National Geographic Documentary Films recently announced that a new documentary about Black astronauts is in the works.
Directed and produced by filmmakers Lisa Cortés and Diego Hurtado de Mendoza, the new film will spotlight Black astronauts whose stories haven’t been told. The documentary, titled “The Space Race,” will also focus on the struggles they faced, including prejudice and racism, to get to their positions as they became trailblazers in the field. Amongst the names that will take part and have their story told are Ed Dwight, Charles Bolden and Guion Bluford. A release date for “The Space Race” has not yet been announced.
The new documentary marks the third project directed by Cortés. Although she’s also known for her work with the Def Jam team and for discovering revolutionary artists like RUN-D.M.C, Cortés is known for being a renowned documentarian.
Her works include directorial credits on the 2019 documentary “The Remix: Hip Hop X Fashion” and the newly released “Little Richard: I Am Everything” documentary. Directed solely by Cortés, the documentary details the life of rock’n’roll pioneer Little Richard. Along with directing, Cortés has produced works such as “The Apollo” documentary and “Precious,” a movie that earned her two Academy Awards.
“The exploration of space has always been a place of hope and inspiration,” said Cortés in a statement released alongside co-director Hurtado de Mendoza. “From space, we look out into the Universe and learn about our place in it, but we also look back at Earth and learn about ourselves. A select group of astronauts are the only human beings who’ve ever seen all of humanity from this unique point of view — with its infinite possibilities and its debilitating flaws.”
“We couldn’t have found a more supportive partner than National Geographic Documentary Films to tell the story of these brave pioneers in space exploration who opened the space program to people of color,” they added.
Although there are more than 350 astronauts involved in NASA’s missions throughout history, only 18 Black astronauts have been sent into space. Guion Bluford, whose story will be explored in the new documentary, was the first African American sent into space on the 1983 STS-8 mission. Approximately nine years later, astronaut Mae Jemison broke another barrier as the first Black woman in space.
Astronaut Jaison Robinson currently holds the spot as the latest African American to travel to space as part of the 2022 Blue Origin NS-21 mission.
