• For more than 25 years, African-American 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.

• Black History First: In 1983, Bluford became the first African-American 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.

Guion S. Bluford Jr.

Check out Bluford’s biographyhttp://www.nmspacemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.php?id=134(International Space Hall of Fame)

• 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)

Frederick D. Gregory

• 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.

Mae C. Jemison

Watch this video interview with Jemison.http://www.researchchannel.org/prog/displayevent.aspx?rid=2917

(Rutgers University)

• 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.

Dr. Bernard A. Harris Jr.

Watch this video biography about Harris.http://www.horatioalger.org/video/Harris.html

(Horatio Alger Association)

• 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.

Charles F. Bolden Jr.

Listen to this stellar conversation with Bolden. http://sitemason.vanderbilt.edu/news/audio/2007/05/09/stellar-conversations-an-insiders-look-at-the-space-shuttle-with-astronaut-charlie-bolden.57909

(Vanderbilt University)

• 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.

Stephanie D. Wilson

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

Scholastic Classroom Magaines. www.scholastic.com/juniorscholasticPhoto Credits: Type over this text when you have the credits. Photo Credits: Type over this text when you have the credits. Photo Credits: Type over this text when you have the credits. Photo Credits: Type over this text when you have the credits. Photo Credits: Type over this text when you have the credits.

• NASA: Challenging the Space Frontierhttp://teacher.scholastic.com/space

an online activity for students

• Interview with Maehttp://teacher.scholastic.com/space/mae_jemison/interview.htm

transcript of an interview with Jemison conducted by students

• Black Wings: African-American Pioneer Aviatorshttp://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3751234 a lesson plan for teachers