Circling the moon, a Black astronaut inspires millions
By David Hood-Nuño
Published on April 11, 2026.
NASA engineer Naia Butler-Craig, the first Black man to pilot a spacecraft around the moon, has been inspiring by her journey to the top level of academic and human achievement due to the experiences of Victor Glover, a first Black astronaut. Glover, who has been chosen to pilot the first spacecraft around Mars, is among 20 Black astronauts selected by NASA since 1959, representing roughly 6% of all astronauts chosen. Butler-Carter, now a NASA aerospace engineer with a PhD in the same field, said seeing Glover's journey was an affirmation of her aspirations for millions of Black Americans who were once denied access to the highest echelons due to their skin. The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles: The ThomsonReuters Trust Principles, which align with Thomson Reuters' definition of The Sky.
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