NASA Astronaut Group 8 was a group of 35 astronauts announced on January 16, 1978. It was the first NASA selection since Group 6 in 1967, and was the largest group to that date. The class was the first to include female and minority astronauts; of the 35 selected, six were women, one of them being Jewish American, three were African American, and one was Asian American. Due to the long delay between the last Apollo lunar mission in 1972 and the first flight of the Space Shuttle in 1981, few astronauts from the older groups remained, and they were outnumbered by the newcomers, who became known as the Thirty-Five New Guys (TFNG).
NASA select its first American women astronauts
NASA Astronaut Group 8 was a group of 35 astronauts announced on January 16, 1978. It was the first NASA selection since Group 6 in 1967, and was the largest group to that date.
Historical Significance
NASA Astronaut Group 8 was a group of 35 astronauts announced on January 16, 1978.
Events Before
Erroll Garner dies
Erroll Garner dies
Belgium undergoes a major municipal reorganization and reapportions 2,359 communities into 596
Belgium undergoes a major municipal reorganization and reapportions 2,359 communities into 596
Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs incorporate Apple Computer, Inc.
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American film director Martin Scorsese (34) divorces Julia Cameron (28) after 1 year of marriage
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Miniseries "Roots" premieres on ABC
Miniseries "Roots" premieres on ABC
Events After
International Year of the Child begins (declared by UNESCO)
International Year of the Child begins (declared by UNESCO)
Village People's "Y.M.C.A." becomes their only UK #1 single; at its peak, it sells over 150,000 copies per day
Village People's "Y.M.C.A." becomes their only UK #1 single; at its peak, it sells over 150,000 copies per day
BBC landmark nature series "Life on Earth" presented by David Attenborough first shown on BBC One
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Ayatollah Khomeini returns to Iran after 15 years in exile
Ruhollah Khomeini's return to Iran on 1 February 1979, after 14 years in exile, was an important event in the Iranian Revolution.
Actor Max Von Sydow (49) divorces actress Christina Olin after 28 years of marriage
Actor Max Von Sydow (49) divorces actress Christina Olin after 28 years of marriage
More from the 1970s
death
Erroll Garner dies
Erroll Garner dies
birth
Chai Jing is born
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Charles "Chub" Feeney becomes the President of Major League Baseball's National League
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Cigarette advertisements are banned from broadcast media in the US
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What happened on January 13, 1978?
- NASA Astronaut Group 8 was a group of 35 astronauts announced on January 16, 1978. It was the first NASA selection since Group 6 in 1967, and was the largest group to that date. The class was the first to include female and minority astronauts; of the 35 selected, six were women, one of them being Jewish American, three were African American, and one was Asian American.
- Why is NASA select its first American women astronauts significant?
- NASA Astronaut Group 8 was a group of 35 astronauts announced on January 16, 1978.