The astronaut Robert Henry Lawrence Jr. passed away at age 32, way too young.
Biography - A Short Wiki
The first African American astronaut, though he died tragically before traveling to space.
He was a pilot in the U.S. Air Force.
He died in the crash of a F-104 Starfighter at Edwards Air Force Base.
How did Robert Henry Lawrence Jr. die?
Aviation incident caused Robert Henry Lawrence Jr.'s death in 1967.
Death and legacy At age 32, Lawrence was killed in a plane crash at Edwards AFB on December 8, 1967. He was flying backseat in an F-104 as the instructor pilot for flight test trainee Major Harvey Royer, who was learning the steep-descent glide technique. Royer made such an approach but flared too late.
| Cause of death | Aviation incident |
|---|---|
| Age of death | 32 years |
| Profession | Astronaut |
| Birthday | October 2, 1935 |
| Death date | December 8, 1967 |
| Place of death | Edwards Air Force Base, California, United States |
| Place of burial | N/A |
