Few achievements in human history rival the moment someone leaves Earth. The thought of piercing the planet’s atmosphere and orbiting the globe speaks to our endless curiosity. Over the decades, hundreds have made that leap. This definitive list of astronauts who have gone to space isn’t just about names; it’s about people who made the unimaginable possible. Each entry carries a legacy of science, risk, discovery, and profound personal courage.
So, let’s travel through time and space and revisit those who made it beyond the blue sky.
Following are List of 22 Astronauts Who Have Gone To Space
1. Yuri Gagarin (USSR)
In 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space, completing a single orbit aboard Vostok 1. His mission lasted just 108 minutes, but it changed the course of history and started the space age for humanity.
2. Alan Shepard (USA)
The first American in space, Alan Shepard, flew aboard Freedom 7 in 1961. Though his suborbital flight lasted only 15 minutes, it marked a significant milestone in NASA’s Mercury Program.
3. Valentina Tereshkova (USSR)
In 1963, Tereshkova became the first woman in space. Aboard Vostok 6, she spent nearly three days in orbit, proving women could handle the stresses of space just as well as men.
The Apollo Era: To the Moon and Back
4. Neil Armstrong (USA)
Commander of Apollo 11, Armstrong, became the first human to walk on the Moon in July 1969. His now-iconic quote, “That’s one small step for man,” was broadcast across Earth.
5. Buzz Aldrin (USA)
The second man on the Moon, Aldrin, joined Armstrong on the lunar surface and helped deploy experiments and capture iconic photographs. He later became an advocate for Mars exploration.
6. Michael Collins (USA)
While Armstrong and Aldrin descended to the Moon, Collins orbited above in the Command Module, often described as “the loneliest man in history.”
7. Jim Lovell (USA)
Known for commanding the Apollo 13 mission, Lovell helped safely return the crew after a catastrophic failure en route to the Moon. His problem-solving skills saved lives and earned NASA global admiration.
8. Gene Cernan (USA)
Cernan, commander of Apollo 17, holds the title of the last man to walk on the Moon. Before returning to the lunar module, he etched his daughter’s initials into the Moon dust.
The Space Shuttle Era: Pushing Boundaries
9. Sally Ride (USA)
In 1983, Ride became the first American woman in space aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger. She broke gender barriers and later worked to promote STEM education among young girls.
10. Guion Bluford (USA)
The first African-American astronaut to reach space, Bluford flew on STS-8 in 1983 and participated in crucial satellite deployments and research in orbit.
11. Mae Jemison (USA)
In 1992, Jemison became the first African-American woman in space aboard STS-47. A physician, she conducted experiments on bone cell research during the mission.
12. John Glenn (USA)
Glenn was the first American to orbit Earth in 1962, but more remarkable is that he returned to space 36 years later at age 77 aboard the Shuttle Discovery, becoming the oldest astronaut to fly.
International Explorers: A Global Effort
13. Rakesh Sharma (India)
Flying aboard a Soviet Soyuz mission in 1984, Rohit Sharma became the first Indian in space. When asked how India looked from space, he famously replied, “Saare Jahan Se Achha.”
14. Chris Hadfield (Canada)
The charismatic astronaut flew on two Shuttle missions and commanded the ISS in 2013. He became a global sensation with his zero-gravity performance of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity.”
15. Koichi Wakata (Japan)
Wakata has flown five times to space across the Shuttle, ISS, and Soyuz platforms. He was Japan’s first ISS commander and contributed extensively to microgravity research.
16. Samantha Cristoforetti (Italy)
As ESA’s most prominent astronaut, Cristoforetti holds records for the longest uninterrupted spaceflight by a European astronaut and is known for her outreach to students and educators.
The ISS Era: Science in Orbit
17. Peggy Whitson (USA)
Whitson holds the record for most cumulative time in space by an American astronaut (665 days). As an ISS commander, she led various life science experiments and inspired millions.
18. Scott Kelly (USA)
Best known for spending nearly a year in space, Kelly’s mission offered crucial data on the effects of long-duration spaceflight compared to his twin brother on Earth.
19. Sergey Krikalev (Russia)
Krikalev logged over 800 days in space, including time aboard Mir and the ISS. He was also famous for orbiting Earth during the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The New Space Age: Private Missions and Civilian Explorers
20. Hayley Arceneaux (USA)
Aboard SpaceX’s Inspiration4 in 2021, Arceneaux became the youngest American in space and the first pediatric cancer survivor to orbit, paving the way for inclusive space travel.
21. Wally Funk (USA)
Denied the chance in the 1960s despite rigorous training, Funk finally flew at age 82 aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard, making her the oldest person to travel to space.
22. Anousheh Ansari (USA/Iran)
In 2006, Ansari became the first Iranian and female private space explorer, self-funding her trip to the ISS and representing the growing role of civilians in space.
The Growing Roster
The list of astronauts who have gone to space now includes more than 600 individuals, and it’s growing rapidly thanks to commercial ventures and international collaborations. From SpaceX’s Crew Dragon to China’s Tiangong station, new generations of astronauts are being trained to live, work, and eventually colonize beyond Earth.
While we’ve highlighted 22 standout figures here, this is only a fraction of the incredible list of astronauts who have gone to space. Whether they flew a single mission or returned multiple times, each one adds a chapter to the ongoing human story in orbit.
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Conclusion
Space travel has always been about more than just technology. It’s about bravery, unity, and a deep need to understand our place in the cosmos. As the list of astronauts who have gone to space grows, so does our sense of possibility. These List of astronauts didn’t just orbit Earth; they expanded the frontier of what it means to be human.
