Major Robert Lawrence Memorial Tribute

State Rep. Thad Altman, president of the Astronauts Memorial Foundation (AMF), speaks during a tribute honoring U.S. Air Foce Maj. Robert Lawrence. Selected in 1967 for the Manned Orbiting Laboratory Program, Lawrence was the first African-American astronaut. He lost his life in a training accident 50 years ago. The ceremony took place in the Center for Space Education at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.