Ron McNair, Guy Bluford & Fred Gregory: NASA Astronaut Class of 1978 Members

Ron McNair, Guy Bluford & Fred Gregory: NASA Astronaut Class of 1978 Members

On January 16, 1978, NASA announced the first astronaut class in nine years. Dr. Ronald McNair, Guy Bluford and Fred Gregory were among those selected—the first African Americans in NASA's astronaut program. The Astronaut Class of 1978, otherwise known as the “Thirty-Five New Guys,” was NASA’s first new group of astronauts since 1969. This, the eighth astronaut group, was the first to include not only African Americans, but also women and Asian Americans.

Learn more about the Astronaut Class of 1978: https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/1978-astronaut-class

Over 40 Years of Inspiration: In 1983, NASA’s Guy Bluford broke barriers and made history as the first African American astronaut in space. He was a veteran of four Space Shuttle missions between 1983 and 1992.

Bluford’s first mission was STS-8, which launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on Aug. 30, 1983. This was the third flight for the Challenger orbiter, and the first mission with a night launch and night landing. During the mission, the STS-8 crew deployed the Indian National Satellite (INSAT-1B), operated the Canadian-built RMS with the Payload Flight Test Article (PFTA), operated the Continuous Flow Electrophoresis System (CFES) with live cell samples, conducted medical measurements to understand biophysiological effects of spaceflight, and activated four “Getaway Special” canisters. STS-8 completed 98 orbits of the Earth in 145 hours before landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on Sept. 5, 1983.

Learn more about NASA Astronaut Guy Bluford: 

https://www.nasa.gov/subject/11054/guy-bluford/

NASA Astronaut Guy Bluford Official Biography (PDF)

https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/bluford_guion.pdf

Image Credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Image Date: Jan. 16, 1978

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