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Ronald McNair (left), Guion Bluford (center) and Frederick D. Gregory (right) were the first three African-American astronauts to travel into space. Bluford became the second person of African descent, and the first African American, in space, as part of the STS-8 mission, which launched on August 30, 1983. He was a NASA mission specialist on three more Space Shuttle missions: STS-61-A, STS-39 and STS-53. McNair became the second African American to travel into space, as mission specialist on STS-41-B, which launched on February 3, 1984. He died on his second mission, STS-51-L, which ended in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster on January 28, 1986. Gregory was the first African American to pilot a Space Shuttle, during STS-51-B, which launched on April 29, 1985. He became the first African American to command a mission, during STS-33, and was also the commander of STS-44.
This picture shows the three astronauts in 1978, the year in which they were selected as members of NASA Astronaut Group 8, along with thirty-two others.Photograph credit: NASA; restored by Coffeeandcrumbs