Michael J. Smith
1945 – 1986

Michael J. Smith

American astronaut (1945-1986)

naval officertest pilotastronaut
Born
1945-04-30, Beaufort
Died
1986-01-28
Birthplace state
North Carolina

Biography

Michael J. Smith was born in Beaufort, North Carolina on April 30, 1945. He worked as a naval officer, test pilot, and astronaut. Smith served as pilot of the Space Shuttle Challenger during the STS-51-L mission; the shuttle broke apart 73 seconds after launch at an altitude of 48,000 feet, killing all seven crew members. His voice was the last recorded on the Challenger's voice recorder. Smith died on January 28, 1986.

Occupation

Michael J. Smith is recorded as a naval officer, a test pilot and a astronaut, born in North Carolina (1945–1986).

Connections to North Carolina

Michael J. Smith was born in Beaufort, North Carolina in 1945. Explore other notable figures from North Carolina, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from North Carolina›North Carolinahistory ›Historic sites in North Carolina›
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Geology
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Conflict & War
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The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
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Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
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Spotlight
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More notable figures from North Carolina

Other historical figures born in North Carolina, ranked by historical prominence.

Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
President of the United States from 1865 to 1869
James K. Polk
James K. Polk
President of the United States from 1845 to 1849 (1795–1849)
O. Henry
O. Henry
American short story writer (1862–1910)
Ava Gardner
Ava Gardner
American actress (1922–1990)
Nina Simone
Nina Simone
American singer, songwriter and pianist and civil rights activist (1933–2003)
Billy Graham
Billy Graham
American Christian evangelist (1918–2018)
John Coltrane
John Coltrane
American jazz saxophonist (1926–1967)

Frequently asked about Michael J. Smith

Who was Michael J. Smith?
Michael J. Smith was American astronaut (1945-1986), born in North Carolina (1945 – 1986).
When and where was Michael J. Smith born?
Michael J. Smith was born on 1945-04-30 in Beaufort.
When did Michael J. Smith die?
Michael died on 1986-01-28.
What was Michael J. Smith known for?
Michael J. Smith is recorded as a naval officer, a test pilot and a astronaut.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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