Forty-five years ago, the United States became the first and only nation to put feet on the ground on the moon.
Astronaut Neil Armstrong‘s legendary line, “One small step for man … giant leap for mankind,” will continue to resonate in the hearts of Americans for generations to come.
Armstrong died in 2012, but he leaves behind a group of extraordinary men and women who put their lives on the line each year by going further and further into the unknown, journeying to realms where few have traveled before.
In celebration of the 45th anniversary of the moon landing we are taking a look at the extraordinary people of color who have followed in the footsteps of Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and other astronauts who have blasted beyond the earth’s orbit.
And in a society and demographic where children aspire to be sports stars and music legends, let’s take a look at the men and women who grew up to fulfill the dream of going into space.
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Guion S. Bluford, Jr
Bluford is the first African American to blast into the next frontier.
Bluford became a NASA astronaut in August 1979. He was a veteran of four space flights or shuttle missions, and a mission specialist. He told NASA, “All of us knew that one of us would eventually step into that role. I probably told people that I would probably prefer not being in that role … because I figured being the No. 2 guy would probably be a lot more fun.”
His first flight— STS-8 aboard Challenger— soared into space August 1983.
According to Space.com, Bluford’s last flight in December 1992 was primarily to release a classified payload for the Department of Defense. He left NASA in July 1993 and retired from the Air Force.
Jemison has the prestigious distinction of being the first black female United States astronaut. She was admitted into the astronaut training program, June 4, 1987.
In 1992, she became the first African American woman to blast into space doing so aboard the Endeavour.
From January 1983 through June 1985, Dr. Jemison was the Area Peace Corps Medical Officer for Sierra Leone and Liberia in West Africa.
In completing her first space flight, Dr. Jemison logged 190 hours, 30 minutes, 23 seconds in space. She left NASA in March 1993.
Michael Anderson
U.S. Astronaut Michael Anderson was killed Feb. 1, 2003 over the southern United States when Space Shuttle Columbia and her crew perished during entry, 16 minutes prior to scheduled landing. He is survived by his wife, Sandy Anderson and children.
Selected by NASA in December 1994, Anderson reported to the Johnson Space Center in March 1995. He completed a year of training and evaluation, and was qualified for flight crew assignment as a mission specialist. Anderson was initially assigned technical duties in the Flight Support Branch of the Astronaut Office. Anderson flew on STS-89 and STS-107, logging over 593 hours in space.
Stephanie D. Wilson
Wilson flew her first mission in space on board the Space Shuttle mission STS-121, and is the second African American woman to make it out there after Mae Jemison.
Wilson was selected by NASA in April 1996. She is a veteran of three space flights and logged more than 42 days in space.
Bernard Harris Jr
Dr. Bernard Harris Jr. is the first African American to walk in space. He was the Payload Commander on STS-63 (February 2-11, 1995), the first flight of a new joint Russian-American Space Program. He logged 198 hours, 29 minutes in space, completed 129 orbits, and traveled over 2.9 million miles.
Winston E. Scott
In 1992, Scott was selected by NASA for astronaut training. He later served as a mission specialist on STS-72 Endeavour during its nine day mission from Jan. 11, 1996 to July 20, 1996. Scott conducted one spacewalk to demonstrate and evaluate techniques later used in the assembly of the International Space Station. Scott performed three spacewalks, including one that lasted over seven hours and involved the manual capture of a Spartan satellite. He logged a total of 24 days, 14 hours and 34 minutes in space, his three spacewalks totaled 19 hours and 26 minutes. He retired from NASA and the U.S. Navy.
Ronald E. McNair
In 1984, NASA physicist Ronald E. McNair became the second African American man to fly in space. Tragically, McNair died just two years later when the shuttle Challenger exploded less than two minutes after launch.
A star athlete, honor student, skillful musician, and karate champion, he set a goal of getting his Ph.D. within 10 years of graduation from high school.
After his death, members of Congress provided funding for the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program to encourage minority, low-income, and first generation college students to expand their educational opportunities and pursue graduate studies.
Robert L. Curbeam, Jr.
Selected by NASA in December 1994, Curbeam reported to the Johnson Space Center in March 1995.
After completing a year of training and evaluation, he was assigned to the Computer Support Branch in the Astronaut Office. He is a veteran of two space flights, STS-85 in 1997 and STS-98 in 2001, and has logged over 593 hours in space, including over 19 EVA hours during three spacewalks. A veteran of three space flights, Curbeam has logged over 901 hours in space, including 7 EVAs (space walks) totaling 45 hours and 34 minutes. In November 2007, Curbeam retired from the Navy and NASA in order to pursue a career in the private sector.
Charles F. Bolden, Jr.
Selected by NASA in May 1980, Maj. Gen. Charles Frank Bolden (RTD) was a veteran of four space flights with over 680 hours in space. He was nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the 12th Administrator of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration. He began his duties as head of the agency on July 17, 2009. As Administrator, Bolden leads a nationwide NASA team to advance the missions and goals of the U.S. space program.Leland D. Melvin
Melvin accomplished two dreams. He was drafted by the NFL and flew into space.
He was selected by NASA in June 1998.
He was chosen by the Detroit Lions in the 11th round of the 1986 NFL college draft.
Melvin was well on his way to stardom when an injury sidelined his aspirations.