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Francis Richard "Dick" Scobee (May 19, 1939 -
January 28, 1986) was an United States|American
astronaut who died commanding the Space Shuttle
Challenger, which suffered catastrophic Booster
rocket|booster failure during launch of the
STS-51-L mission.

Born in Cle Elum, Washington, Scobee enlisted in
the United States Air Force in 1957, where he
served as a reciprocating engine mechanic at Kelly
Air Force Base in Texas.  While off duty, he
attended college, and eventually received a
Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace
engineering from the University of Arizona in
1965; the same year, he was awarded an
commissioned officer|officer's commission. 
Afterward, he attended flight school and earned
his wings in 1966, serving as a combat aviator in
the Vietnam War.  He was awarded the Distinguished
Flying Cross (USA)|Distinguished Flying Cross, the
Air Medal, and other decorations.

After his tour of duty, Scobee attended the
Aerospace Research Pilot School at Edwards Air
Force Base, just outside Los Angeles, California. 
Upon graduation in 1972, he became an Air Force
test pilot, logging thousands of hours of flight
time in dozens of aircraft, including the Boeing
747, the experimental X-24B lifting body, the
General Dynamics F-111|F-111 Aardvark, and the
gigantic C-5 Galaxy.  Scobee retirement|retired a
Lieutenant colonel.

Selected for NASA's astronaut program in January
1978, Scobee completed his training in August
1979.  While awaiting his first orbital
spaceflight mission, he served as an instructor
pilot for the shuttle's 747 carrier aircraft.  In
April 1984, Scobee piloted Challenger mission
STS-41-C, which successfully deployed one
satellite and repaired another.

Scobee was elevated to the role of spacecraft
commander for the ill-fated 51-L mission.  The
mission, designed to deploy a satellite to study
the approaching Comet Halley|Halley's Comet and to
inaugurate the Teacher in Space Project, was
delayed numerous times due to bad weather and
technical glitches.  When the mission finally did
lift off the launch pad|pad, an O-ring seal
failure caused a massive explosion 73 seconds into
the flight, killing Scobee and the other six
members of the crew; the tragedy, viewed live on
national television, prompted several days of
national mourning, as well as a major shakeup at
NASA.

Burial|Laid to rest in Arlington National
Cemetery, Scobee was survived by his wife June
(nee Kent) and two children, Kathie and Richard. 
In his spare time, he loved all forms of outdoor
activity, as well as flying, oil painting,
woodworking, riding motorcycles, playing
racquetball, and running.  In 2004, Scobee was
posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal
of Honor and was inducted into the Astronaut Hall
of Fame.

==External links==
*http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/scobee.html
Official NASA bio
*http://www.challenger.org/about/scobee.cfm
Challenger Center bio
*http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/frscobee.htm
Francis R. Scobee -- Arlington National Cemetary