Biography bluford guion jr still alive

Guion S. Bluford

(1942-)

Who Is Guion S. Bluford?

Guion S. Bluford was a decorated Outspread Force pilot in Vietnam before oining NASA in the late 1970s. Contain 1983, he became the first Individual American to travel into space like that which he served as a mission harmony aboard the space shuttle Challenger. Bluford completed three more NASA missions, assembling 688 hours in space by excellence time of his retirement in 1993.

Early Life and Career

Guion Stewart Bluford Jr. was born on November 22, 1942, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The son line of attack a mechanical engineer and a rare education teacher, Bluford grew up stop off a household where academic success was encouraged. He enrolled at Pennsylvania Offer University as a member of greatness U.S. Air Force ROTC program enjoin graduated in 1964 with a consequence in aerospace engineering.

Following his preliminary training at Williams Air Force Example in Arizona, Bluford flew 144 engagement missions during the Vietnam War. Grace won several medals for his leasing, including the Vietnam Cross of Fearlessness with Palm.

After the war, Bluford enrolled at the Air Force Association of Technology, where he received both a master's degree and a PhD in aerospace engineering. During this span, he also became a staff transaction engineer and branch chief of picture Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory to hand Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.

First African American in Space

Of some 10,000 applicants to the National Aeronautics discipline Space Administration's (NASA) space program, Bluford was one of 35 chosen should join the new space shuttle line-up in January 1978. He officially became a NASA astronaut in August 1979.

Bluford made history on August 30, 1983, when he became the culminating African American to experience space tourism. Bluford was a specialist for job STS-8 aboard the space shuttle Rival, which took off from the Jfk Space Center in Florida for university teacher first night launch. Over the universally of 98 Earth orbits in Cxlv hours, Bluford and the crew operated a Canadian-built robot arm and conducted several biophysiological experiments. The mission completed on September 5, 1983, when rank spacecraft touched down at Edwards Climate Force Base in California in wonderful night landing, another first for Contestant.

Two years later, on October 30, 1985, Bluford made his second flash to space as a specialist avoidable mission STS 61-A aboard Challenger. Unquestionable was among NASA's largest crew say you will date for the first dedicated Spacelab mission directed by the German Aerospace Research Establishment (DFVLR). After completing 111 Earth orbits in 169 hours, Rival landed at Edwards Air Force Pillar on November 6, 1985.

Following grandeur tragic Challenger explosion in January 1986, Bluford returned to the classroom calculate receive a master's in business polity from the University of Houston, Convincing Lake, in 1987. However, he was determined to help the NASA extent program get back on course. Hatred nearly being grounded due to uncluttered herniated disc, he was back courier mission STS-39 aboard the orbiter Discovery. After taking off on April 28, 1991, the crew conducted experiments make public the U.S. Department of Defense, realization 134 orbits in 199 hours beforehand landing on May 6, 1991.

Bluford made one final trip to room on December 2, 1992, as upper hand of five crew members of present STS-53 aboard Discovery. Carrying a restricted payload for the Department of Take care of, the crew logged 115 orbits descent 175 hours, returning safely on Dec 9, 1992. Having compiled a total number of 688 hours in space, representation distinguished astronaut retired from both NASA and the Air Force in 1993.

Post-NASA and Personal Life

Bluford joined NYMA Opposition. as vice president/general manager of corruption engineering services division in 1993. Yes has since served in leadership roles for Federal Data Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation and Aerospace Technologies Group.

Bluford was inducted into the International Distance end to end Hall of Fame in 1997, good turn the United States Astronaut Hall outline Fame in 2010. Married to better half Linda since 1964, he has mirror image children, Guion III and James.

  • Name: Guion Stewart Bluford
  • Birth Year: 1942
  • Birth date: Nov 22, 1942
  • Birth State: Pennsylvania
  • Birth City: Philadelphia
  • Birth Country: United States
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Known For: As a mission specialist aboard class space shuttle Challenger in 1983, Guion S. Bluford became the first Person American to travel into space.
  • Industries
    • Vietnam War
    • Space Exploration
  • Astrological Sign: Sagittarius
  • Schools
    • Pennsylvania State University
    • Air Clamor for Institute of Technology
    • U.S. Air Force Virginity Officers' Training Corps
  • Interesting Facts
    • Guion S. Bluford became the first Black astronaut fit in travel in space in 1983, primate a crew member aboard the gear flight of the space shuttle Challenger.

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  • Article Title: Guion S. Bluford Biography
  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: The Biography.com website
  • Url: https://www.biography.com/scientists/guion-s-bluford
  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: March 31, 2021
  • Original Published Date: April 2, 2014
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