List of African-American astronauts facts for kids
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African-American astronauts are brave Americans of African descent who have traveled into space or trained to become astronauts. They have made amazing contributions to space exploration!
Contents
African-American Astronauts
Astronauts Who Flew to Space
Here are some of the incredible African-American astronauts who have journeyed into space:
Guion Bluford (born November 22, 1942) He was the very first African-American astronaut to fly into space! He made history on August 30, 1983. * Missions: STS-8 (1983), STS-61-A (1985), STS-39 (1991), STS-53 (1992)
Ronald McNair (born October 21, 1950; died January 28, 1986) Ron was the first Baháʼí in space. Sadly, he passed away during the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986. * Missions: STS-41-B (1984), STS-51-L (1986)
Frederick D. Gregory (born January 7, 1941) He was the first African American to pilot and command a Space Shuttle mission. He even served as the acting head of NASA for a while in 2005. * Missions: STS-51-B (1985), STS-33 (1989), STS-44 (1991)
Charles Bolden (born August 19, 1946) Charles Bolden later became the Administrator of NASA, leading the entire space agency from 2009 to 2017. * Missions: STS-61-C (1986), STS-31 (1990), STS-45 (1992), STS-60 (1994)
Mae Jemison (born October 17, 1956) Mae Jemison was the first African-American woman to travel into space! She flew on the Space Shuttle in 1992. * Mission: STS-47 (1992)
Bernard A. Harris Jr. (born June 26, 1956) He was the first African American to walk in space, which is called a spacewalk! * Missions: STS-55 (1993), STS-63 (1995)
Winston E. Scott (born August 6, 1950) Winston Scott is a veteran astronaut who completed three spacewalks during his missions. * Missions: STS-72 (1996), STS-87 (1997)
Robert Curbeam (born March 5, 1962) Robert Curbeam has completed an amazing seven spacewalks, helping to build and repair things in space! * Missions: STS-85 (1997), STS-98 (2001), STS-116 (2006)
Michael P. Anderson (born December 25, 1959; died February 1, 2003) Michael Anderson sadly died in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003. * Missions: STS-89 (1998), STS-107 (2003)
Stephanie Wilson (born September 27, 1966) Stephanie Wilson is an experienced astronaut with multiple space flights. * Missions: STS-121 (2006), STS-120 (2007), STS-131 (2010)
Joan Higginbotham (born August 3, 1964) Joan Higginbotham flew on a Space Shuttle mission to help build the International Space Station. * Mission: STS-116 (2006)
Alvin Drew (born November 5, 1962) Alvin Drew is a veteran of two spacewalks, which he performed in 2011. * Missions: STS-118 (2007), STS-133 (2011)
Leland D. Melvin (born February 15, 1964) Leland Melvin later became a leader in education at NASA, inspiring young people. * Missions: STS-122 (2008), STS-129 (2009)
Robert Satcher (born September 22, 1965) Robert Satcher performed spacewalks in 2009 during his mission. * Mission: STS-129 (2009)
Victor J. Glover (born April 30, 1976) Victor Glover was the first African-American astronaut to join an expedition crew on the International Space Station (ISS). * Mission: SpaceX Crew-1 (2020)
Sian Proctor (born March 28, 1970) Sian Proctor was the first African-American female spacecraft pilot. She flew on a special mission called Inspiration4, which was the first all-civilian spaceflight. * Mission: Inspiration4 (2021)
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Michael Strahan (born November 21, 1971) Michael Strahan, a famous TV personality, became the first African-American space tourist. * Mission: Blue Origin NS-19 (2021)
Jessica Watkins (born May 14, 1988) Jessica Watkins is the first African-American woman to be a crew member on an ISS expedition. * Mission: SpaceX Crew-4 (2022)
- Jaison Robinson (born September 25, 1980)
Jaison Robinson flew on a suborbital spaceflight. * Mission: Blue Origin NS-21 (2022)
Jeanette J. Epps (born November 2, 1970) Jeanette Epps joined a mission to the International Space Station in 2024. * Mission: SpaceX Crew-8 (2024)
Astronauts Who Trained but Did Not Fly
Some amazing individuals trained to be astronauts but did not get to fly into space. Their contributions were still very important!
Robert Henry Lawrence Jr. (born October 2, 1935; died December 8, 1967) He was the very first African-American astronaut ever selected for training in 1967. Sadly, he passed away in an aircraft accident before he could fly.
Livingston L. Holder Jr. (born September 29, 1956) He was a U.S. Air Force astronaut in a special program.
- Michael E. Belt (born September 9, 1957)
Michael Belt was an astronaut and payload specialist for a U.S. Army project. He trained for nine months as a backup for a Space Shuttle mission.
Yvonne Cagle (born April 24, 1959) Yvonne Cagle has held important management roles at NASA.
See also
- Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez, the first person of African descent and first Afro-Latino to fly in space.
