Sky Heroes: African-American Astronauts

The Space Shuttle Atlantis returned to earth Thursday morning, ending NASA's 30-year space shuttle program. Astronauts on this trip delivered spare parts and supplies to the International Space Station, an internationally developed research facility and the largest space station ever constructed. Though not always recognized, 20 African-Americans have been "selected," or suggested by the military, accepted by NASA and titled astronauts by the space administration. Fourteen of the Black astronauts have visited space. In light of the final space shuttle's mission, BET.com salutes them all.

(Photo: AP Photo/Pierre Du Charme, Pool)