1914-1995

African American Astrophysicist

As mathematician for the U.S. Army's Project Diana in 1946, Walter S. McAfee helped advance lunar exploration in its earliest stages. His calculations made it possible to bounce a radar signal off the Moon, thus confirming that radio contact would be possible across space. An African American, he did not receive credit for his contributions until many years later.

Born in Ore City, Texas, on September 2, 1914, McAfee was the second of nine children to Luther (a carpenter) and Susie McAfee. He earned his bachelor's degree at Wiley College in 1934 and went on to earn an M.S. at Ohio State University in 1937. He would have continued his graduate studies at that point but, lacking funds, taught physics at a Columbus, Ohio, junior high school from 1939 to 1942. During this time, he met French teacher Viola Winston, whom he married in 1941. They...