Who Was The First Black Astronaut?
Who was the first black astronaut?
There was a race to become the first African American astronaut in space. In fact, the first African American astronaut candidate was sent a letter in 1961 offering the opportunity to go to space. It didn't happen.
Guion Bluford known as "Guy" became the first Black Astronaut.
Guion Bluford made history on August 30, 1983, when he became the first African American to journey to space, after being launched into low Earth orbit aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger. He subsequently took part in three additional shuttle missions, amassing a total of 688 hours in space.
Prior to his admission into NASA's astronaut corps program, Guion Bluford served as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force, completing 144 combat missions during the Vietnam War. After his military service, he pursued higher education and obtained a master's degree in aerospace engineering in 1974, followed by a doctorate in aerospace engineering in 1978.
Bluford was among the 35 individuals chosen out of a pool of 10,000 applicants to participate in NASA's Astronaut Training Program.
Who was nearly the first African American Astronaut?
Dwight was one of the first African Americans to participate in an Air Force training program, from which NASA selected astronauts. He was well-liked, including by former President John F. Kennedy, who wanted to send a Black astronaut into space.
Dwight initially thought the idea of being the first Black astronaut was crazy when he received a letter offering him the opportunity. However, his mother convinced him to take the leap of faith and he became the first African-American astronaut candidate, considered a hero to the Black community.
Despite discrimination from his peers at Aerospace Research Pilot School, Dwight remained in the program for four years but was never selected to go to space. He eventually left the Air Force and started a successful career in construction.
Although he did not achieve his dream of going to space, Dwight found a new mission on earth. He has since created nearly 20,000 gallery pieces and over 130 memorials across the country honoring hidden figures of Black history, including a sculpture of himself.
