Aviation/ Space

Anderson, Michael (December 25, 1959-February 1, 2003) died when Space Shuttle Columbia exploded during entry, 16 minutes prior to scheduled landing. He was an officer in the US Air Force and was selected by NASA in 1994. He was a member of the STS-89 Endeavour (January 22-31, 1998) and the STS-107 Columbia (January 16 to February 1, 2003).

Bluford Jr., Guion “Guy” is a retired US Air Force Colonel and a former NASA Astronaut. He participated in four flights of Space Shuttle between 1983 and 1992. In 1983, as a member of the crew of the space shuttle Challenger on mission STS-8, Bluford became the first African-American in space.

Cagle, Yvonne received her medical training through the sponsorship of the Health Professions Scholarship Program, through which she received her commission as an officer with the United States Air Force, and subsequently was awarded her board certification in family practice. She completed two years of training and evaluation, and is qualified for flight assignment as a mission specialist.

Curbeam, Jr., Robert is a retired Navy Captain. Upon graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy, Curbeam commenced Naval Flight Officer training in 1984. He was a member of the STS-85 Discovery (August 7-19, 1997), STS-98 Atlantis (February 7-20, 2001), and STS-116 Discovery (December 9-22, 2006). 

Higginbotham, Joan began her career in 1987 at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida, as a Payload Electrical Engineer in the Electrical and Telecommunications Systems Division. Within six months she became the lead for the Orbiter Experiments (OEX) on OV-102, the Space Shuttle Columbia. She was a member of the STS-116 Discovery (December 9-22, 2006). In November 2007, she retired from NASA to work in the private sector. 

Jemison, Mae (b. October 17, 1956) is a physician and former NASA astronaut. She became the first Black woman to travel in space aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour on September 12, 1992. Before her selection as an astronaut candidate in 1987, she spent two and a half years as a Peace Corps medical officer in Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Wilson, Stephanie graduated from Harvard in 1988 and then went on to work for Martin Marietta in Denver, CO. She was  selected by NASA in April 1996, Wilson reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1996. She was a member of the STS-121 (July 4-17, 2006) and the STS-120 Discovery (October 23-November 7, 2007).