EarthRise
Honoring the pioneers who expanded humanity’s reach beyond Earth.
Explore the stories of the astronauts, engineers, scientists, educators, and visionaries whose work expanded humanity’s reach beyond Earth… and continues to inspire future generations.
Why EarthRise?
EarthRise is a memorial honoring Black pioneers, other people of color, women, and members of underrepresented communities whose courage, innovation, and perseverance helped expand humanity’s reach into space. While many names are well known, countless others made essential contributions that history has too often overlooked.
Through biography, education, and storytelling, EarthRise seeks to preserve these legacies, inspire future generations, and present a more complete history of humanity’s journey beyond Earth.
A Legacy Shared
The NASA Astronaut Group 8 (“TFNGs”), photographed during astronaut candidate training. Photograph courtesy of NASA.
Selected in 1978, Astronaut Group 8 marked a turning point in American spaceflight. Nicknamed the “TFNGs” (“Thirty-Five New Guys”), the class included NASA’s first women astronauts, its first Black astronaut candidates, and the first Asian American astronaut candidate. Their selection reflected a changing vision of who could represent humanity in space and helped redefine the astronaut corps for generations to come.
Featured Pioneers
EarthRise honors individuals from every corner of the aerospace community whose work advanced humanity’s exploration of space. Some flew beyond Earth’s atmosphere. Others made history through scientific discovery, engineering innovation, mathematics, education, and public service. These three pioneers offer a glimpse into the diverse stories preserved through EarthRise.
Charles Bolden
Astronaut • Marine Corps Major General
First African American NASA Administrator
Charles Bolden flew four Space Shuttle missions before becoming NASA’s first African American Administrator. His career of military service, exploration, and leadership helped shape the future of America’s space program.
Katherine Johnson
Spaceflight Pioneer
Katherine Johnson’s mathematical calculations helped make America’s first human spaceflights possible. Her work guided missions from Mercury through Apollo and helped chart humanity’s path to the Moon.
George Carruthers
Inventor • Astrophysicist
Lunar Instrument Pioneer
George Carruthers invented the first ultraviolet camera used on the Moon, giving scientists an entirely new way to study Earth and the universe. His groundbreaking work continues to inspire generations of innovators and explorers.
Why These Stories Matter
The history of space exploration is often told through iconic moments and familiar faces. Yet every mission has depended on thousands of people: astronauts, engineers, mathematicians, scientists, technicians, educators, and leaders whose contributions made exploration possible.
Some became household names. Countless others did not. EarthRise seeks to preserve and share the stories of those whose work expanded humanity’s reach beyond Earth, ensuring their achievements continue to educate and inspire future generations.
Meet the Full EarthRise Honoree Community
Drag or swipe to rotate. Select an honoree to explore their story.
A Shared Commitment
A reflection from the John and Joseph Talbot Fund Subcommittee of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas Racial Justice Committee upon the completion of EarthRise:
The John and Joseph Talbot Fund Subcommittee of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas Racial Justice Committee would like to offer congratulations on a remarkable achievement—the completion and opening of EarthRise! EarthRise reflects the Talbot Fund’s purpose of advancing church and community racial reconciliation by providing a place to recognize and celebrate the many contributions to the U.S. space program by African-Americans, including St. Thomas the Apostle’s own former parishioner, Major General Charles Frank Bolden, Jr.
The Talbot Fund has been honored to be an underwriter of this monument—which represents the collective partnership of the Episcopal churches of the Diocese of Texas, the communities of Nassau Bay and Houston, and NASA—as we work to heal from racism by charting a new course for the future.
May EarthRise continue to inspire curiosity, discovery, and opportunity for generations to come
EarthRise
Honoring the pioneers whose lives, leadership, and discoveries continue to inspire future generations.
PRESENTED BY
St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church
Nassau Bay, Texas