• For more than 25 years, AfricanAmerican astronauts have
contributed to the success and
science of space exploration.
• Let’s celebrate six men and
women who have helped change
the course of U.S. space travel.
Guion S. Bluford Jr.
• Black History First: In 1983,
Bluford became the first AfricanAmerican to visit outer space.
• Missions: Four flights into outer
space—including the maiden voyage
of the space shuttle Challenger
• Background: Bluford was born
in 1942. He was a pilot in the U.S.
Air Force.
Check out Bluford’s biography
http://www.nmspacemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.php?id=134
(International Space Hall of Fame)
Frederick D. Gregory
• Black History First: Gregory became
the first African-American to command
a space flight in 1989.
• Missions: Gregory went on three
space flights. He piloted one mission
and commanded the other two.
• Background: Gregory was born in
1941. Before flying through outer
space, he flew in the U.S. Air Force.
Watch this video about Gregory’s first flight.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1681526156963136186
(National Space Society)
Mae C. Jemison
• Black History First: In 1992, Jemison
became the first African-American
woman to travel to outer space.
• Mission: Jemison served on the space
shuttle Endeavour’s maiden voyage.
• Background: Born in 1956, Jemison
became a medical doctor. She conducted
medical experiments during her time in
outer space.
Watch this video interview with Jemison.
http://www.researchchannel.org/prog/displayevent.aspx?rid=2917
(Rutgers University)
Dr. Bernard A. Harris Jr.
• Black History First: Harris became the
first African-American astronaut to walk
in outer space, in 1995.
• Missions: Harris flew twice—once on
an international mission with Russian
astronauts in 1993.
• Background: Harris was born in 1956.
He joined the National Space and
Aeronautics Administration as a
medical doctor.
Watch this video biography about Harris.
http://www.horatioalger.org/video/Harris.html
(Horatio Alger Association)
Charles F. Bolden Jr.
• Black History First: Bolden is the first
African-American to oversee NASA on
a permanent basis.
• Missions: Bolden piloted two of his
four space missions.
• Background: Bolden was born in
1946. Before he became an astronaut,
Bolden was a U.S. Marine.
Listen to this stellar conversation with Bolden.
http://sitemason.vanderbilt.edu/news/audio/2007/05/09/stellar-conversationsan-insiders-look-at-the-space-shuttle-with-astronaut-charlie-bolden.57909
(Vanderbilt University)
Stephanie D. Wilson
• Making History: One of NASA’s active
astronauts, Wilson is scheduled for
space travel again in March 2010.
• Missions: Wilson flew on the space
shuttle Discovery twice—once in 2006
and once in 2007.
• Background: She was born in 1966,
and studied aerospace engineering, the
technology of space travel, in college.
Read about Wilson and NASA’s astronaut swimming test.
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/jscfeatures/articles/000000576.html
(NASA)
Visit these Web sites for more
resources about space exploration
• NASA: Challenging the Space Frontier
http://teacher.scholastic.com/space
an online activity for students
• Interview with Mae
http://teacher.scholastic.com/space/mae_jemison/interview.htm
transcript of an interview with Jemison conducted by students
• Black Wings: African-American
Pioneer Aviators
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3751234
a lesson plan for teachers
Scholastic Classroom Magaines. www.scholastic.com/juniorscholastic
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