Astronaut Reflects on 1960s Culture in 'Moonwalk'

In 1969, TV viewers could change the channel from the moon landing to people of color being disgraced, remembers Bernard Harris, NMSI’s CEO and the first African-American to complete a spacewalk. As a 13-year-old, he watched this great human feat and the Civil Rights Movement unfold.

“Despite what I saw, I decided that I was going to be an astronaut, which was a big leap of faith,” Harris shares during Houston Public Media’s “Moonwalk” series commemorating the 50th anniversary of the moon landing July 20.

Harris and Clare Luckey, a recent space architecture graduate from the University of Houston, talk in the “Moonwalk” series about breaking barriers at NASA, looking ahead to living on the moon and going to Mars.

Watch video and listen to podcasts from the full series here.

Harris says becoming an astronaut wouldn’t have been possible without access to a high-quality STEM education. That’s why he’s working with NMSI to ensure all students, especially those furthest from opportunity, can reach their highest potential.

Learn more about how NMSI is expanding STEM access and achievement.