By: BHS Features Staff
February 15, 2023
Victor Jerome Glover is an African-American astronaut from the NASA class of 2013. He was also the pilot on the first international flight of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. Simply, Glover is known to inspire many with his brave and unique space missions.
Raised in Pomona, California, Glover was born on April 30, 1976. He graduated from Ontario High School (California) in 1994 and then went on to earn his Bachelor of Science degree in General Engineering at California Polytechnic State University in 1999. After college, in 2009, he became a member of the Air Force, where he earned a Master of Science in Flight Test Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School.
Glover always knew he wanted to be an astronaut, so he began preflight training in Pensacola, Florida, and completed his advanced flight training in Kingsville, Texas, earning his wings of gold on December 14, 2001.
He was selected in 2013 as one of eight members of the 21st NASA astronaut class. In 2015, he completed Astronaut Candidate Training, including scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in International Space Station systems, spacewalks, robotics, physiological training, T-38 flight training, and water and wilderness survival training. Very extensive training but he was successful in reaching his goals.
Finally in November of 2020, the now NASA astronaut Victor Glover launched his first spaceflight and became the first black astronaut to live on the International Space Station as part of a long-duration mission.
Glover married Dionna Odom in 2014, and they now reside in California with four children, all girls.
Glover inspires students from all over to chase their dreams. He is a great example of determination. Through all of the struggles and trials, he accomplished his dreams and nothing less. He continues to spread his message all over, showing people that dreams are possible when the effort exceeds the initial thought. Astronaut Glover even spoke to students from space about how to stop issues like racial discrimination, domestic violence, and drug use to reassure them of a better future on planet Earth.
Victor Glover is just one of the many African-American inspirations. He reached for the stars and so can you!
[Information for this feature can be located at NASA.gov.]
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