Black History Month – explore the contributions of black astronauts .
Black astronauts have played key roles in the assembly of the International Space Station, performing numerous spacewalks and robotic operations, and conducting research as expedition crew-members.
Few people know that since as early as 1791, Black Americans have been making groundbreaking, often heroic, contributions in the fields of astronomy, astrophysics, mathematics, and space exploration.
Many of these pioneering Black scientists performed vital mathematical and engineering work in the face of laws that prevented them from drinking from the same water fountains or using the same bathrooms as their white co-workers. Fortunately, today’s recognition of the benefits of racial inclusivity has resulted in a richly diverse and incredibly talented group of scientists and astronauts uniquely capable of taking us deeper into that night sky—to Mars and beyond.