[16] In 2006, Bluford was recognized as a distinguished alumnus of Penn State by being selected as the Grand Marshal for his alma mater's Homecoming celebration.[17]. Bluford was born in Philadelphia and graduated from Overbrook High School in 1960. After 145 hours in space, the crew returned to Edwards Air Force Base on Sept. 5. Guion Stewart Bluford Jr. is a retired United States Air Force officer and fighter pilot, as well as a former NASA astronaut. Bluford became intrigued with flying at a very early age. As a mission specialist aboard the space shuttle Challenger in 1983, Guion S. Bluford became the first African American to travel into space. As a mission specialist aboard the space shuttle Challenger in 1983, Guion S. Bluford became the first African American to travel into space. He won several medals for his service, including the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm. Throughout his space career, Bluford left Earth four times, logging more than 700 hours in orbit on the space shuttles Discovery and Challenger. Guion Bluford is still alive and well good at the age of 80. Their goal: deploying an Indian communication satellite. In 1993, he retired from NASA and the United States Air Force to become the Vice President/General Manager of the Engineering Services Division of NYMA Inc. Blueford was simply granted the 2021 Air Force ROTC Distinguished Alumnus Award. Did African American's Impact The Space In the year 1985, Guion Bluford flew as a task specialist on STS-61A and guided the international on-orbit payload group in the training and on-orbit functions of 76 experiments in the German D-1 Spacelab. After compiling 688 total hours in space Bluford announced his retirement in 1993. The son of a mechanical engineer and a special education teacher, Bluford grew up in a household where academic success was encouraged. Then, he flew on STS-53, which was a classified Space Shuttle flight. Bluford left NASA and the Air Force to become Vice President/General manager of Engineering Services Division. This Is the Crew of the Artemis II Mission, Name: Guion Stewart Bluford, Birth Year: 1942, Birth date: November 22, 1942, Birth State: Pennsylvania, Birth City: Philadelphia, Birth Country: United States. Heres the whole lot about his spouse and his well being replace in 2022. Guion Phsabonglive com Effective June 1, First Term Airmen can retrain into AFSCs under 90% manning in lieu of separation, Kendall explains why success in space requires transformational change, Air Force chief of staff visits Cannon AFB, New AF surgeon general program enhances support for EFMP families, Airmen, Guardians, Food Summit looks to future of 27-plus DAF stateside dining operations, Yokota AB AFWERX team seeks to invest, innovate, inform, DAFs first Data, Analytics, AI Forum open for registration, 3D printed parts for the C-5M deliver new capabilities, AFMC establishes Connect to Care construct, Total Force MAF leaders execute rehearsal of concept for Mobility Guardian 23, PACAF hosts US, Japan civil engineer key leader engagement forum, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Know More about Him Here. History Month billboards salute African Americans