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Posts tagged as “space program”

BHM100*: Celebrating Guion “Guy” Bluford, Ron McNair and Frederick Gregory – the 1st African American Astronauts in Space

BHM100*: Celebrating Guion “Guy” Bluford, Ron McNair and Frederick Gregory – the 1st African American Astronauts in Space

By goodblacknews on February 5, 2026

You may have heard of Black astronauts like Mae Jemison, Charles Bolden or Victor Glover, but do you know about the first African-American astronauts or what they contributed to NASA’s space program?

Ronald McNair, Guion “Guy” Bluford and Frederick Gregory (photo via NASA.gov)

Guion “Guy” Bluford, Ron McNair and Frederick Gregory were the first three African-Americans in space. They were also NASA classmates in its famous “Class of 1978” – the first class to train women as astronauts (Sally Ride) as well as the first Asian-American man (Ellison Onizuka).

Guy Bluford graduated from Penn State and joined the Air Force in 1964 to become a pilot. Bluford was deployed to Vietnam and flew over 140 combat missions. After Vietnam, Bluford remained in the Air Force, using his skills to train future fighter pilots. In the 1970s, Bluford earned advanced degrees in aerospace engineering and eventually became chief of the Air Force’s aerospace laboratory.

Nigeria's Space Program Is Shooting for the Stars

By goodblacknews on March 30, 2013
(Photo: Getty Images)
Nigeria is beating the drums of optimism regarding its satellite-based space program in the hopes that the data collected will help the country with securing steady agricultural production.  The country currently has three satellites in orbit, and although Nigeria boasts one of Africa’s biggest space programs with some impressive accomplishments since its start in 2003, not everyone is sold on the plan. BBC reports:
The satellites are tracking crops and weather around the country in an effort to protect long-term food supply. There is also closer monitoring of the oil-rich Niger Delta, where there has been massive crude oil theft and environmental damage from oil spills.
Elijah Oyedeji is part of the team that worked on NigeriaSatX and found the initial task of building a satellite program from scratch quite daunting. “Eventually we were able to catch up,” he says.  But not all Nigerians are convinced by these space ambitions. “These projects are always impressive to the ear,” says Akintunde Badiru, a Lagos-based banker, “that’s why they are commissioned in the first place.”
“Let’s see whether they are still functioning after four or five years, then we will see if this is worth it,” he says.
Read the full story here.
article by Naeesa Aziz via bet.com