On what date did the first African-American fly in space?

• A. July 20, 1969
• B. August 30, 1983
• C. April 12, 1981
• D. February 1, 2003

Answer: (B)

The first African-American to fly in space was Guion S. Bluford Jr., who made his historic journey on August 30, 1983, aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger during the STS-8 mission. This mission marked a significant milestone not only in the history of NASA but also in the advancement of African-Americans in the field of aerospace. Bluford's achievement opened doors for future generations of astronauts and highlighted the contributions that African-Americans have made to space exploration.

The other dates listed pertain to significant events in space exploration history, but they do not relate to the first African-American in space. July 20, 1969, is famous for the Apollo 11 lunar landing with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. April 12, 1981, marks the launch of the first Space Shuttle, Columbia, which was the beginning of the Shuttle program. February 1, 2003, is when the Space Shuttle Columbia tragically disintegrated upon re-entry, which was a pivotal moment in NASA's history but unrelated to the first African-American astronaut.