The pilot of STS-41-G, Jon McBride, became the first astronaut from West Virginia after his selection by NASA in 1978. Throughout a career spanning military service and space exploration, he logged over 8,800 flight hours and navigated the transition from naval aviation to the early years of the Space Shuttle program.
Military Service and Aviation
Born in Charleston in 1943, McBride graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1960 and attended West Virginia University. He entered flight training in 1965 at Naval Air Station Pensacola, earning his wings in 1966. His military service included 64 combat missions during the Vietnam War. After attending the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, he served at Naval Air Station Point Mugu. Over his career, he piloted more than 40 different aircraft, including the bicentennial-painted F-4J Phantom, and achieved the rank of captain.
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Selected as an astronaut candidate in 1978, McBride attained official astronaut status in 1979. He performed roles including lead chase pilot for the maiden voyage of Columbia and capsule communicator for multiple missions. In October 1984, he served as pilot for STS-41-G aboard the Challenger. This mission featured a crew of seven, the largest at that time, and lasted 197 hours. He was slated to command STS-61-E, but the mission was canceled following the Challenger disaster.
Administrative and Post-NASA Activity
From 1987 to 1989, McBride served as NASA's assistant administrator for Congressional Relations. Upon leaving the agency, he moved to Lewisburg, West Virginia, serving as president of the Flying Eagle Corporation and the Constructors' Labor Council. In 1996, he sought the Republican nomination for Governor of West Virginia. His later years involved support for the Kennedy Space Center visitors complex and the Jon McBride Software Testing and Research Laboratory, which opened in his honor in Fairmont in 2011.
Fast facts
- Born: 1943, Charleston, West Virginia
- Died: August 7, 2024, Merritt Island, Florida
- Military Rank: Captain
- Education: West Virginia University, U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School
- Total Flight Time: Over 8,800 hours
- Space Mission: Pilot of STS-41-G
- Awards: Air Medal, Legionnaire of Legion of Merit
- Career: Astronaut, fighter pilot, military flight engineer
Questions readers ask
What was the significance of the STS-41-G mission?
It launched on October 5, 1984, with a crew of seven, which was the largest number of people sent into space on a single flight at that time.
Did McBride fly in space after 1984?
No. He was scheduled to command the STS-61-E mission in 1986, but it was deferred due to the Challenger disaster.
Achievements
- Affiliated with National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Educated at U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, West Virginia University and Pepperdine University
- Worked as military officer, astronaut and fighter pilot
