ethnic or gender First in '08? 

First American Woman in Space - Astronaut. In 1983, Dr. Sally Ride After receiving her acceptance as an astronaut in January, 1978  became the first American woman in space as an astronaut on the shuttle Challenger.  She was a mission specialist on STS-7, which launched from Kennedy Space Center, FL, on June 18.

  First African American ( Black Man) In Space.  Guion "Guy" Bluford in 1978 became the 35th astronaut candidates selected from a field of over 10,000. Guion Bluford entered the Astronaut Training Program, and became an astronaut in August 1979 Guy's first mission was STS-8 aboard the space shuttle Challenger, which launched from Kennedy Space Center on Aug. 30, 1983.

http://space.about.com/cs/formerastronauts/a/guionbluford.htm

possible or coincidental parallels