WALLOPS ISLAND — The Virginia Space Flight Academy (VASFA) announces there will be two free screenings of the National Geographic documentary “The Space Race: The Untold Story of the First Black Astronauts” at two locations:

• Princess Anne, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore's Student Services Center (SSC) Theater on Tuesday, Feb. 13; and
• Melfa, Eastern Shore Community College's Great Hall on Thursday, Feb. 15.

Doors at both venues open at 6 p.m. for refreshments and networking with aerospace representatives from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, Rocket Lab, SAIC (Science Applications International Corporation), Virginia Spaceport Authority, and industry leaders.

The 90-minute film follows at 7. To register for one of the free screenings visit www.vasfa.org/events.

A VASFA spokesperson noted that the movie “masterfully intertwines the captivating stories of Black astronauts who courageously sought to break the bonds of social injustice to reach for the stars.”

“From the challenges faced by African American astronauts in the early days of NASA to the echoes of civil unrest reaching the International Space Station in 2020, "The Space Race" tells a powerful tale of resilience and determination. The film transforms Afrofuturism dreams into reality, turning science fiction into science fact and forever redefining what “the right stuff” looks like, giving us new heroes to celebrate and a fresh history to explore.”

The film is directed by Diego Hurtado de Mendoza and Lisa Cortés, and the documentary profiles pioneering individuals such as Guion Bluford, Ed Dwight, and Charles Bolden, among others.