This mini bio identifies the list of leaders in Aerospace . They are resilient who broke barriers as visionaries and
pioneers who went with their passion with full integrity for the better for the planet..
Resources Nasa
LEADING non US and US BLACK ASTRONAUTS
NASA
Robert Henry Lawrence- Born October 2, 1935 to December 8, 1967 Jr. First African-
American selected for astronaut training (1967) for the MOL program.undergraduate degree in chemistry
from Bradley University in 1956, Ph.D. in physical chemistry in 1965 from Ohio State University. Died in an aircraft
accident.
NASA
Livingston Holder- Born September 29, 1956 USAF ASTRONAUT. He holds a B.S. in Astronautical
Engineering from the United States Air Force Academy, and an M.S. in Systems Management from University of
Southern California
NO PHOTO
Michael E. Belt Born September 9, 1957 American photointerpreter payload specialist astronaut,
1988-1991. Sergeant First Class, USA; was selected in 1988 for TERRA SCOUT US-Army Project and was then
Backup of Thomas Hennen for STS-44; later on he worked at Fort Huachua, Arizona; he retired from U.S. Army in
1996
NASA
Yvonne Cagle Astronaut Born April 24, 1959 She holds a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from San
Francisco State University , a doctor of medicine degree from the University of Washington , received a
certificate in Aerospace Medicine from the School of Aerospace Medicine at Brooks Air Force Base, and received
certification as a senior aviation medical examiner from the Federal Aviation Administration .
NASA
Jeanette J Epps Astronaut – Born November 2,1970
She holds a bachelor in science degree in physics from Le Moyne College, and an M.S. and Ph.D in aerospace
engineering from the University of Maryland. She worked in research at Ford Motor Company, then as a Technical
Intelligence Officer with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
Her new role was given on June 10, 2014, NASA announced that Epps will serve as an Aquanaut aboard the
Aquarius underwater laboratory during the NEEMO 18 undersea exploration mission, scheduled to begin on July
21, 2014 and last nine days.
COURTSEY OF NASA
The World FIRST BLACK PERSON to become an Astronaut
NASA
Arnoldo Tamayo Mendez-Cuban born on September 18, 1980 Guantánamo, he was the first Cuban
citizen and the first person from a country in the Western Hemisphere other than the United States to travel into
earth orbit. As a member of the crew of Soyuz 38, he became the first Latin American and the first person of
African ancestry in space; he was proclaimed at the time as the first black cosmonaut.
Mission served on
Soyuz 38
AFRICAN AMERICANS who made flights and
officially walked in space
NASA
1-Guion Bluford – Born November 22, 1942: First African-American in the United States as an
astronaut to make flight into space. Graduated from Overbrook Senior High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
in 1960; received a bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering from Pennsylvania State University in
1964; a master of science degree with distinction in aerospace engineering from the Air Force Institute of
Technology in 1974; a doctor of philosophy in aerospace engineering with a minor in laser physics from the Air
Force Institute of Technology in 1978 and a master in business administration from the University of Houston,
Clear Lake, in 1987.
Missions served on
STS-8 (August 30, 1983)
(October 30, 1985)
STS-39(April 28, 1991)
STS-53 (December 2, 1992)
NASA
2-Ronald McNair – Born October 21, 1950- January 28, 1986 . He graduated from Carver High School, Lake
City, South Carolina, in 1967; received a bachelor of science degree in Physics from North Carolina A&T State
University in 1971 and a doctor of philosophy in Physics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1976;
presented an honorary doctorate of Laws from North Carolina A&T State University in 1978, an honorary
doctorate of Science from Morris College in 1980, and an honorary doctorate of science from the University of
South Carolina in 1984. Killed in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster
Mission Served on
STS-41-B February 3, 1984
STS- 51-L January 28, 1986