E-mail a friendFebruary 23, 2005
Fred Gregory, NASA's newly appointed acting chief, talks about the causes and aftermath of the Challenger disaster. Rapper-actor Ludacris explains how he writes his lyrics and reflects on the evolution of hip-hop.
Frederick Gregory
Frederick Gregory
Frederick Gregory, NASA's first African American shuttle commander, was recently named as acting chief of the space agency. A veteran astronaut, he logged more than 455 hours during three space shuttle missions - twice as commander. He's also served in several key NASA posts, including Deputy Administrator, the number two position, and head of the safety office. Gregory is a retired Air Force colonel and former combat pilot, who flew 550 combat missions over Vietnam. Last year, he was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame.
Ludacris
Ludacris
Grammy-nominated rapper Ludacris grew up with old-school influences. At age 12, he joined a Chicago-based hip-hop group, The Loudmouth Hooligans. He soon moved to Atlanta and wound up producing a new urban radio show. He started rapping on station promos and became as recognizable as some of the DJs. He saved enough money to release the album, "Incognegro," which caught the ear of Def Jam Records' president. Ludacris' latest release is 'Red Light District.' He also stars in the films Crash and Hustle & Flow.