Whoever is fascinated or at least has a great interest in external affairs of our planet, surely likes to know about this immense universe. One of the smartest ways to study what is out there is to use the various mechanisms created to meet this need, and without human participation nothing would be possible.
Yes, we are mainly talking about astronauts. Of course, all the big engines needed like rockets, space shuttles, etc. are essential, but without astronauts we would know little. Well, they are always the most important when it comes to searching what exists in the external vacuum, and if you want to know the biggest contributors to this, check out our beautiful list!
The most famous names in space
For those who think that we are referring only to men, you are very much mistaken. Women also played big roles in this extraordinary and fascinating world. The truth is that to be an excellent astronaut it is necessary to study a lot and acquire rather complex knowledge. But without further ado, let's go to the names of the world's greatest astronauts.
Yuri Gagarim
He was the first man to visit space! The 27-year-old Soviet cosmonaut on April 12, 1961 made a simple trip into space. Yuri didn't do much, he just observed the land and brought up a phrase that became his: “The Earth is blue. How wonderful. She is amazing! The cosmonaut died in a plane crash in 1968.
John Glenn
He was the first American to enter Earth orbit on February 20, 1962. Through the Friendship 7 space capsule, he was the third American to visit space, but the first to enter our planet's orbit.
Alan Shepard
The first American to visit space! Remember the Mercury and Apollo projects? Well, he participated! During the Apollo 14 mission, Shepard was considered one of 12 humans who were in contact with the moon.
Gus Grissom
He is the second astronaut to have known space and the first NASA astronaut to have visited space twice. Grissom nearly died by drowning on the landing of his first mission, which took place on July 21, 1961, when the spacecraft crashed into the ocean. In addition, he was responsible for commanding Gemini III, along with John Young. Grissom died in 1967, inside the Apollo 1 command module.
John Young
The only astronaut who visited space 6 times! Well, he has a pretty advanced curriculum, right? John was the ninth man to set foot on the moon in command of the Apollo 16 mission.
Valentina Tereshkova
She was the first cosmonaut! The first woman to visit space was Valentina on June 16, 1963, on Vostok 6.
Neil Armstrong
He was the first man to set foot on the moon, on the Apollo 11 mission. On July 20, 1969, Armstrong became the most famous astronaut in the world for his landing on the moon. Prior to this expedition, he had already gone into space on the Gemini 8 mission.
Alan Bean
He is no longer an astronaut, today he works as a painter and his paintings depict his entire experience in space. Bean was the fourth man to walk on the moon on the Apollo 12 mission. He also participated in the skylab 3 mission in 1973, where he spent about 13 hours working away from the spacecraft.
Sally ride
First American woman to visit space and third in the world. Sally was selected from 8 applicants who wanted to serve NASA.
Christa Mcauliffe
Christa was a space professor, invited to the STS-51-L mission. She died in 1986 in the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger, which occurred after launch.
Eileen Collins
The only woman to have visited space 4 times and the first person responsible for commanding a space shuttle. Collins was the first astronaut who managed to perform the 360º turn of the space shuttle she commanded around herself.
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Of course, there are many other astronauts who have visited space, totaling around 564 people so far. However, the astronauts cited here were those who did important things for their missions, so they are more recognized. Anyway, the world outside the earth seems to be fascinating for us, let alone for those who have already visited.
