In 1967, US Air Force Major Robert H. Lawrence was selected for the Pentagon's Manned Orbiting Laboratory ("MOL") as the first Black American astronaut. Unfortunately, Lawrence never got the chance to travel into space. As a test pilot instructor with over 2,500 flight hours, Lawrence was killed during a training session piloted by a F104 Starfighter jet trainee in December 1967. It wasn't until 30 years later that NASA acknowledged Lawrence by adding the major's name to its Florida Space Mirror Memorial which honors astronauts who died in the line of duty.

The Ohio Connection

Robert H. Lawrence was graduated from Ohio State University with a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry.