1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:01,920 Speaker 1: This Day in History Class is a production of I 2 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:12,640 Speaker 1: Heart Radio, Hello and Welcome to This Day in History Class, 3 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:16,639 Speaker 1: a show that rockets through history one story at a time. 4 00:00:17,560 --> 00:00:20,920 Speaker 1: I'm Gabe Blusier, and today we're looking at a major 5 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:25,320 Speaker 1: milestone in space exploration. The day when a black American 6 00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:38,120 Speaker 1: astronaut finally broke a long standing barrier at NASSA. The 7 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:46,040 Speaker 1: day was auguste. US astronaut Guyon Blueford became the first 8 00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:51,360 Speaker 1: African American in space. Just after two thirty am. He 9 00:00:51,479 --> 00:00:54,600 Speaker 1: and his crewmates launched into low Earth orbit aboard the 10 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:58,279 Speaker 1: Space Shuttle Challenger and spent the next six days completing 11 00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:03,560 Speaker 1: various tasks and experiment monts before returning safely to Earth. Guion, 12 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 1: who often went by Guy, completed three additional Shuttle missions 13 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:12,280 Speaker 1: over the course of his NASA career. Altogether, he logged 14 00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:16,400 Speaker 1: six hundred and eighty eight hours in space, slightly more 15 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:20,240 Speaker 1: than twenty eight and a half days. On all four flights. 16 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:24,560 Speaker 1: He served as a mission specialist, which is essentially a scientist. 17 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:30,920 Speaker 1: Astronaut Guillon Stewart Blueford, Junior was born on November twenty two, 18 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 1: nineteen forty two, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the eldest 19 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:40,720 Speaker 1: of three sons born to Guion Blueford Senior, a mechanical engineer, 20 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:45,160 Speaker 1: and Lolita Blueford, a special ed teacher. Both his parents 21 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:48,760 Speaker 1: and his grandparents had attended college, and from an early age, 22 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 1: Guy and his siblings were taught the importance of education. 23 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:55,320 Speaker 1: As a child, Guy developed what would prove to be 24 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 1: a lifelong fascination with flying, and in his teenage years, 25 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 1: he decided he wanted to design and build airplanes for 26 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 1: a living. After high school, he enrolled in Penn State University, 27 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 1: where he earned a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering. In 28 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:14,320 Speaker 1: nineteen sixty five, he joined the US Air Force r 29 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:17,119 Speaker 1: OTC program so that he could learn how to fly 30 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:20,520 Speaker 1: planes before he started building them. He trained as a 31 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 1: fighter pilot and graduated with his pilot wings later that year. 32 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:28,160 Speaker 1: Soon after, Guy was commissioned as an Air Force second 33 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:32,160 Speaker 1: lieutenant and assigned to a squadron in Vietnam. He went 34 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:35,639 Speaker 1: on to fly one hundred and forty four combat missions 35 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 1: during the war and earned several medals for his service, 36 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:43,120 Speaker 1: including the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry. Once his tour of 37 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:46,280 Speaker 1: duty was complete, Guy remained in the service as a 38 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:50,560 Speaker 1: flight instructor, training the next generation of fighter pilots. He 39 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 1: also continued his education, graduating from the Air Force Institute 40 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:58,400 Speaker 1: of Technology with a master's degree in aerospace engineering in 41 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:01,800 Speaker 1: nine seventy four and a doctorate in the same field 42 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:06,840 Speaker 1: in nineteen seventy eight. That same year, Guy Blueford Jr. 43 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:09,919 Speaker 1: And thirty four others were selected out of a pool 44 00:03:09,960 --> 00:03:14,000 Speaker 1: of nearly ten thousand applicants to become Space Shuttle astronauts 45 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 1: for NASA. In previous programs, astronauts had been chosen from 46 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:22,680 Speaker 1: a narrow field of white, male test pilots. That began 47 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:25,920 Speaker 1: to change with the Space Shuttle program in the nineteen seventies, 48 00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 1: as NASA expanded its selection criteria to include scientists, engineers, 49 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:35,840 Speaker 1: and medical doctors. This change added some much needed diversity 50 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:39,280 Speaker 1: to the astronaut corps. In addition to Guy, there were 51 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:43,320 Speaker 1: two other African Americans in his class, doctor Ronald McNair 52 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:48,320 Speaker 1: and Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Gregory. There was also Ellison on Izuka, 53 00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:51,880 Speaker 1: who later became the first Asian American in space, as 54 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:55,800 Speaker 1: well as six women candidates, including Sally Ride, who became 55 00:03:55,800 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 1: the first American woman in space just two months before 56 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:04,280 Speaker 1: Guys first flight. Guy was officially designated a NASA astronaut 57 00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:08,080 Speaker 1: in August of nineteen seventy nine, and four years later, 58 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:10,840 Speaker 1: he traveled to space for the first time on Flight 59 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:14,920 Speaker 1: STS eight, the third mission of the Space Shuttle Challenger. 60 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:18,800 Speaker 1: It was the first Shuttle launch conducted at night, although 61 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:21,719 Speaker 1: the crew didn't actually blast off from the Kennedy Space 62 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:25,800 Speaker 1: Center in Florida until the early morning of August. The 63 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 1: launch went off without a hitch, but one member of 64 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:32,960 Speaker 1: the five person crew had an unusual reaction to the experience. 65 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:37,200 Speaker 1: When the crew reviewed the onboard recordings after returning to Earth, 66 00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:41,600 Speaker 1: they realized that someone had been laughing NonStop during the launch. 67 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 1: Guy later recalled the incident saying, quote, we listened to 68 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 1: it for quite a while to try and figure out 69 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:51,359 Speaker 1: who it was, only to come to the conclusion that 70 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 1: there was me. I mean, I laughed and giggled all 71 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:59,039 Speaker 1: the way up. It was such a fun ride. During 72 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:03,240 Speaker 1: the mission, I was responsible for deploying a communications satellite 73 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:06,080 Speaker 1: on behalf of the government of India. He and his 74 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:09,400 Speaker 1: fellow crew members also tested out the Shuttle's robotic arm 75 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:14,200 Speaker 1: and conducted scientific experiments on how space affects the human body. 76 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:16,919 Speaker 1: Over the course of a hundred and forty five hours 77 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 1: or six days. The Challenger crew orbited the Earth eight times, 78 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:26,839 Speaker 1: then on September five, three, they landed safely at Edwards 79 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:30,880 Speaker 1: Air Force Base in California. In the decade that followed, 80 00:05:31,120 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 1: Guy Blueford flew three more times as a mission specialist 81 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:38,839 Speaker 1: for NASA. His second flight STS sixty one A was 82 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:42,240 Speaker 1: in late nineteen eighty five. He and seven other crew 83 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:45,200 Speaker 1: members flew aboard Challenger as part of the first Space 84 00:05:45,320 --> 00:05:49,520 Speaker 1: Lab mission. It was also Challenger's final mission before the 85 00:05:49,520 --> 00:05:53,600 Speaker 1: Shuttle exploded after liftoff in January of the following year. 86 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:58,040 Speaker 1: Guy wasn't on that flight, but several astronauts he had 87 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:02,120 Speaker 1: joined the program with were and looting ron McNair. After 88 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:06,239 Speaker 1: the tragic accident, NASA suspended flights for the next two years. 89 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:10,360 Speaker 1: Guy used the downtime to complete a second master's degree, 90 00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:14,440 Speaker 1: this time receiving one in business administration from the University 91 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:19,240 Speaker 1: of Houston at clear Lake. Flights resumed in night, and 92 00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:23,320 Speaker 1: guys next assignment came three years after that. In April 93 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:27,719 Speaker 1: of ninetee, he flew on flight STS thirty aboard the 94 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:31,799 Speaker 1: Space Shuttle Discovery, where he conducted a series of unclassified 95 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:35,400 Speaker 1: experiments for the U. S Department of Defense. He also 96 00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:38,880 Speaker 1: carried out the only classified portion of the mission by 97 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:43,800 Speaker 1: releasing a military communication satellite from the cargo bay. Guy's 98 00:06:43,920 --> 00:06:48,120 Speaker 1: final flight, STS fifty three launched in early December the 99 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:51,760 Speaker 1: following year, and also focused on d D experiments and 100 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 1: the deployment of a classified satellite. After returning to Earth 101 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:58,839 Speaker 1: for the fourth time in his life, Guy decided his 102 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:01,599 Speaker 1: time in the Astronaut Corps had come to a close. 103 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:05,120 Speaker 1: He retired from NASA and the US Air Force in 104 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 1: July of and took a job in the private sector 105 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:12,960 Speaker 1: in the field of aerospace engineering. He remained connected to 106 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:16,600 Speaker 1: the space program, though, both through business contracts and as 107 00:07:16,640 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 1: a consultant for the Columbia Accident Investigation Board that was 108 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:23,440 Speaker 1: convened to examine the deadly breakup of the Space Shuttle 109 00:07:23,480 --> 00:07:28,240 Speaker 1: Columbia in two thousand three. Guy Blueford never set out 110 00:07:28,240 --> 00:07:31,800 Speaker 1: to be a trailblazer or a role model. As a quiet, 111 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:35,560 Speaker 1: humble guy, he actually wouldn't have minded if Ronald McNair 112 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:39,000 Speaker 1: or Frederick Gregory had become the first African American in 113 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:42,280 Speaker 1: space instead of him. He said as much in a 114 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:47,200 Speaker 1: NASA interview when he explained quote, all of us knew 115 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:49,760 Speaker 1: that one of us would eventually step into that role. 116 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:53,360 Speaker 1: I told people that I would probably prefer not being 117 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 1: in that role because I figured being the number two 118 00:07:56,080 --> 00:08:00,160 Speaker 1: guy would probably be a lot more fun. That said, 119 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:03,520 Speaker 1: when it was decided that he would be the first guy, 120 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:07,360 Speaker 1: didn't shrink from the challenge. I wanted to set the standard. 121 00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 1: He said, do the best job possible so that other 122 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:13,960 Speaker 1: people would be comfortable with African Americans flying in space, 123 00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:17,360 Speaker 1: and African Americans would be proud of being participants in 124 00:08:17,360 --> 00:08:20,320 Speaker 1: the space program and encourage others to do the same. 125 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:24,480 Speaker 1: I felt an awesome responsibility, and I took the responsibility 126 00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 1: very seriously of being a role model and opening another 127 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:31,560 Speaker 1: door to Black Americans. But the important thing is not 128 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:33,840 Speaker 1: that I am black, but that I did a good 129 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:38,760 Speaker 1: job as a scientist and an astronaut. Guy more than 130 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:42,360 Speaker 1: lived up to that responsibility. He was the first Black 131 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:46,200 Speaker 1: American in space, but he wasn't the last. Since the 132 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:50,320 Speaker 1: time of his first flight, eighteen other African American astronauts 133 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:54,040 Speaker 1: and counting have made the journey into space, including the 134 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:58,880 Speaker 1: first black woman, may Jemmison. So while pioneer may not 135 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:02,599 Speaker 1: have been the role he is after. Guy Blueford definitely 136 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:07,760 Speaker 1: had the right stuff for the job. I'm Gay blues 137 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:10,800 Speaker 1: Yer and hopefully you now know a little more about 138 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:14,599 Speaker 1: history today than you did yesterday. If you'd like to 139 00:09:14,679 --> 00:09:17,840 Speaker 1: keep up with the show, you can follow us on Twitter, Facebook, 140 00:09:17,840 --> 00:09:22,079 Speaker 1: and Instagram at t D i HC Show, and if 141 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:24,880 Speaker 1: you have any comments or suggestions, please send them my 142 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:29,079 Speaker 1: way at this day at iHeart media dot com. Thanks, 143 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:31,959 Speaker 1: as always the Chandler Mays for producing the show, and 144 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 1: thanks to you for listening. I'll see you back here 145 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:37,640 Speaker 1: again tomorrow for another day in history class.