Guion Bluford
American astronaut / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Guion Stewart Bluford Jr., Ph.D. (born November 22, 1942), (Col, USAF, Ret.), is an American aerospace engineer, retired U.S. Air Force officer and fighter pilot, and former NASA astronaut.
Quick Facts Born, Status ...
Guion Bluford | |
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Born | Guion Stewart Bluford Jr. (1940-11-22) November 22, 1940 (age 83) |
Status | Retired |
Nationality | American |
Alma mater | Penn State, B.S. 1964 AFIT, M.S. 1974, Ph.D. 1978 UHCL, MBA 1987 |
Occupation(s) | Fighter pilot, engineer |
Space career | |
NASA Astronaut | |
Rank | Colonel, USAF |
Time in space | 28d 16h 33m |
Selection | 1978 NASA Group 8 |
Missions | STS-8, STS-61-A , STS-39, STS-53 |
Mission insignia | |
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Bluford was the first African American in space.[1] Before becoming an astronaut, he was an officer in the U.S. Air Force, where he remained while assigned to NASA, rising to the rank of Colonel. He participated in four Space Shuttle flights between 1983 and 1992. In 1983, as a member of the crew of the Orbiter Challenger on the mission STS-8.