15 Facts About Guion Bluford

Guion Bluford participated in four Space Shuttle flights between 1983 and 1992.

Guion Bluford has attended the Wharton School of Business of the University of Pennsylvania.

Guion Bluford's hobbies include reading, swimming, jogging, racquetball, handball, scuba diving and golf.

Guion Bluford married Linda Tull in 1964 and has two sons.

Guion Bluford has written and presented several scientific papers in computational fluid dynamics.

Guion Bluford was selected to become a NASA astronaut in January 1978 as a part of NASA astronaut group 8.

Guion Bluford was one of several astronauts recruited by Nichelle Nichols as part of a NASA effort to increase the number of minority and female astronauts.

Guion Bluford was a mission specialist on STS-8, STS-61-A, STS-39, and STS-53.

Guion Bluford then served on the crew of STS-61-A, the German D-1 Spacelab mission, which launched from Kennedy Space Center on October 30,1985.

Guion Bluford served on the crew of STS-39, which launched from Kennedy Space Center on April 28,1991, aboard the Orbiter Discovery.

Guion Bluford retired from Northrop Grumman in September 2002 to become the President of Aerospace Technology, an engineering consulting organization in Cleveland, Ohio.

Guion Bluford was inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame in 1997, the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2010, and the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2019.

In 2006, Guion Bluford was recognized as a distinguished alumnus of Penn State by being selected as the Grand Marshal for his alma mater's Homecoming celebration.

Guion Bluford is a member and a fellow of many organizations:.

On July 25,2017, the Philadelphia Orchestra premiered Hold Fast to Dreams, a 25-minute piece for orchestra and choir in four movements, commissioned by the Mann Center for the Performing Arts in honor of Guion Bluford, and written by composer Nolan Williams Jr.