Sunny Simounet

ENG 102-05
Professor Grefski
February 13, 2017

StoryCorps Journal

Carl McNairs narrative about his brothers achievements clearly came

about from a place of profound admiration and respect. Being raised in the
South during the 1950s wasnt the simplest of a life style for Robert McNair,
or any African American for that matter. His brother Carl, tells a humorous
story of how Robert wondered off to the library one day in search of books, to
only have the police called on him for his innocent curiosity in science.
Robert faced discrimination and setbacks based on the color of his skin, but
it never failed to stop his from following his dreams. While Robert took
interest in reading his science books from the library, it wasnt until the show
Star Trek aired that his hopes to be a part of the aerospace community truly
took off. Its incredible to think that back in a time when diversity was quite
rare, a show such as Star Trek could inspire a young child like Robert to one
day become an esteemed Astronaut for NASA. While Carl McNair looked at
Star Trek as science fiction, Robert looked to it as an achievable future.
My Dad was 18 years old when the Challenger was set to take off on
January 28, 1986. As he sat at home, he heard news of the horrific accident,
and turned to the channel watching in absolute shock. My Dad remarked, It
was just unbelievable because you never thought something like that would
happen. They made it seem so safe. He also noted he never thought hed
see a spaceship be sent off again after the Challenger. As a child, my Dad
visited Cape Canaveral, Florida with his family, watching rockets being
launched. This was the same site where the Challenger took off from years
later. For my Dad, it was heart breaking to hear of all the lives lost. He
couldnt believe that a place where he visited in amazement as a child, could
quickly become site to such a terrifying accident.