Space & Military
Black Firsts in Space & Military
From the first Black general in the U.S. Army to the first Black astronaut, these are the men and women who broke barriers in the final frontier and on the front lines.
6 firsts documented
space 1983 Who Was the First Black Astronaut? Guion S. Bluford Jr. Air Force officer and aerospace engineer who launched aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger, becoming the first Black American in space. space 1992 Who Was the First Black Woman in Space? Mae C. Jemison Physician, chemical engineer, and mission specialist who orbited Earth 127 times aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour. space 1989 Who Was the First Black Astronaut to Command a Space Shuttle? Frederick D. Gregory Commanded Discovery on STS-33 and later served as NASA Deputy Administrator. space 1961 Who Was the First Black Astronaut Candidate? Ed Dwight Air Force pilot championed by President Kennedy for the astronaut corps. Passed over in 1963, he finally flew to space at age 90 in 2024. military 1940 Who Was the First Black General in the U.S. Army? Benjamin O. Davis Sr. Promoted to brigadier general after more than 40 years of military service, breaking the highest barrier in the U.S. armed forces. military 1989 Who Was the First Black Chairman of the Joint Chiefs? Colin Powell Served as the highest-ranking military officer in the United States under three presidents before becoming Secretary of State.