2021-08-30 Mon

Guion Stewart Bluford jr. was an American aerospace engineer; he became NASA astronaut in August 1979. He was the first African-American astronaut, and the second person of African descent to go to space. Before appointing as an astronaut he was appointed as an officer in the U.S Air Force, where he remained while assigned to NASA, rising to the rank of colonel.

He was the first African American to be awarded as the United States Air Force Command Pilot Astronaut Wings; he has logged over 5200 hours in high-performance jet aircraft and has flown 688 hours in space. Guion Bluford participated in four space shuttle flights as a crew member of orbiter challenger on the mission STS-8, between 1983 and 1992.

This commemorative stamp was issued in the year 1998 to commemorate him and his work.

Image Courtesy: colnect.com