Challenger Memorial - Michael J. Smith

Michael J. Smith

Birthplace & Date: April 30, 1945, in Beaufort, North Carolina

Challenger Position: Pilot

Education: Graduated from Beaufort High School, Beaufort, North Carolina, in 1963; received a bachelor of science degree in Naval Science form the United States Naval Academy in 1967 and a master of science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the US Naval Postgraduate School in 1968

Honors: The Navy Distinguished Flying cross, 3 Air Medals, 3 Strike Flight Air Medals, the Navy Commendation Medal with the "V", the Navy Unit Citation, and the Vietnamese cross of Gallantry with the Silver Star

The pilot for the fatal 1986 Challenger mission was Michael J. Smith, born on April 30, 1945 in Beaufort, North Carolina. At the time of the Challenger accident a commander in the U.S. Navy, Smith had been educated at the U.S. Naval Academy, class of 1967, and received an M.S. in Aeronautical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1968. From there he underwent aviator training at Kingsville, Texas, and received his wings in May 1969. After a tour as an instructor at the Navy's Advanced Jet Training Command between 1969 and 1971, Smith flew A- 6 "Intruders" from the USS Kitty Hawk in Southeast Asia. Later he worked as a test pilot for the Navy, flying 28 different types of aircraft and logging more than 4,300 hours of flying time. Smith was selected as a NASA astronaut in May 1980, and a year later, after completing further training, he received an assignment as a Space Shuttle pilot, the position he occupied aboard Challenger. This mission was his first space flight.