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May 4, 2020 · Thus it is challenging to choose, let alone rank astronauts based on their prominence. But it’s also a fact that some names are more popular and influential than the others. Below is our list of the 15 most famous astronauts in the world.
- Yuri Gagarin: As the first man to ever go into space, no list of famous astronauts would be complete without Yuri Gagarin. Born in the village of Klushino in the Smolensk Oblast on March 9th, 1934, Gagarin was drafted into the Soviet Air Force in 1955 and trained in the use of jet fighters.
- Alan B. Shepard Jr.: In addition to being an astronaut and one of the Mercury Seven – the first seven pilots selected by NASA to go into space – Shepard was also the first American man to go into space.
- Valentina Tereshkova: Another famous Russian cosmonaut, Tereshkova is also internationally renowned for being the first woman to go into space. Born in the village of Maslennikovo in central Russia on March 6th, 1937, Tereshkova became interested in parachuting from a young age and began training at the local aeroclub.
- John Glenn Jr.: Colonel Glenn, USMC (retired) was a Marine Corps fighter pilot and a test pilot before becoming an astronaut. Due to his experience, he was chosen by NASA to be part of the Mercury Seven in 1959.
331.6K views563 items. This list of famous astronauts includes photos, bios, and other information, when available. Who are the top astronauts in the history of space travel? This list includes the most prominent astronauts, living and dead, both in the American space program and those of other countries.
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- Yuri Gagarin. In 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first person to go to space. The Soviet cosmonaut had been an impressive military fighter pilot, making him an ideal choice for this monumental moment.
- Alan Shepard. Born in 1923, Alan Shepard was one of NASA’s original seven astronauts. In 1961, he became the second person (after Yuri Gagarin) and the first American in space.
- Ham. In 1961, a male chimpanzee named Ham (an acronym for Holloman Aerospace Medical Center) became the first hominid sent into space. In an effort to prove that humans would be capable of performing basic tasks while in orbit, Ham was trained to push a lever when he saw a blue light.
- Neil Armstrong. Arguably the most famous astronaut of all time, Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon in 1969. During this incredible Apollo 11 mission, he said these iconic words: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
- Sally Ride – First American woman to go to space. Sally Ride was a physicist and astronaut who became the first American woman to travel to space. She flew on the Challenger STS-7 mission in 1983, which launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
- Kathryn D. Sullivan – First American woman to do a spacewalk. Kathryn D. Sullivan was an American geologist and astronaut who became the first American woman to do a spacewalk.
- Eileen Collins – First female commander of a space shuttle mission. Eileen Collins was an American astronaut and retired colonel in the U.S. Air Force who became the first female commander of a space shuttle mission.
- Sunita Williams – Indian-American astronaut who holds several spacewalking records. Sunita Williams is an Indian-American astronaut and naval aviator who has flown on two long-duration missions to the International Space Station.
Jul 16, 2023 · 1. Yuri Gagarin – Soviet Union. Yuri Gagarin with awards.jpg Arto Jousi / /Suomen valokuvataiteen museo / Alma Media / Uuden Suomen kokoelma; Restored by Adam Cuerden, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Gagarin, a native of the Russian SFSR hamlet of Klushino, used to work as a foundryman at a steel firm in Lyubertsy.
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Dec 8, 2023 · These pioneers in space have laid the groundwork for future deep space explorations, yet the soul of an explorer dwells in all of us. Find out more through the astronaut biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs available at the NASA Headquarters Library, listed below. NASA Headquarters employees and contractors: Call x0168 or email library@hq ...
