February 02, 2003

Anderson: Bright future for black astronauts

Astronaut Michael Anderson saw a "really bright" future for African-American astronauts in space.

In an interview Wednesday night, Anderson, the only black crew member on space shuttle Columbia, pointed out that three other black astronauts were scheduled to be on shuttle flights in the next year.

In addition, some of the research the crew was conducting onboard Columbia had an important benefit for black males. A bioreactor on the space shuttle was growing cells of prostate cancer, which has a high rate among African-Americans.
[...]
Astronaut Robert Curbeam was scheduled to fly on a shuttle mission in the next few months, and Joan Higginbotham was scheduled to be on a shuttle mission later in the year. Early next year, astronaut Stephanie Wilson was scheduled to fly.
[...]
Anderson's sister [named Joanne who withheld her last name] said Saturday she was still grappling with the report of her brother's presumed death. The news, she told a reporter, "hasn't set in yet, and it probably won't until I hear something very definite."
[...]
"The United States of America has many, many problems -- racism is one of them," she said, "but only in America could he have achieved what he did achieve."

Good Lord willing, Lt. Col. Anderson, those 3 African Americans (2 of whom are women!) and a lot of other good people will go into space soon: President Bush promised that we would continue the space program.
I'm hoping he'll give the nod to Prometheus, our Mission to Mars now....
In the meantime, rest in the arms of God, Michael, along with your crewmates.
Mission accomplished and job well done.