United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration records

In the 1960's, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration established a number of programs for space exploration, including the Surveyor, Pioneer 4, Ranger and Apollo programs. In order to develop the new technology needed to accomplish the goals of these programs, centers were built around the country to conduct research. The Electronics Research Center was opened in September 1964 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Research at the Electronics Research Center was conducted in many areas, including microwave and laser communications, computer and data processing, guidance and control systems, holography, and space optics. During the late 1960s NASA began to eliminate major programs and staff. While other space centers shrank, however, the Electronics Research Center's personnel and budget grew. In 1970, the Electronic Research Center was closed. Some of its work was transferred to the United States Department of Transportation's Transportation Systems Center, which succeeded the Electronics Research Center in occupying the facilities in Cambridge. In 1986, NASA scheduled the Space Shuttle Challenger for launch. One member of the crew was payload specialist, Gregory Jarvis. Jarvis was originally from Mohawk, NY and graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1967 with a degree in electrical engineering. Jarvis then received a Masters in electrical engineering in 1969 from Northeastern University. After graduation, Jarvis spent four years in the United States Air Force. He was discharged in 1973 and went on to work for the Hughes Aircraft Company for 13 years. He was chosen by the company to work for the Space Program as a possible astronaut. Jarvis was the first non-military payload specialist to man a space shuttle. On January 28, 1986 the Challenger was launched and 73 seconds after take-off exploded, killing all seven members of the crew.