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30 Facts About Challenger Astronaut, Ronald McNair

Tim Flight December 28, 2019 20 min

Ronald McNair - Dr. Ronald McNair — McNair on board the Challenger, 1984. Berkeley

4. Neil deGrasse Tyson cites McNair as an inspiration

In turn, Neil deGrasse Tyson has inspired another generation of scientists. The Atlantic

One particularly prominent admirer of Ronald is the astrophysicist and public scientist Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson. Though only 8 years Ronald’s junior, Tyson didn’t get his Ph.D. until the age of 33, and drew inspiration from the astronaut. In particular, Ronald’s dual interest in athletics and academia appealed to keen amateur wrestler Tyson. ‘An astronaut who was also a black belt in karate [showed] an athletic hobby need not interfere with academic pursuits’, he once said. Tyson has also used his platform to increase awareness and interest in science across all demographics, just like Ronald.

Written by

Tim Flight

I am a freelance historical and literary writer based in West Yorkshire, UK. I read for a funded PhD in English at the University of Oxford (Magdalen College) and graduated in 2016. I am a former lecturer in Medieval English Literature at Royal Holloway, University of London. My publications include peer-reviewed articles in academic publications, and pieces in mainstream magazines such as History Today and Fortean Times. For more information, please see www.drflight.co.uk