Up in Space
Who was Guion Bluford, Jr.?
Guion Stewart Bluford, Jr. is an aerospace engineer, retired United States Air Force officer, fighter pilot, and former NASA astronaut. Bluford attended Overbrook High School and graduated in 1960. He then attended Pennsylvania State University and received a Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace engineering. He also attended the United States Air Force Institute of Technology, the University of Houston Clear Lake, and Wharton School of Business, receiving a Master of Science degree, a Doctor of Philosophy degree – in Aerospace Engineering – and a Master of Business Administration degree.
In January 1966 Bluford received his pilot wings. He then entered the United States Air Force Institute of Technology residency school from 1972-1974. After graduating with his master’s degree, Bluford was assigned to the Air Force Flight Dynamic Laboratory, as a staff development engineer. According to NASA, he logged over 688 hours in space.
In January 1978, Bluford was selected to become a NASA astronaut, as a part of NASA astronaut group 8. He was one of 35 individuals selected from 10,000 applicants. They trained for a year and were officially designated as astronauts in August 1979. His first mission was on August 30th, 1983 and was launched from Kennedy Space Center.
Guion Bluford, Jr., left NASA and retied from the Air Force in July 1933.
In May 1997 Bluford became Vice President of the Aerospace Sector of Federal Data Corporation. He also served as the Vice President of Microgravity R&D and Operations for the Northrop Grumman Corporation from 2000-2002. Bluford was also inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame in 1997, the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2010, and the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2019.
Books
*Kids*
The Adventures of Us: Getting to Know Guion Bluford Jr. | Tierra Haynes
Space Challenger: The Story of Guion Bluford: an Authorized Biography | James Haskins
*Adults*
Guion Bluford: A Space Biography | Laura S. Jeffrey
Movie(s) | Film(s) | Documentaries'
GUION - 2018
Source(s)
1. "Biographical Data." NASA, May 2019, bluford_guion.pdf (nasa.gov)
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