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“Columbia, Houston, we see your tire pressure messages and we did not copy your last.” “Roger, uh...” On February 2, 2003, “Roger, uh...” were the last words heard from the Columbia Space Shuttle, which exploded during re-entry to Earth, killing all seven of its astronauts. This included the first Israeli astronaut, Ilan Ramon. However, with Black History month upon us, and our nation in mourning, we might ask ourselves the question, “What about the first African-American astronaut?” The answer is found in a young man from Chicago, Illinois. Born on October 2, 1935 (in Chicago), Robert H. Lawrence Jr. was easily distinguished from his peers. He graduated from Englewood High School at the age of 16, and in the top 10