Lawrence, Robert Henry, Jr. (1935-1967), was an American test pilot and scientist. Lawrence was the first African American selected as an astronaut, but he died before making a space flight.
Lawrence was born on Oct. 2, 1935, in Chicago. In 1956, he earned a B.S. degree in chemistry from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. Upon graduating, he was accepted into the United States Air Force as an officer for successfully completing training in the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). After completing pilot training, Lawrence served as a fighter pilot and flight instructor. In 1965, he earned a Ph.D. degree in chemistry from Ohio State University in Columbus. He later worked for a brief period as a research scientist.
In 1967, Lawrence graduated from the Air Force Flight Test Pilot Training School at Edwards Air Force Base in California and was selected as an astronaut for the Air Force’s Manned Orbiting Laboratory project. The project’s goal was to build a small space station where astronauts could conduct research.
On Dec. 8, 1967, Lawrence was coaching another pilot practicing high-speed landings in an F-104 fighter jet modified for astronaut training. The plane crashed on landing, and Lawrence was killed.
