Victor J. Glover will make history as the first Black astronaut to go to the moon. Of over 350 NASA astronauts who have traveled to space, only 13 have been Black.

Brianna HoltApr 10, 2023, 21:43 IST

NASA astronaut Victor J. Glover.NASA

This week, NASA announced the crew for its 2024 lunar voyage.
The Artemis II expedition marks the first manned moon mission in over five decades, since the Apollo missions.

Last week, NASA announced a crew for its next lunar expedition. Set to take off in 2024, the Artemis II mission will be the first manned moon mission in more than five decades since the Apollo missions.

The crew has made NASA history, with the first woman, Christina Hammock Koch, and first Black astronaut, Victor J. Glover, assigned to lunar orbit. Glover has been appointed the pilot of the mission.

While they won't land on the moon, NASA has announced the following mission, Artemis III, will have two astronauts walk on the lunar surface for the first time since 1972.

A Pomona, California, native, Glover earned a Bachelor of Science degree in general engineering from California Polytechnic State University in 1999. As a part of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School program, he obtained a Master of Science degree in flight test engineering from the Air University at Edwards Air Force Base in 2007. Two years later, he earned a Master of Science degree in systems engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. By 2010, he received a Master of Military Operational Art and Science from the Air University in Montgomery, Alabama.

Glover became a NASA astronaut in 2013, while working as a Legislative Fellow in the United States Senate. He went on to serve as the pilot and second-in-command on the Crew-1 SpaceX Crew Dragon and as a Flight Engineer on the International Space Station as a part of Expedition 64.

Guion Bluford was the first African American astronaut to venture into space.

Guion Bluford became the first African American to fly in space aboard Challenger's STS-8 mission/NASA

Dr. Mae C. Jemison became a NASA astronaut in 1987. She is the first African American woman to travel into space.

Mae C. Jemison was the first African-American woman to travel into space.NASA

Ronald E. McNair was one of seven astronauts who died during the launch of Challenger in 1986.

Ronald E. McNair became a NASA astronaut in 1978.NASA

Dr. Bernard Anthony Harris Jr. became the first African American astronaut to walk in space in 1995.

Bernard Anthony Harris Jr. became the first African American astronaut to perform an extra-vehicular activity in 1995.NASA

Frederick D. Gregory was the first African American to serve as NASA's Deputy Administrator.

Frederick D. Gregory retired as NASA’s Deputy Administrator in 2005.NASA

Winston E. Scott was a US Navy captain and became a NASA astronaut in 1992.

Winston E. Scott took part in three spacewalks and flew on two missions.NASA

Joan Elizabeth Higginbotham became a NASA astronaut in 1996 and is the third African American woman to go into space.

Joan Elizabeth Higginbotham is third African American woman to travel to space.NASA

Stephanie D. Wilson joined NASA as an astronaut in April 1996.

Stephanie D. Wilson completed three spaceflights over the course of her career.NASA

Dr. Robert Satcher became a NASA astronaut in 2004, and he flew as a Mission Specialist on STS-129 in 2009.

In addition to being a Mission Specialist for NASA, Bobby Satcher has worked as an orthopedic surgeon.NASA

Leland D. Melvin joined NASA as an astronaut in 1998. He is the only person drafted into the NFL to have also become an astronaut and flown in space.

Leland D. Melvin served as Associate Administrator for NASA’s Office of Education for four years.NASA

Michael Anderson became a NASA astronaut in 1994. He was one of seven members aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia who lost their life in 2003.

Michael Anderson died in 2003 when NASA's space shuttle Columbia broke up as it returned to Earth.NASA

Robert L. Curbeam Jr. holds the record for the most number of spacewalks conducted during a single spaceflight.

Robert L. Curbeam Jr. logged over 593 hours in space throughout his career.NASA

Charles F. Bolden Jr. joined NASA as an astronaut in 1980 and became the 12th NASA administrator and first African American administrator in 2009.

Charles F. Bolden Jr. became NASA'a first first African-American administrator in 2009.NASA

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