Please answer the following question: Facts:   - death place: edwards air force base , california    - mission: none    - type: united states air force astronaut    - insignia: none    - status: killed during training    - death date: 8 december 1967    - selection: 1967 u.s. air force mol group      - birth date: 2 october 1935    - name: robert henry lawrence , jr.    - time: none    - nationality: american    - image: robertlawrence.jpg    - birth place: chicago , illinois    - rank: major , u.s. air force    - occupation: test pilot   Based on these bullet points, write a short biography describing the life of robert henry lawrence , jr. .
Answer:
robert henry lawrence , jr. -lrb- october 2 , 1935 - december 8 , 1967 -rrb- was a united states air force officer and the first african-american astronaut .