Astronauts Who Made It Big

Astronauts have always captured our imagination, venturing beyond the familiar and into the great unknown. Their missions have challenged the limits of human potential and paved the way for discovering things no one thought possible. So, let’s take a look at the 20 world-famous astronauts and the extraordinary feats that earned them a special place in history.

Wikimedia

1. Yuri Gagarin

Yuri Gagarin's historic 1961 flight aboard Vostok 1 made him an icon. Also, did you know that his "spacecraft" was more like a capsule than the glamorous spaceships we imagine today? His mission, lasting just 108 minutes, set the stage for the Space Race and put the Soviet Union ahead in the quest for space domination.

 Arto Jousi / /Suomen valokuvataiteen museo / Alma Media / Uuden Suomen kokoelma; Restored by Adam Cuerden on Wikimedia 

2. Neil Armstrong

Stepping onto the Moon in 1969, Neil's words, ‘That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,’ marked the pinnacle of space exploration. As the commander of Apollo 11, Armstrong's accomplishment inspired generations to reach for the stars.

 NASA on Wikimedia 

3. Buzz Aldrin

Right after Armstrong’s historic first step, Buzz Aldrin was the second person to walk on the Moon during Apollo 11. Aldrin's passion for space exploration didn’t end there—he later became an advocate for human settlement on Mars. Aldrin’s legacy extends far beyond lunar footprints.

NASA on Wikimedia

4. Valentina Tereshkova

On June 16, 1963, Valentina Tereshkova made history as the first woman to travel to space aboard Vostok 6. Orbiting Earth 48 times in 1963, she spent almost three days in space, gaining a reputation as a pioneering figure in the Soviet space program and a feminist icon for space exploration.

 Кremlin on Wikimedia 

5. John Glenn

John Glenn made history on February 20, 1962. He became the first American to orbit Earth aboard Friendship 7. His flight lasted just under five hours, but its significance reached far beyond the mission. It helped restore American confidence after the Soviet Union’s early space successes.

 NASA on Wikimedia 

6. Christina Koch

Setting a record for the longest solo spaceflight by a woman at 328 days, Koch also participated in the first all-female spacewalk. Her research aboard the ISS has advanced our understanding of human adaptation in microgravity, which is aiding plans for deep-space travel.

 NASA/Bill Stafford on Wikimedia 

7. Mae Jemison

Mae Jemison’s path to space was paved with perseverance. In 1992, aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour, she became the first African-American woman to travel to space. Beyond Jemison’s role as an astronaut, her influence continues to shape educational programs that encourage STEM careers for young women of color.

 NASA on Wikimedia 

8. Alan Shepard

In 1961, Alan Shepard made history as the first American to fly into space. Since his flight was suborbital, it was brief—just over 15 minutes. Yet, it marked the start of a bold new era. Shepard later went on to be the fifth person to step on the Moon during Apollo 14.

 NASA on Wikimedia 

9. Chris Hadfield

Chris Hadfield influenced the world during his time aboard the International Space Station with his unique take on space exploration. His music videos, like the one for Space Oddity, turned him into a global sensation. Hadfield’s charm was that he made the everyday experiences of an astronaut feel somehow relatable.

 NASA on Wikimedia 

10. Gennady Padalka

With a remarkable 878 days spent in space, Gennady holds the world record for the most time spent in space by any astronaut. His career reflects the endurance and adaptability required to live on space stations for extended periods. It pushed the boundaries of long-term space travel!

 NASA on Wikimedia 

11. Wally Funk

Wally Funk’s 2021 trip aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket at the age of 82 didn’t just make her the oldest person to fly to space—it was a victory years in the making. As part of the Mercury 13, she had undergone astronaut training in the 1960s but was denied a flight due to gender biases.

 NASA/Joel Kowsky on Wikimedia 

12. Svetlana Savitskaya

As the first woman to perform a spacewalk, Svetlana Savitskaya broke new ground for women in space. She flew on two space missions and made significant contributions to the Soviet Union’s space program, particularly in the areas of spacewalking and research on spaceborne operations.

 Mikhail Klimentyev / Russian Presidential Press and Information Office on Wikimedia 

13. Michael Collins

While Armstrong and Aldrin were making history on the Moon, Michael Collins orbited above in the Apollo 11 command module, Columbia. His contributions might not have been as immediately visible, but without his role as the command module pilot, the lunar landing would have been impossible.

 NASA on Wikimedia 

14. Scott Kelly

Kelly’s year-long stay aboard the ISS from 2015 to 2016 helped NASA study the effects of space on the human body. His twin brother, Mark, remained on Earth, allowing scientists to compare genetic changes, a key study for future Mars expeditions.

 Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America on Wikimedia 

15. Gus Grissom

Gus, one of the original Mercury 7 astronauts, flew aboard Mercury-Redstone 4 in 1961. Grissom also played a role in the Apollo 1 tragedy, where he, alongside two other astronauts, tragically lost his life due to a cabin fire during a pre-flight test.

 Wikimedia 

16. Yuri Baturin

Before his career in space, Baturin worked as a legal expert and served as an adviser to the Russian government. His spaceflights aboard Soyuz TM-28 (1998) and TM-32 (2001) contributed valuable research on human health in space. His work also added to both space exploration and the development of space law in Russia.

 Jaan Künnap on Wikimedia 

17. Jim Lovell

Best known for his leadership during the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission, Jim Lovell's quick thinking and determination saved his crew from certain disasters. The mission's near-catastrophe later became a Hollywood blockbuster, which cemented Lovell’s legacy as a heroic figure in space exploration.

 NASA on Wikimedia 

18. Peggy Whitson

With 665 days spent in space, Peggy Whitson holds the record for the most time spent by an American astronaut. However, Whitson's true distinction comes from her leadership role as the first female commander of the International Space Station. 

 NASA on Wikimedia 

19. John Young

John Young’s career is legendary not just for his accomplishments but for his diversity of roles. He was the first person to fly on both the Gemini and Apollo programs, and later, he piloted the first Space Shuttle mission. Young’s versatility across different space programs makes him a unique figure in space history.

 NASA Original uploader was W.wolny at de.wikipedia on Wikimedia 

20. Eileen Collins

Eileen Collins shattered glass ceilings when she became the first woman to command a Space Shuttle mission in 1999. Her journey from pilot to commander of the Space Shuttle Columbia shows how breaking barriers in space mirrored the broader struggles for women in science and technology.

 NASA, Robert Markowitz on Wikimedia