A legacy of exploration and inspiration in the cosmos.

  • Jon McBride, former NASA astronaut and pilot of the Challenger’s sixth flight, has died at 80.
  • He was part of NASA’s first group of space shuttle astronauts selected in 1978.
  • McBride’s mission was notable for being the first to launch seven people into space.
  • He logged over 8 days in space, traveling 3.3 million miles during 133 orbits.
  • McBride was awarded the NASA Space Flight Medal and held three honorary doctorates.

Jon McBride, a former NASA astronaut and the pilot of the Challenger’s sixth flight, passed away at the age of 80. His death was confirmed by NASA after his family informed the agency. McBride was part of the ‘TFNG’ group, the first selection of space shuttle astronauts in 1978. His only spaceflight took place on October 5, 1984, when he piloted the Challenger on a mission that made history by launching seven astronauts into space. nnIn a 2012 interview, McBride recalled the thrill of liftoff, describing the experience of accelerating and feeling the force of gravity. His mission was groundbreaking, as it was the first to include two women astronauts and the first to see a U.S. woman perform a spacewalk. The crew also included notable astronauts like Sally Ride and Kathy Sullivan. During the eight-day mission, they deployed the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite and collected radar images of Earth. Their journey was documented in the IMAX film ‘The Dream is Alive.’ nnAfter a successful mission, McBride and his crew landed Challenger back at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, marking only the second landing of a space shuttle. McBride, who logged over 8 days in space and traveled 3.3 million miles, was the 156th person to fly into space. nnBorn on August 14, 1943, in Charleston, West Virginia, McBride had a distinguished career as a naval aviator before joining NASA. He flew over 40 types of aircraft and logged more than 8,800 flight hours. After his spaceflight, he was set to command another mission, STS-61E, which was canceled after the Challenger disaster. nnFollowing his retirement from NASA in 1989, McBride held various positions, including overseeing educational programs at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. He was recognized for his contributions to space exploration with several awards, including the NASA Space Flight Medal. McBride is survived by his family and will be remembered as an American hero who inspired many through his work in the space program.·

Factuality Level: 8
Factuality Justification: The article provides a detailed and factual account of Jon McBride’s life and career, including his contributions to NASA and the space shuttle program. While it contains some personal anecdotes and quotes that may introduce a slight bias, the overall information is accurate and well-researched. There are minor digressions into his personal life and career that could be seen as tangential, but they do not significantly detract from the main topic.·
Noise Level: 8
Noise Justification: The article provides a detailed and respectful obituary of Jon McBride, highlighting his significant contributions to NASA and space exploration. It includes relevant historical context, personal anecdotes, and achievements, which support its claims with evidence. The article stays on topic and does not diverge into unrelated areas, making it informative and focused.·
Public Companies: NASA (N/A)
Private Companies: Flying Eagle Corporation,R.L. Bliss & Associates, Inc.
Key People: Jon McBride (Former NASA astronaut), Bob Crippen (STS-41G commander), Kathy Sullivan (Mission specialist), Sally Ride (Mission specialist), David Leestma (Mission specialist), Paul Scully-Power (Payload specialist), Marc Garneau (Payload specialist), George Abbey (Former NASA director of flight operations)

Financial Relevance: No
Financial Markets Impacted: The article does not discuss any events that would impact financial markets or companies.
Financial Rating Justification: The article focuses on the life and achievements of former NASA astronaut Jon McBride, which is primarily of historical and biographical interest rather than financial relevance.·
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: No
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: No
Extreme Rating Justification: The article discusses the death of former NASA astronaut Jon McBride, but it does not describe an extreme event that occurred in the last 48 hours.·
Move Size: No market move size mentioned.
Sector: All
Direction: Neutral
Magnitude: No
Affected Instruments: No

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