-
Guion Bluford Jr.
Born on November 22, 1942 in Philadelphia, Guion Bluford was the first African American astronaut. He was one of several astronauts that were recruited by Nichelle Nichols (she was an african american actress, singer and dancer who volunteered her time to promote NASA's programs and recruit diverse astronauts). -
Charles Bolden Jr.
Born in Columbia, South Carolina on August 19, 1946, Charles Bolden Jr. is the first African American to enter the agency on a permanent foundation. -
Mae C. Jemison
Born in Decatur, Alabama on October 17, 1956, Mae C. Jemison was the first African American female astronaut.The flights of Sally Ride and Guion Bluford in 1983 inspired Jemison to apply to the astronaut program.[4] Jemison first applied to NASA's astronaut training program in October 1985. In 1987 she was chosen out of roughly 2,000 applicants to be one of the fifteen people in the NASA Astronaut Group 12. -
Bernard A. Harris Jr.
Born on June 26, 1926 in Temple, Texas, Bernard A. Harris became the first African American to perform an extra-vehicular activity (spacewalk), during the second of his two Space Shuttle flights. Harris first became interested in being an astronaut watching the Apollo 11 mission on TV in 1969. Selected by NASA in January 1990, Harris became an astronaut in July 1991, and qualified for assignment as a mission specialist on future Space Shuttle flight crews. -
Stephanie Diana Wilson
Born in Boston, Massachusetts on September 27, 1966, Stephanie Diana Wilson is the second African American woman to go into space, after Mae Jemison. Selected by NASA as an astronaut candidate in April 1996, Wilson reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1996. She was initially assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office Space Station Operations Branch to work with Space Station payload displays and procedures. -
Robert Lee Curbeam Jr.
Born on March 5, 1962 in Baltimore, Maryland, Robert Lee Curbeam Jr. currently holds the record the most spacewalks. 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 three space flights and has logged over 901 hours in space, including over 45 hours during three spacewalks. -
Michael P. Anderson
Born on December 25, 1959 in Plattsburgh, New York, Michael P. Anderson and his six crewmates were killed in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster when the craft disintegrated during its re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere. -
Benjamin Alvin Drew
Born in Washington D.C. on November 5, 1962, Benjamin Alvin Drew became the 200th person in space on February 28, 2011. Selected as a mission specialist by NASA in July 2000, Drew reported for training in August 2000. Following the completion of two years of training and evaluation, he was assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office Station Operations Branch. -
Victor J. Glover
Born on April 30, 1976 Pomona, California, Victor J. Glover is the first African American on an ISS Expedition.Glover graduated from Ontario High School in 1994, where he was a quarterback and running back for the Jaguars, and was a recipient of the 1994 Athlete of the Year Award. Glover was introduced as one of the Astronaut Group 21 team in June 2013, completing training in 2015.Glover's first spacewalk, which lasted for more than six hours, it was a team effort. -
Michael Strahan
Michael Strahan flew to space on December 11, 2021 aboard the Blue Origin NS-19. At 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m), he became the tallest person to fly in space.