The beginning of the space race became clear when the Soviet space program launched the world’s first human-made satellite (Sputnik I) on Oct. 4, 1957. It was during this same time that the United States turned toward its own fledgling space efforts.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), was established on July 29, 1958, by the National Aeronautics and Space Act, became responsible for long-term civilian and military aerospace research.

Since February 2006 NASA’s self-described mission statement is “to pioneer the future in space exploration, scientific discovery, and aeronautics research.”

The agency’s motto is “For the benefit of all.”

A review of NASA’s history suggests that the agency has been true to its motto and its mission by utilizing “the best and brightest” in research and demonstration projects into spaceflight. Among the agency’s pioneers were outstanding young African American men and women.

As we observe the Memorial Holiday, it is significant that we recognize the contributions of many trailblazers in space. Writing in his book, “To Be Equal,” the late Whitney Young, former director of the National Urban League, observed “that as Americans, we share feelings of pride in the significant progress that the nation has made in a relatively short time” as exemplified by the fact that history reflects actions that often remind us that “we are still one nation under God.”

It was recently revealed that Charles R. Bolden Jr. is a candidate for the top leadership position at the National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA). Bolden, a former shuttle commander and retired Marine major general, is among those outstanding individuals that gave their time and life to the advancement of scientific discoveries.

Of even greater importance is what his life and times symbolize in a changing world. His appointment will stand as a symbol to those who have struggled to be equal and for young men and women interested in public service. He is highly qualified for the job.

Bolden joined a cadre of men and women of African- American descent who were young, gifted, and qualified to explore the unknown and to conduct experiments of sufficient significance with their fellow Americans, all of which added to a significant body of knowledge about inner and outer space.

If chosen, he will walk in the footsteps of those who preceded him in the space program. African-American astronauts are symbolic of a “Who’s Who in Space.”

It is important to remember the pioneering efforts of Air Force Maj. Robert Henry Lawrence Jr., the first astronaut. I first met Bob Lawrence at Bradley University in Peoria, Ill. He graduated from Bradley University with a B.S. degree in chemistry and he distinguished himself as a cadet commander in the Air Force ROTC and received the commission of second lieutenant.

At age 20, Bob became an Air Force pilot. Lawrence earned a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Ohio State University. In 1967, Lawrence was selected by the USAF as an astronaut in the Air Force’s Manned Orbiting Laboratory Program, thus becoming the first African- American astronaut.

The MOL project paved the way for today’s International Space Station.

Lawrence died in a crash of an F-104 Star fighter in 1967. He graduated at the top of his class at Englewood High School at age 16. Lawrence’s contributions to the space program were recognized after many years of relative obscurity when his name was inscribed on the Space Mirror Memorial at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida in 1997.

Ronald Ervin McNair, Ph.D., perished during the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger on mission STS-51-L.

McNair represented a long line of outstanding graduates from the nation’s historically black colleges/universities. A graduate with a B.S. in physics from North Carolina A&T; State University and the Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), he served as a staff physicist at Hughes Laboratory in Malibu, Cali. McNair flew on a Challenger Mission in 1984, a flight that ended in disaster after Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) broke apart 73 seconds into its flight.

Col. Michael Phillip Anderson, NASA astronaut and the space shuttle payload commander of STS-107 (Columbia) was killed when the craft disintegrated after reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere.

A graduate of Creighton University and the University of Washington, Anderson made his first flight in 1998 aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour. He was one of seven astronauts who died tragically when the Columbia burst into flames and disintegrated during reentry from space.



Despite these deaths, black participation in NASA’s programs continued.

Maj. Gen. Charles F. Bolden, currently a candidate for the top job at NASA was appointed deputy administrator by former President George W. Bush. Frederick Drew Gregory, a former astronaut and former deputy administrator served briefly as acting administrator in 2005. Gregory is the nephew of Dr. Charles Drew, famous for his work in blood plasma processing, storage and transfusion therapy. His uncle, Dr. Drew, was the first person to develop the blood bank.

We remember the living: Dr. Bernard Harris who was selected to go in space as one of NASA’s research teams where he was involved in the construction of space rovers. Dr. Mae C. Jemison, a volunteer for the Airway Science Program at TSU, was selected as the 1987 NASA group.

A graduate of Stanford and Cornell University, Jemison was aboard of Space Shuttle Endeavour during the STS-47 “preparing to deploy lower body negative pressure apparatus.” Other astronauts include: Guion Bluford, Michael Phillip Anderson, Yvonne Cagle, Robert Curbeam, Joan Higginbotham, B. Alvin Drew, Winston E. Scott, Leland D. Melvin, Stephanie Wilson and Robert Satcher.

As we celebrate Memorial Day, it is fitting and proper that we pause to thank all of the space pioneers, beginning with Alan Shepard, the first American to journey into space and all other pioneers in space exploration, scientific discovery, and aeronautics research.



Naomi W. Lede is aretired Senior Research Scientist, Distinguished Professor and University Administrator. She serves as President/Chair of the Board of the Samuel Walker Houston Museum and Cultural Center in Huntsville, Texas.