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Guion Bluford Facts & Worksheets

American aerospace engineer, former NASA astronaut, former United States Air Force officer, and fighter pilot Guion Stewart Bluford Jr. made history as the first African American to travel to space.

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American aerospace engineer, former NASA astronaut, former United States Air Force officer, and fighter pilot Guion Stewart Bluford Jr. was born on November 22, 1942, and made history as the first African American to travel to space. He remained a member of the United States Air Force and advanced to the rank of colonel while working for NASA. Between 1983 and 1992, he was on four Space Shuttle missions.

See the fact file below for more information about Guion Bluford, or you can download our 25-page Guion Bluford worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

PERSONAL LIFE

  • Bluford attended Philadelphia’s Overbrook High School and graduated in 1960. 
  • In 1964, he graduated from Penn State with a Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering; 
  • In 1974, he earned an MS in aerospace engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology. In 1978, Guion Bluford earned a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from AFIT. 
  • In 1987, he earned an MBA from the University of Houston Clear Lake. He also studied business at Penn’s prestigious Wharton School. His many interests include reading, exercising, running, playing racquetball, handball, scuba diving, and golf. In 1964, he wed Linda Tull, and they went on to have two sons, Guion III and James.

CAREER

  • After completing flight school at Williams Air Force Base on January 19, Bluford was commissioned as a pilot in the Aeromechanics Division and was chief of the Laboratory’s Aerodynamics and Airframe Branch. Several research publications on the topic of computational fluid dynamics have been published and presented by him. He has over 5,200 total hours in jets, including 1,300 hours as a T-38 instructor pilot. His jet experience spans the T-33, T-37, T-38, F-4C, U-2/TR-1, and F-5A/B. He is also a licensed commercial pilot with the Federal Aviation Administration.

Work at Nasa

  • In January of 1978, Bluford was chosen to join the ranks of NASA’s astronaut corps as a member of Group 8. As part of NASA’s initiative to expand the number of minorities and female astronauts, he was one of several people recruited by Nichelle Nichols. 
  • They spent a year training before being named astronauts in August of 1979. His technical duties have taken him to the Flight Systems Laboratory and the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory, where he verified flight software and assisted with payload safety issues, as well as worked on Space Station operations and the Remote Manipulator System, Spacelab systems and experiments, and Space Shuttle systems. The STS-8, STS-61-A, STS-39, and STS-53 missions all had Bluford as a specialist on board.
  • On August 30, 1983, Bluford’s first mission, STS-8, launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida. The third Orbiter Challenger flight was the first with a night launch and landing. The STS-8 crew deployed the Indian National Satellite 1B. It tested the Shuttle Remote Manipulator System or Canadarm with the Payload Flight Test Article. 
  • They also operated the Continuous Flow Electrophoresis System with live cell samples, measured the bio-physiological effects of space flight, and activated four “Getaway Special” canisters. STS-8 landed at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on September 5, 1983, after 145 hours and 98 Earth orbits.
  • Bluford then joined the crew of STS-61-A, the German D-1 Spacelab mission, which launched from Kennedy Space Center on October 30, 1985. It was the first space flight with eight crew members, the most extensive crew ever, including three European payload specialists. The German Aerospace Research Establishment led this dedicated Spacelab mission and the U.S. mission to relinquish payload control to a foreign government. 
  • The Global Low Orbiting Message Relay Satellite was deployed from a “Getaway Special”  container. Spacelab conducted 76 experiments in fluid physics, materials processing, life sciences, and navigation. It landed at Edwards Air Force Base on November 6, 1985, after 111 Earth orbits in 169 hours.
  • Bluford was on the Orbiter Discovery crew during STS-39, launched from Kennedy Space Center on April 28, 1991. With AFP-675, the crew collected aurora, Earth-limb, celestial, and Shuttle environment data. This payload included the Cryogenic Infrared Radiance Instrumentation for Shuttle 1A, Far Ultraviolet Camera, Uniformly Redundant Array, Quadrupole Ion Neutral Mass Spectrometer, and Horizon Ultraviolet Program experiments. 
  • The crew deployed and collected the infrared Background Signature Survey experiment SPAS-II. The crew operated Space Test Payload-1 and a secret MPEC payload. It landed at the Kennedy Space Center on May 6, 1991, after 134 Earth orbits and 199 hours.
  • STS-53 was launched from Kennedy Space Center on December 2, 1992, and was Bluford’s last mission. The five-person crew deployed DOD-1 and conducted Military-Man-in-Space and NASA experiments. It landed at Edwards Air Force Base on December 9, 1992, after 175 hours and 115 Earth orbits.
  • Bluford has 688 space hours after his fourth voyage. In December 1986, Eagle Scout Bluford was sent to Monument, Colorado, to return the Challenger flag to Boy Scout Troop 514. His flag was handed to the regiment at a Falcon Air Force Base special ceremony on December 18.

Career After Working at NASA

  • After his groundbreaking work at NASA, Guion S. Bluford, Jr. continued his career and studies in several fields. After leaving NASA, he went on to do many great things. Bluford returned to the United States Air Force until his retirement as a Colonel in 1993. 
  • He was promoted to high ranks throughout his service and honored with several medals and decorations. After leaving the military, Bluford enrolled in graduate school. In 1997, he graduated from the University of Houston with a Master of Business Administration.
  • Guion Bluford has also dabbled in the business sector with a corporate career. Among the many aerospace and technology firms where he worked as an executive was Northrop Grumman Corporation, where he was responsible for strategic planning and business development.
  • After leaving NASA, Bluford continued to advocate for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education. He has supported students from marginalized groups pursuing jobs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
  • Bluford has been in high demand as a public speaker, able to captivate an array of listeners with his stories and observations. He has utilized his prominence to encourage and guide future generations of scientists, engineers, and mathematicians.
  • Guion Bluford has been honored with various accolades throughout his career for his innovative work in aerospace, dedication to STEM education, and promotion of diversity in the field.
  • After leaving NASA, Guion S. Bluford has continued his commitment to aviation, space exploration, and education in many ways. He has made significant contributions to the military and the corporate sector. He has inspired the next generation of scientists and engineers.

Guion Bluford Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Guion Bluford across 25 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Guion Bluford. American aerospace engineer, former NASA astronaut, former United States Air Force officer, and fighter pilot Guion Stewart Bluford Jr. made history as the first African American to travel to space.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Guion Bluford Facts
  2. Aerospace Engineer
  3. Word Search
  4. Early Life
  5. Facts
  6. The Exploration
  7. Space Test
  8. Space Crews
  9. Imagine It
  10. The Legacy
  11. What Do You Think?

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Guion S. Bluford Jr.?

Guion S. Bluford Jr. is a retired NASA astronaut and former U.S. Air Force officer. He made history by becoming the first African American astronaut to travel to space.

When did Guion Bluford make his first spaceflight?

Guion Bluford made his first spaceflight on August 30, 1983, during the STS-8 mission of the Space Shuttle Challenger. This mission marked his historic achievement as the first African American in space.

How many spaceflights did Guion Bluford participate in?

Guion Bluford participated in a total of four spaceflights during his career as an astronaut. He flew on STS-8, STS-61-A, STS-39, and STS-53.

What were some of Guion Bluford’s notable contributions during his space missions?

During his space missions, Guion Bluford conducted various experiments and tasks related to space science, engineering, and national security. He contributed to research in areas such as materials science, remote sensing, and payload deployment.

When did Guion Bluford retire from NASA, and what has he done since then?

Guion Bluford retired from NASA in July 1993. After his retirement, he pursued a career in the aerospace industry and held various executive positions in companies. He has also been involved in promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education and encouraging young people, particularly minorities, to pursue careers in aerospace and science.

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