7 sources·Science

William Ray Lucas, Former NASA Leader, Dies at 102

William Ray Lucas, former director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center during the Challenger disaster, passed away at 102, with his funeral planned for March 1.

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  1. Former Director of the Alabama NASA Center During the Challenger Space Shuttle Explosion Dies at 102

    The explosion and resulting shakeup within NASA overshadowed what was an otherwise stellar career for Lucas, who was born and raised in rural western Tennessee and graduated from high school in 1939 as the class valedictorian.

    Former Director of the Alabama NASA Center During the Challenger Space Shuttle Explosion Dies at 102

    Epoch TimesEpoch Times·3M
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    Right
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  2. Former director of the Alabama NASA center during the Challenger space shuttle explosion dies at 102

    The explosion and resulting shakeup within NASA overshadowed what was an otherwise stellar career for Lucas, who was born and raised in rural western Tennessee and graduated from high school in 1939 as the class valedictorian.

    Former director of the Alabama NASA center during the Challenger space shuttle explosion dies at 102

    ABC NewsABC News·3M
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    This source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.
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    Center
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  3. Former NASA Director During Challenger Explosion Dies at 102

    The explosion and resulting shakeup within NASA overshadowed what was an otherwise stellar career for Lucas, who was born and raised in rural western Tennessee and graduated from high school in 1939 as the class valedictorian.

    Former NASA Director During Challenger Explosion Dies at 102

    NewsmaxNewsmax·3M
    Mixed Reliable
    This source has a mixed track record—sometimes accurate but also prone to bias, sensationalism, or incomplete reporting.
    ·
    Right
    This outlet favors right-wing views.
  1. Epoch Times
  2. ABC News
  3. Newsmax
Updated: Feb 16th, 2025, 11:47 PM ET

Summary

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William Ray Lucas, the director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center during the Challenger disaster, died at 102. He passed away at his Huntsville, Alabama home on February 15, 2025. Lucas oversaw the center during the tragic Challenger launch on January 28, 1986, which resulted in the deaths of all seven crew members, including Christa McAuliffe. A presidential commission later criticized NASA's safety protocols, but Lucas defended the launch decision. He had a distinguished career in space exploration, having joined the Marshall center in 1960, rising to director in 1974, before resigning shortly after the commission's findings.

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William Ray Lucas, Former NASA Leader, Dies at 102 - Pano News