[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 150 (Monday, September 22, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H8533-H8534]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING DR. GUION S. ``GUY'' BLUFORD, JR., AND THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF 
       HIS HISTORIC FLIGHT AS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN IN SPACE

  Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1466) honoring Dr. Guion S. ``Guy'' 
Bluford, Jr., and the 25th anniversary of his historic flight as the 
first African-American in space.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1466

       Whereas Dr. Guion S. ``Guy'' Bluford, Jr., born in West 
     Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was trained as an aerospace 
     engineer and an Air Force pilot, conducted several combat 
     missions, logged over 5,000 hours on numerous aircraft, 
     conducted scientific research on computational fluid 
     dynamics, and became a National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration (NASA) astronaut in 1979;
       Whereas in the early morning hours of August 30, 1983, Dr. 
     Bluford became the first African-American to enter outer 
     space as a crew member of the STS-8 space shuttle mission;
       Whereas Dr. Bluford's pioneering STS-8 flight was the first 
     mission to both launch and land at night;
       Whereas this mission successfully deployed a satellite, 
     tested operations of the shuttle's robotic arm, and released 
     Getaway Special canisters to support science experiments;
       Whereas on October 30, 1985, Dr. Bluford launched with the 
     crew of STS 61-A, the first shuttle crew to include 8 
     members, to conduct the United States-German cooperative D-1 
     Spacelab mission that was dedicated to advancing our 
     understanding of the human vestibular and orientation systems 
     and to conducting microgravity research in materials science, 
     life sciences, and communication and navigation;
       Whereas Dr. Bluford went on to successfully complete 2 
     additional shuttle missions with the space shuttle 
     Discovery's launch of the STS-39 on April 28, 1991, and the 
     STS-53 on December 2, 1992;
       Whereas among his other technical assignments, Dr. Bluford 
     worked on space shuttle systems, the shuttle robotic arm, 
     payload safety and flight software verification in the 
     Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory and the Flight 
     Systems Laboratory, and on Spacelab systems and experiments;
       Whereas in remarking on his pioneering role as the first 
     African-American in space, Dr. Bluford recounted, ``I wanted 
     to set the standard, do the best job possible so that other 
     people would be comfortable with African-Americans in space 
     and African-Americans would be proud of being participants in 
     the space program . . . and encourage others to do the 
     same.''; and
       Whereas in 1993, Dr. Bluford left NASA and retired as a 
     Colonel in the Air Force to continue his distinguished 
     service to the United States space program through leadership 
     positions in private industry and space-related 
     organizations: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) salutes the 25th anniversary of the pioneering 
     accomplishments of Dr. Guion ``Guy'' S. Bluford, Jr. as the 
     first African-American in space; and
       (2) extends its gratitude and deep appreciation for Dr. 
     Bluford's dedication, commitment, and excellence as an 
     astronaut and a

[[Page H8534]]

     leader in support of the Nation's space program.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Maryland (Ms. Edwards) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Maryland.


                             General Leave

  Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their 
remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Res. 1466, the 
resolution now under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Maryland?
  There was no objection.

                              {time}  1545

  Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  I rise in strong support of House Resolution 1466, honoring Dr. Guion 
S. ``Guy'' Bluford, Jr. on the 25th anniversary of his historic flight 
as the first African American in space.
  This year marks the 50th anniversary of the House Committee on 
Science and Technology and also the 50th anniversary of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA.
  The past five decades of our space program have brought remarkable 
achievements in human space flight and in human exploration, in space 
and Earth science and in aeronautics. Mr. Speaker, these achievements 
would not have been possible without the contributions of many 
individuals who have served NASA and our space program. Some of those 
individuals also broke barriers along the way and have provided 
inspiration to all of those who have followed them.
  Earlier this year, we honored the 25th anniversary of Dr. Sally K. 
Ride's flight as the first woman in space. Today, we celebrate the 25th 
anniversary of Dr. Guion S. Bluford, Jr. as the first African American 
in space.
  Dr. Bluford's path to his pioneering flight exemplifies the ``right 
stuff'' so characteristic of NASA's astronauts. He graduated from Penn 
State University with a degree in aerospace engineering. As a 
distinguished Air Force ROTC graduate, he went on to complete pilot 
training and combat crew training, flew combat missions, and returned 
to serve with the 3630th Flying Training Wing at Sheppard Air Force 
Base in Texas.
  Dr. Bluford went on to earn master's and doctoral degrees in 
aerospace engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology, and 
he held several positions in the Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory 
at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.
  In 1979, Dr. Bluford became a NASA astronaut. On August 30, 1983, he 
made history when he lifted off with the space shuttle crew of STS-8 as 
the first African American in space. During the mission, the crew 
successfully deployed a satellite, conducted operations with the 
shuttle's robotic arm and collected measurements to improve our 
understanding of how space affects biophysiological systems.
  On October 30, 1985, Dr. Bluford flew with the crew of STS-61-A, a 
German D-1 spacelab mission that included over 70 scientific 
experiments in materials processing, in life sciences, in fluid 
physics, and in navigation.
  I would add, Mr. Speaker, that, indeed, that was my mission at 
spacelab while I was at Goddard Space Flight Center.
  His third and fourth flights on shuttle STS-39 in 1991 and on shuttle 
STS-53 in 1992 involved deploying payloads and in conducting numerous 
experiments. During his astronaut service, Dr. Bluford logged over 688 
hours in space. In 1993, Dr. Bluford left NASA and retired from the Air 
Force to accept a position in private industry.
  Mr. Speaker, Dr. Guion Bluford's leadership as an aviator, as an 
astronaut and as a private sector official is an inspiration for all 
Americans. I urge my colleagues in Congress to join me in saluting Dr. 
Guion S. ``Guy'' Bluford, Jr. on the 25th anniversary of his historic 
flight as the first African American in space and to honor his 
distinguished service to the Nation and to the space program.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentleman from 
Arkansas is recognized.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today in support of House Resolution 1466, which honors the 
life and accomplishments of an amazing man, astronaut Dr. Guy Bluford, 
Jr.
  Guy Bluford was born in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on November 
22, 1942, and he is perhaps best known as the first African American in 
space. He was selected for NASA's astronaut program in August 1979, and 
he became a mission specialist on the eighth space shuttle mission, 
which launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida on August 30, 
1983. This was the third flight of the space shuttle Challenger and the 
first mission with a night launch and with a night landing.
  Dr. Bluford is a veteran of four space flights. After STS-8, Dr. 
Bluford went on to serve as mission specialist on STS-61-A, on STS-39 
and on STS-53, and he logged over 688 hours in space.
  These early missions paved the way for the scientific research and 
international cooperation that today are vital aspects of the 
International Space Station.
  Prior to his service with NASA, Guy Bluford received a bachelor of 
science degree in aerospace engineering from Pennsylvania State 
University in 1964, a master's of science degree with distinction in 
aerospace engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 
1974, a doctor of philosophy in aerospace engineering with a minor in 
laser physics from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 1978, and a 
master's of business administration from the University of Houston, 
Clear Lake, in 1987.
  What is, perhaps, less well-known about Guy Bluford is the service he 
has given to the Nation since leaving the astronaut corps. After 
leaving NASA in July 1993, he retired from the Air Force and held 
several executive-level positions in America's aerospace industry. Dr. 
Bluford also served the Nation in other capacities, including as a 
member of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board. He has been a 
member of the National Research Council Aeronautics and Space 
Engineering Board. He has served on the board of trustees of the 
Aerospace Corporation and on the board of advisors for the Coalition 
for Space Exploration.
  I am proud to support this resolution honoring such a prominent 
American citizen, executive and astronaut. Mr. Speaker, I urge my 
colleagues to support House Resolution 1466.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. If the gentlelady has no other speakers, I will go ahead 
and yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Edwards) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1466.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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