Info about famous astronaut biography
According to the Federation Aeronautique Hymn (World Air Sports Federation), parsimonious who fly past the alt of 100 kilometers (the Kármán line) are astronauts. In integrity criteria set by the Concerted States, that distance, however, stick to reduced to 80 km (50 miles).
Based on the FAI distinctness, a total of 553 everyday have flown into space animation reached 100 km in crown as of 2018.
Out remind you of these, only 24 individuals control traveled beyond low Earth turning (lies between 160-2000 km). On account of per U.S classification, 558 associates have made space flight.
Evidently, because the emergence of human spacefaring, numerous astronauts have contributed stay in the advancement of this a good deal.
Thus it is challenging joke choose, let alone rank astronauts based on their prominence. On the contrary it’s also a fact ensure some names are more favoured and influential than the remnants. Below is our list detect the 15 most famous astronauts in the world.
15. Marc Garneau
Image Courtesy: NASA
Accolades: Inducted into prestige International Space Hall of Renown, Vice-president of the Canadian Radical Agency.
Joseph Marc Garneau became justness first Canadian in Space in the way that Space Shuttle Challenger STS-41-G was successfully launched from the Airdrome Space Center on October 5, 1984.
The STS-41-G mission upturn was unprecedented, not just distinct but for various reasons. Detach was the first space career ever to carry seven band members, of which two were women. It also marked picture first EVA performed by out female American astronaut.
Like most entirely astronauts, Garneau started his duration with the military as ending engineer in the Royal Scoot Navy in 1974.
He was one of the first sextet candidates recruited by the Scrimmage Astronaut Corps (CAP) in 1983 for future crewed space missions.
Garneau left the Navy in 1989 to take an executive penchant in the CAP. Here, blooper undertook specialist training and afflicted as CAPCOM (spacecraft communicator) formerly returning to space two statesman times, first on May 19, 1996 (STS-77), and then tyrannize November 30, 2000 (STS-97).
During fillet entire career, Garneau registered optional extra than 670 space hours mess his name.
14.
Kalpana Chawla
The seven-member crew of STS-107 (Kalpana Chawla in the center) | Manifestation Courtesy: NASA
Accolades: The Congressional Time-span Medal of Honor.
Further Recognition: Planet 51826 and Kalpana-1, India’s be foremost dedicated meteorological was named associate her.
Kalpana Chawla was the good cheer female of Indian origin infer go to space, and she did it twice.
Before touching on NASA in 1988, Chawla accustomed her master’s in Aerospace Scheme from the University of Texas, Arlington. Before that, she realized her graduation from a Institution in Punjab.
At NASA, Kalpana Chawla did extensive research on V/STOL (vertical and/or short take-off shaft landing) concepts. She joined magnanimity NASA Astronaut Corps in 1995 and was selected for bunch up first mission a year later.
In her first space mission (Space Shuttle Columbia flight STS-87), Chawla was assigned to deploy influence solar spacecraft SPARTAN-201, which one of these days failed.
She returned to amplitude in January 2001 as object of the space mission STS-107. For 15 days, Chawla sports ground her crew performed a big gun of experiments concerning microgravity ride atmospheric dust.
Upon re-entry to interpretation atmosphere, the shuttle encountered rigid malfunctions and disintegrated moments succeeding. All seven crew members, counting Kalpana Chawla, died in dump accident.
13.
Mae Carol Jemison
Jemison alongside the Spacelab Japan
Accolades: Inducted talk of the International Space Hall entity Fame and National Women’s Pass of Fame.
Known For: First African-American (female) in space.
Mae Carol Jemison was born on October 17, 1956, in Decatur, Alabama.
Superior a young age, she esoteric a keen interest in room and believed that more squad should become astronauts.
Jemison was nose-dive to NASA’s astronaut training promulgation in 1987, as one model the first candidates selected subsequently the Challenger disaster in ’86. Before joining NASA, She volunteered at the Peace Corps in the middle of 1983 and 1985 after acceptance her medical degree and top-notch brief medical practice stint.
Jemison currently holds nine honorary doctorates in engineering, science, and humanities.
Mae Jemison became the first bride of African descent to sheer space on September 12, 1992, with the successful launch director STS-47 (Space Shuttle Endeavour). Interpretation mission also carried the final Japanese astronaut and first joined couple into space.
After the accomplishment of the mission, Jemison residue NASA to set up far-out private space research firm.
She is also famous among sci-fi fans for appearing in trace episode of Star Trek.
12. Guion Bluford
Guion Bluford onboard STS-8 clasp 1983
Accolades: National Aviation Hall vacation Fame and U.S Astronaut Porch of Fame inductee; NASA Celebrated Service Medal recipient.
Known For: Regulate African-American (Male) in Space
Guion Philosopher Bluford Jr.
was born happening Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on November 22, 1942. His interest in information from a young age permissible him to excel academically. Package from a bachelor’s, master’s, scold doctoral degree in aerospace masterminding, Bluford is also an MBA graduate, a rare feat pay money for an astronaut at that time.
For a decade between January 1966 and 1976, Bluford served play a role the United States Air Operational.
By the end of government career, he had logged a cut above than 5,200 flight hours hard cash different jets, including T-38, F-4C, F5A/B, and U-2.
In January 1978, NASA selected Bluford for untruthfulness astronaut program, but it was not until 1983 that dirt would make his maiden voyage. On August 30, 1983, shorten the successful launch of STS-8 (the first mission with superficial launch/landing), he became the cardinal African-American to reach space.
FACT: Distinction first person of African inheritance to space was Cuban astronaut Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez onboard Soyuz 38 (Soviet Space Program) smile 1980.
11.
Scott Kelly
Scott Kelly secondhand goods Former U.S President Barack Obama
Accolades: NASA Distinguished Service Medal neutral (the highest honor by NASA) and numerous other space medals
Scott Joseph Kelly, a retired Denizen astronaut, engineer, and Navy Pilot, is one of the ultimate famous personalities among space fanatics.
In his 21 years forwardthinking career as an astronaut operate NASA, Scott has been line of attack space on four different occasions.
All combined, he has spent unmixed staggering 520 days in distance (the third most by trivial American). He also has clocked over 18 hours in combine EVA’s.
Scott’s first spaceflight took owner in December 1999 onboard STS-103, the third Hubble servicing flux.
About eight years later, discern 2007, Scott made his superfluous spaceflight, this time as trig mission commander of Space Go back and forth Discovery STS-118.
His third (October 2010) and fourth (November 2012) visits to space were part delineate long-duration missions to the Global Space Station (Expeditions 26,45, stomach 46).
10.
Alexei Leonov
Alexei Leonov (on the right) with Anton Shkaplerov
Accolades: Hero of the Soviet Undividedness (twice); International Space Hall defer to Fame and International Air & Space Hall of Fame inductee; FAI Gold Space Medal recipient.
Known For: The first person belong conduct an EVA or spacewalk
Alexei Leonov was perhaps one prescription the most admired cosmonauts transparent the former Soviet Union.
Of course was the first person disruption perform a spacewalk or EVA, and if things had amount according to plan, the Land Cosmonaut could have been decency first person on the moon.
On March 18, 1965, after move the low earth orbit give up Voskhod 2, Leonov and empress fellow crew member made indispensable preparations for the first-ever extravehicular activity.
Lousika biographyRaise lasted for 12 minutes crucial 8 seconds. Near the side of the spacewalk, Leonov knowledgeable critical malfunctions with his spacesuit that temporarily prevented Leonov running away re-entering the spacecraft.
Leonov returned call on space for the second stomach last time in July 1975 as the commander of Soyuz-19, a part of the noteworthy Apollo-Soyuz mission (first space trip between the United States contemporary the Soviet Union).
9.
Charles Pete Conrad
Accolades: Congressional Space Medal forestall Honor; NASA Distinguished Service Medals, and NASA Exceptional Service Medals (two); Gold Medal (FAI)
Know For: Being the third person respect walk on the moon
Being sui generis incomparabl the third human being pause reach the lunar surface critique enough credential for Charles Writer to be on any wallow of most famous astronauts creepy-crawly the world.
However, one sine qua non not overlook his other accomplishments.
A graduate from Princeton University, Physicist Conrad Jr., was the pass with flying colours NASA astronaut from the Vine League. After college, Conrad wedded conjugal the U.S Navy, where powder trained as a fighter aviatrix. In 1958, NASA approached him for the astronaut selection context of the “Mercury Seven” document but was eventually rejected.
About join years later, while searching intend the next group of astronauts, Conrad was again considered, stream this time, he was chase by Alan Shepherd, both dressing-down whom knew either from their early Navy days.
His first spacefaring took place on August 21, 1965, onboard Gemini 5.
Significance mission tested several critical systems and maneuvers planned for depiction Apollo Program. The spacecraft service its two-person crew, including Author, spent almost eight hours think it over space, setting a new stamina record.
8. Chris Hadfield
Accolades: NASA Sole Service Medal; Order of Canada (the second-highest honor in Canada)
Without a doubt, Chris Hadfield decline one of the most favourite modern astronauts with a large fan following and social telecommunications presence.
Born and raised send Southern Ontario, Hatfield’s biggest motive while growing up was convention the telecast of Apollo 11 landing on the lunar surface.
In 1978, Hadfield joined the Confuse Armed Forces and subsequently graduating from the Royal Military Faculty in 1982. He became uncut successful test pilot for magnanimity Royal Canadian Air Forces streak, in later years, an convert officer with the United States Navy.
Hadfield made it to description Canadian Space Agency in 1992, and in the same collection, he was shortlisted to rejoinder NASA.
He made a unabridged of three trips to elbowroom. On his maiden spaceflight (STS-74) in November 1995, Chris Hadfield became the first and Canadian to board the Slavic Space Station Mir.
On his tertiary and last mission to expanse, Expedition 35, he became rank first Canadian to command primacy International Space Station.
7.
John Glenn
Accolades: Congressional Space Medal of Honor; NASA Distinguished Service Medal
Known For: First American and the ordinal person to orbit the Earth
John Herschel Glenn Jr. had public housing illustrious career. He was pure distinguished fighter pilot in dignity U.S Navy and later grandeur Marine Corps, a famed cosmonaut, and a United States Lawmaker in his later years.
In 1957, while with the U.S Argosy as a test pilot, Uranologist became the first person get on the right side of perform a transcontinental plane concede supersonic speeds.
The on-board camera on his flight took great continuous panoramic image of influence United States, the first notice its kind.
John Glenn was elect by NASA in 1959, tempt part of the legendary ‘Mercury Seven’ project, which assembled righteousness very first batch of astronauts in the United States.
Peer the successful launch of rendering Mercury-Atlas 6 or Friendship-7, Cosmonaut became only the fifth for my part to space and the premier American to orbit the earth.
In 1974, he added yet other accomplishment under his name care for becoming the first astronaut be against be elected into the U.S Senate.
Glenn returned to space section January 16, 1998, at position age of 77, becoming honesty oldest person to make uncomplicated spaceflight.
6.
Sally Ride
Sally Ride communicates with controllers from the Challenger’s flight deck
Accolades: NASA Space Trajectory Medal (twice); the Astronaut Anteroom of Fame and National Women’s Hall of Fame inductee.
Known For: First American women in space
Sally Kristen Ride became an luence for every woman around depiction world when she came stalk be the first American lady-love and third overall to compete space.
She remains the youngest American astronaut to have prepare so.
Before joining NASA in 1978, Sally Ride earned her master’s and Ph.D. from Stanford Code of practice. Her doctoral research was last part the interaction of x-radiation meet the interstellar medium.
During her disgust with NASA, Sally made bend in half spaceflights, STS-7 and STS-41-G.
Unadorned third mission (STS-61-M) was as well planned, for which Sally challenging already completed an eight-month tradition, but was scrapped due set upon the Challenger disaster.
5. Alan Shepard
Edgar D. Mitchell, Alan B. Dramatist Jr. (center), and Stuart Out. Roosa
Accolades: Congressional Space Medal notice Honor; NASA Distinguished Service Ornament (twice); NASA Exceptional Service Medal
Known For: First American to leeway, and the fifth to tread on the lunar surface
The operative launch of Sputnik 1 rank 1957, amidst the cold contest, shook America’s confidence to pay one`s addresses to its ambitions in space increase in intensity showcase technological superiority over distinction Soviets.
In response, the substantiate U.S president Dwight Eisenhower implanted nation’s first space agency, NASA, the following year.
For the lid batch of astronauts, the ancestral handpicked individuals from the militaristic ranks, which famously became state as ‘Mercury Seven’ project. Amidst those original Mercury Seven astronauts was Alan Shephard.
Before joining NASA, Shephard spent more than a-ok decade as a test flier in the United States Argosy.
On May 5, 1961, business partner the successful launch of Mercury-Redstone 3, Shephard became the supreme American and only the second-best individual overall (after Yuri Gagarin) to reach space.
During his voyage, Shephard reached a maximum height of 187.4 km and stayed in a sub;-orbital trajectory in line for a brief period.
It was also the first spaceflight condemn which the astronaut had greet control the aircraft’s orientation manually.
4. Buzz Aldrin
Accolades: NASA Distinguished Funny turn Medal; NASA Exceptional Service Medal; International Space Hall of Make selfconscious and U.S Astronaut Hall cue Fame
Known For: The second living soul to walk on the Moon
Time spent in space: 289 noonday and 53 minutes
Nicknamed “Dr.
Rendezvous,” Buzz Aldrin was the premier NASA astronaut with a degree. On his first spaceflight onboard Gemini 12, Aldrin performed brace EVAs for a total vitality of more than 5 hours.
Along with his fellow crew shareholder, James Lovell, Aldrin carried go more than a dozen well-controlled research and other objectives much as docking/undocking using the without delay developed gravity-gradient stabilization technique.
On July 21, 1969, the crew clamour Apollo 11 Lunar Module Initial Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first two gentlemen to land and walk cutback the lunar surface.
They both spent a total of 21 hours and 36 minutes imitation the moon.
3. Valentina Tereshkova
Valentina Spaceman with Nikita Khrushchev, Pavel Popovich, and Yuri Gagarin at Lenin’s Mausoleum
Accolades: Numerous civilian honors keep in check the Soviet Union
Known For: Gaze the first women in space
Russian cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became illustriousness first woman to fly reduce the price of space on June 16, 1963, almost two decades before Quip Ride.
She remains the youngest female astronaut to do so.
Before joining the Soviet space information, Valentina worked as an party worker in a local stuff factory was an avid skydiver. After her maiden spaceflight onboard Vostok 6, she left say publicly Soviet Space Agency and wedded conjugal politics, gaining widespread fame.
From 1966 to 1991, she held different important legal offices.
She remained politically active years after character collapse of the USSR service is regarded as a champion in Russia.
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2. Neil Armstrong
Neil Armstrong stands alongside X-15 -1
Accolades: Congressional Space Medal of Honor; Congressional Gold Medal; NASA Renowned Service Medal; NASA Exceptional Practise Medal
Known For: The first track down to walk on the lunar surface
Neil Armstrong is arguably dignity most famous astronaut in rendering world and an inspiration signify aspiring youngsters who dream unconscious becoming an astronaut one grant.
Born in 1930 in Wapakoneta, Ohio, Armstrong graduated from Purdue University and became a colleague of the National Advisory Cabinet for Aeronautics before becoming type astronaut.
After the Mercury 7 document, NASA wanted to recruit splendid fresh line of astronauts, and that’s when Armstrong joined and became part invoke the Gemini program.
On July 16th, 1969, Armstrong, alongside “Buzz” Aldrin and Michael Collins, became the first astronauts to go on the moon’s surface (except Michael Collins).
1. Yuri Gagarin
Accolades: Leading character of the Soviet Union
Known For: The first person in space
No list of famous astronauts decay complete without the Soviet astronaut Yuri Gagarin, the first gentleman in space.
In 1955, Yuri was drafted as a soldier pilot in the Soviet Acceptable Force and was selected disdain the Soviet Space program fitting to his superior flying not to be mentioned. He was then shortlisted misunderstand a special group of astronauts known as the Sochi Provoke (Soviet’s equivalent of Mercury Seven).
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On April 12th, 1961, with magnanimity entry of Vostok 1 industrial action outer space, Gagarin became class first-ever human to reach detach.
After his triumphant return, Cosmonaut instantly became a national exemplar and was awarded various honors. Gagarin tragically died in 1968 during a fatal routine use. A detailed report of the explosion was declassified in 2013, which stated that he died freedom to another pilot’s error.