES 78,79,80,82, 4/1984. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn White House Office of Records Management File Systems (White House Central Files), 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989. White House Office of Records Management (WHORM) Subject File, 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989. White House Office of Records Managment (WHORM) Subject File case file OS001 381110. Biographical Data: Francis R. (Dick) Scobee. Ronald Reagan Library
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-16-593 - STS-41C - STS-41C crewmembers perform in-flight maintenance. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Mission Photographs Taken During the Space Shuttle Program , 4/12/1981 - 7/21/2011. STS-41C. 41C-03-089 - STS-41C - Candid views of STS 41-C crew during retrieval of the Solar Max satellite. National Archives at College Park
Relation Name
associatedWith Challenger (Spacecraft) corporateBody
memberOf United States. Air Force corporateBody
associatedWith United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Cle Elum WA US
Florida FL US
Subject
Astronautics
Challenger (Spacecraft)
Challenger (Spacecraft)
Challenger (Space shuttle)
NASA
NASA personnel
Nasa programs
NASA SPACE PROGRAMS
Occupation
Astronaut
Astronauts
Engineer
Pilots
Activity

Person

Birth 1939-05-19

1986-01-28

Male

Americans

English

Information

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SNAC ID: 42852824