Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Digitized from Official NASA film 2026 by Jon's son, Jon McBride II. To quote Jon "I am digitizing some old family film reels. While not the most exciting thing in film, it has certainly been an odyssey. This was circa late 1977, early 1978 - just after my dad was selected by NASA for the Space Shuttle Program - when we still lived in California and he was with VX-4, The Evaluators.
From hearing my dad say his trademark "how ya doin' pahdna," to seeing my mom, sister, and me while my dad, brother, and friend played basketball brings back memories."
About Jon Sr...
EXPERIENCE: McBride's naval service began in 1965 with flight training at Pensacola, Florida. After winning his wings as a
naval aviator, he was assigned to Fighter Squadron 101 based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia, for training in the F-4
"Phantom II" aircraft. He was subsequently assigned to Fighter Squadron 41 where he served 3 years as a fighter pilot and
division officer. He has also served tours with Fighter Squadrons 11 and 103. While deployed to Southeast Asia, McBride flew
64 combat missions.
He attended the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base prior to reporting to Air Test and Development
Squadron Four at Point Mugu, California, where he served as maintenance officer and Sidewinder project officer. He has flown
over 40 different types of military and civilian aircraft and piloted the Navy "Spirit of '76" bicentennial-painted F-4J "Phantom
in various air shows during 1976, 1977, and 1978. He holds current FAA ratings which include commercial pilot (multi-
engine), instrument, and glider; and he previously served as a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI).
He has logged more than 8,800 hours flying time--including 4,700 hours in jet aircraft. 1979.
NASA EXPERIENCE: Selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in January 1978, McBride became an astronaut in August
1979. His NASA assignments have included lead chase pilot for the maiden voyage of Columbia; software verification in the
Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL); capsule communicator (CAPCOM) for STS-5, STS-6, and STS-7; Flight Data
File (FDF) Manager, and orbital rendezvous procedures development.
McBride was pilot of STS 41-G, which launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on October 5, 1984, aboard the Orbiter
Challenger. This was the first crew of seven. During their eight day mission, crew members deployed the Earth Radiation
Budget Satellite, conducted scientific observations of the earth with the OSTA-3 pallet and Large Format Camera, and
demonstrated potential satellite refueling with an EVA and associated hydrazine transfer. Mission duration was 197 hours and
concluded with a landing at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on October 13, 1984.
McBride was scheduled to fly next in March 1986, as the commander of STS 61-E crew. This flight was one of several
deferred by NASA in the wake of the Challenger accident in January 1986.
On July 30, 1987, McBride was assigned to NASA Headquarters to serve as Assistant Administrator for Congressional
Relations, with responsibility for NASA's relationship with Congress, and for providing coordination and direction to all
Headquarters and Field Center communications with Congressional support organizations. He held this post from September
1987 through March 1989. In 1988 McBride was named to command the crew of the STS-35 (ASTRO-1) mission, scheduled
for launch in March 1990.
In May 1989, Captain McBride retired from NASA and the Navy, in order to pursue a business career.
Jon McBride died on August 7, 2024, at the age of 80.
Above from his NASA Biographical Data at....
nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/mcbride_jon.pdf?emrc=6a7182e93ae91
Film provided by Jon McBride II to American Space Museum for publication on YouTube.
ASM IT MANAGER & TECHNICAL SUPPORT: Bruce Landon Jacobs
Digitized from Official NASA film 2026 by Jon's son, Jon McBride II. To quote Jon "I am digitizing some old family film reels. While not the most exciting thing in film, it has certainly been an odyssey. This was circa late 1977, early 1978 - just after my dad was selected by NASA for the Space Shuttle Program - when we still lived in California and he was with VX-4, The Evaluators.
From hearing my dad say his trademark "how ya doin' pahdna," to seeing my mom, sister, and me while my dad, brother, and friend played basketball brings back memories."
About Jon Sr...
EXPERIENCE: McBride's naval service began in 1965 with flight training at Pensacola, Florida. After winning his wings as a
naval aviator, he was assigned to Fighter Squadron 101 based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia, for training in the F-4
"Phantom II" aircraft. He was subsequently assigned to Fighter Squadron 41 where he served 3 years as a fighter pilot and
division officer. He has also served tours with Fighter Squadrons 11 and 103. While deployed to Southeast Asia, McBride flew
64 combat missions.
He attended the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base prior to reporting to Air Test and Development
Squadron Four at Point Mugu, California, where he served as maintenance officer and Sidewinder project officer. He has flown
over 40 different types of military and civilian aircraft and piloted the Navy "Spirit of '76" bicentennial-painted F-4J "Phantom
in various air shows during 1976, 1977, and 1978. He holds current FAA ratings which include commercial pilot (multi-
engine), instrument, and glider; and he previously served as a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI).
He has logged more than 8,800 hours flying time--including 4,700 hours in jet aircraft. 1979.
NASA EXPERIENCE: Selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in January 1978, McBride became an astronaut in August
1979. His NASA assignments have included lead chase pilot for the maiden voyage of Columbia; software verification in the
Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL); capsule communicator (CAPCOM) for STS-5, STS-6, and STS-7; Flight Data
File (FDF) Manager, and orbital rendezvous procedures development.
McBride was pilot of STS 41-G, which launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on October 5, 1984, aboard the Orbiter
Challenger. This was the first crew of seven. During their eight day mission, crew members deployed the Earth Radiation
Budget Satellite, conducted scientific observations of the earth with the OSTA-3 pallet and Large Format Camera, and
demonstrated potential satellite refueling with an EVA and associated hydrazine transfer. Mission duration was 197 hours and
concluded with a landing at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on October 13, 1984.
McBride was scheduled to fly next in March 1986, as the commander of STS 61-E crew. This flight was one of several
deferred by NASA in the wake of the Challenger accident in January 1986.
On July 30, 1987, McBride was assigned to NASA Headquarters to serve as Assistant Administrator for Congressional
Relations, with responsibility for NASA's relationship with Congress, and for providing coordination and direction to all
Headquarters and Field Center communications with Congressional support organizations. He held this post from September
1987 through March 1989. In 1988 McBride was named to command the crew of the STS-35 (ASTRO-1) mission, scheduled
for launch in March 1990.
In May 1989, Captain McBride retired from NASA and the Navy, in order to pursue a business career.
Jon McBride died on August 7, 2024, at the age of 80.
Above from his NASA Biographical Data at....
nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/mcbride_jon.pdf?emrc=6a7182e93ae91
Film provided by Jon McBride II to American Space Museum for publication on YouTube.
ASM IT MANAGER & TECHNICAL SUPPORT: Bruce Landon Jacobs
