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Home · News

Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr: First Black Man To Walk In Space

Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr: First Black Man To Walk In Space
By · Updated October 29, 2020
01
Young Start

An elementary school photo of a young Bernard Harris.

Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr: First Black Man To Walk In Space
Courtesy of Dr. Bernard Harris
02
Family Photo

Bernard Harris at 9 years old with mother, Gussie Harris, and younger brother, Dennis (7 yrs old) in Greasewood, Arizona in 1965.

“My mom had a college degree. She always instilled the importance of education,” says Harris.

Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr: First Black Man To Walk In Space
03
High School Years

Bernard Harris, Jr., graduation photo from Sam Houston High School in San Antonio, Texas in 1974.

“High school was a must, it was never an option,” says Harris.

Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr: First Black Man To Walk In Space
04
Raft Rally

Dr. Bernard Harris helps students with the “raft rally” project at his summer science camp at the University of Texas at San Antonio in July 2009. For the raft rally, students had to design and build a raft using predetermined supplies. The team whose raft held the most pennies wins!

“My new mission on earth is to ensure that all communities have the same chance I had,” Harris says.

Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr: First Black Man To Walk In Space
05
Space Walk

Dr. Harris and Michael Foale in the airlock of the Space Shuttle Discovery STS-63, prior to his spacewalk on February, 9 1995.

“I always wanted to go to space. I read Sci-fi books growing up. I think my brother and sisters thought I was weird,” Harris says laughing.

Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr: First Black Man To Walk In Space
06
Ready to Touch the Sky

Dr. Harris preparing to fly the T-38 jet at NASA’s Ellington Field in 1996.

Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr: First Black Man To Walk In Space
07
Fun in the Water

Dr. Harris visits with middle school students attending his free, two-week, residential summer science camp held at the University of Texas at Arlington in July 2009. All expenses for the camp are paid for by The Harris Foundation and ExxonMobil.

Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr: First Black Man To Walk In Space
08
Fiction to Reality

Cartoon that ran in the San Antonio Express in 1995 during Dr. Harris’ spacewalk.

Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr: First Black Man To Walk In Space
09
Crowd Pleaser

A shot of the crowd of about 10,000 students/teachers/administrators attending the Dream Tour event at the Toyota Center on December 14, 2009.

“I felt we had to go to where the students are to their neighborhoods to their school,” explains Harris.

Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr: First Black Man To Walk In Space
10
Group Shot

Dr. Harris poses with middle school students, teachers and administrators after the Dream Tour event from the Houston area.

Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr: First Black Man To Walk In Space
11
Up, Up and Away

Dr. Harris talks two volunteer students through a simulated Space Shuttle launch during the Dream Tour event at the Toyota Center in Houston.

Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr: First Black Man To Walk In Space
12
Happy Harris

Bernard Harris mixes it up with students in the Bronx during a two-day stop in NYC in October of 2008. He likes to interact with the kids during his DREAM Tour presentation and encourages them to ask questions during his visit.

Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr: First Black Man To Walk In Space
13
A Heart to Give

In 1980, Dr. Harris talked with elementary students as a second year medical student at Texas Tech University School of Medicine.

“I always knew that I wanted to help kids,” says Harris.

Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr: First Black Man To Walk In Space
14
Curley Boston

Dr. Bernard Harris talks to two students simulating a Space Shuttle Launch at Curley Middle School in Boston in Nov. of 2008. He brings actual Space Shuttle chairs to each DREAM Tour stop and asks for volunteers to help him demonstrate a launch.

Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr: First Black Man To Walk In Space
15
Dream Tour Detroit

Dream Tour Detroit 24- Another photo of Dr. Harris at a middle school in Detroit from March 2009. He gets students excited with a “STEM” chant – “Science – Technology – Engineering – Mathematics.”

Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr: First Black Man To Walk In Space
16
The First

In 1993, Dr. Harris conducting the first Tele-medicine conference from space with the Mayo Clinic.

Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr: First Black Man To Walk In Space
17
Mr. CEO

Dr. Harris is currently CEO and Managing Director of Vesalius Ventures (photo taken in 2009).

Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr: First Black Man To Walk In Space
18
Graduation Day

Dr. Harris on graduation day from Texas Tech University School of Medicine with classmates Michael and Rex.

Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr: First Black Man To Walk In Space
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Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr: First Black Man To Walk In Space
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