NASA astronaut, aerospace engineer, military officer, and senior engineering executive, Guion S. Bluford Jr. was born on November 22, 1942 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Joining the crew of STS-8 as a mission specialist on that historic day in 1983, the engineer-turned-astronauts job was to run the mechanical arm, deploy communications satellites and perform biomedical experiments, including taking medical measurements to better understand the biopsychological effects of space flight. Guion Bluford Jr. at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 28, 1991 | Photo: Getty Images. Bluford became intrigued with flying at a very early age. Is Guion Bluford Still Alive Birth Sign Sagittarius. Then, he flew on STS-53, which was a classified Space Shuttle flight. In the 50s and 60s, job opportunities were limited for women and minorities. Bluford never stopped learning and pursuing the next level of his career. Are the Greensboro four still alive? Long before experiencing interstellar travel, Bluford spent years transitioning through the ranks as a Upon receiving his commission, Bluford attended pilot training at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona, earning his wings in 1966. [8] He was one of several astronauts recruited by Nichelle Nichols as part of a NASA effort to increase the number of minority and female astronauts. Bluford received an undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering from Pennsylvania State University in 1964 and was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Air Force, where he trained as a fighter pilot. He was not assigned to NASA and remained an USAF officer, reaching the rank of colonel. Yes, Guion Bluford continues to be alive and resides his nice life at the age of 79 years old. In this article, we can find information about Is Guion Bluford Still Alive. Is Tom Parker Bowles Related to Camilla? Guion Bluford Death Fact Check Guion is alive and kicking and is currently 80 years old. WebYes, Guion Bluford is still alive and is living his great life at the age of 79 years old. It's a very fragile ball but also very beautiful. He was the first Black astronaut in space, aboard the Challenger STS-8 mission on August 30, 1983.