List of astronauts by selection
Encyclopedia
This is a list of astronaut
s by year of selection, people selected for training for a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft
. Until recently, astronauts were sponsored and trained exclusively by governments, either by the military or by civilian space agencies. However, with the first sub-orbital flight of the privately-funded SpaceShipOne in 2004, a new category of astronaut was created – the commercial astronaut
.
While the term astronaut is sometimes applied to anyone who travels into space, including scientists, politicians, journalists, and tourists, this article only lists professional astronauts. A list of everyone who has flown in space can be found at List of space travelers by name.
As of 2008, more than 480 people had trained as astronauts.
– USA
– Mercury Seven – USA
April – Dyna-Soar Group 1 – USA
September 17 – NASA Group 2
– The Next Nine (Also: The Nifty Nine, The New Nine) – USA
September 19 – Dyna-Soar Group 2 – USA
October 17 – NASA Group 3
– The Fourteen – USA
May 26 – Voskhod Group (Medical Group 1) – USSR
June 11 – Civilian Specialist Group 1 – USSR
June 1 – Medical Group 2 – USSR
June 28 – NASA Group 4 – The Scientists – USA
October 28 – Air Force Group 3 – USSR
November – USAF MOL Group 1 – USA
May 23 – Civilian Specialist Group 2 – USSR
June 30 – USAF MOL Group 2 – USA
May 7 – Air Force Group 4 – USSR
May 22 – Academy of Sciences Group – USSR
June – USAF MOL Group 3 – USA
October 4 – NASA Group 6 – XS-11 (The Excess Eleven) – USA
September 10 – Civilian Engineer Group – USSR
May – Shuguang Group 1970 – China
March 22 – Medical Group 3 – USSR
November 25 – 1976 Intercosmos Group – USSR
March 1 – 1978 Intercosmos Group – USSR
May 1 – Spacelab
Payload Specialists Group 1 – ESA
– Group 1
April 1 – 1979 Intercosmos Group – USSR
July 30 – LII
-1/IMBP-3/MAP/NPOE-5
/AN-2 Cosmonaut Group – Soviet Union
1980 – CNES Group 1 – France
– Group 2
December 1 – Spacelab Payload Specialists Group – Germany
Group – Canada
Cosmonaut Group – Soviet Union
May 23 – NASA Group 10 – The Maggots – USA
July 19 – NASA Teacher in Space
Program – USA
August 1 – 1985 NASDA Group – Japan
August – USAF Manned Spaceflight Engineer
– Group 3
September 2 – GKNII-2/NPOE-7
Cosmonaut Group – Soviet Union
September 18 – CNES Group 2 – France
/NPOE-8
Cosmonaut Group – Soviet Union
June 5 – NASA Group 12 – The GAFFers – USA
August 3 – 1987 German Group
/TsPK-10
Cosmonaut Group – Soviet Union
February – CNES Group 3 – France
May 11 – TsPK-11
Cosmonaut Group – Soviet Union
October 8 – 1990 German Group
Cosmonaut Group – Russia
March 31 – NASA Group 14 – The Hogs – USA
April – 1992 NASDA Group – Japan
June – CSA Group 2 – Canada
May 15 – 1992 ESA Group – ESA
Cosmonaut Group – Russia
December 12 – NASA Group 15 – The Flying Escargot – USA
/RKKE-12
Cosmonaut Group – Russia
March 26 – MKS supplemental cosmonaut group – Russia
May 1 – NASA Group 16 – The Sardines – USA
June – NASDA Group – Japan
October – China Group 1996 – China
/RKKE-13
Cosmonaut Group – Russia
Israel
February 24 – RKKE-14
Cosmonaut Group – Russia
June 4 – NASA Group 17 – The Penguins – USA
October 7 – 1998 ESA Group – ESA
1 November – 1999 ESA Group – Europe
/RKKE-15
/IMBP-6 Cosmonaut Group – Russia
September 11 – SpaceShipOne – USA
Astronaut Pilots Group – UK
September 4 – Angkasawan Group – Malaysia
October 11 – TsPK-14
/RKKE-16
Cosmonaut Group – Russia
December 25 – Korean Astronaut Program
Group
May 13 – CSA Group – Canada
May 20 – ESA Group – The Shenanigans – ESA
June 29 – NASA Group 20 – Chumps – USA
September 8 – JAXA Group – Japan
Astronaut
An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
s by year of selection, people selected for training for a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft
Spacecraft
A spacecraft or spaceship is a craft or machine designed for spaceflight. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, planetary exploration and transportation of humans and cargo....
. Until recently, astronauts were sponsored and trained exclusively by governments, either by the military or by civilian space agencies. However, with the first sub-orbital flight of the privately-funded SpaceShipOne in 2004, a new category of astronaut was created – the commercial astronaut
Commercial Astronaut
A commercial astronaut is a person trained to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a privately funded spacecraft.-Criteria:The criteria for determining who has achieved human spaceflight vary. The FAI defines spaceflight as any flight over of altitude...
.
While the term astronaut is sometimes applied to anyone who travels into space, including scientists, politicians, journalists, and tourists, this article only lists professional astronauts. A list of everyone who has flown in space can be found at List of space travelers by name.
As of 2008, more than 480 people had trained as astronauts.
| 1958 1959 1960 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1976 1978 1979 |
| 1980 1982 1983 1984 1985 1987 1989 1990 1992 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2003 2004 2006 2009 2013 |
1958
June 25 – Man In Space SoonestMan In Space Soonest
Man In Space Soonest was a United States Air Force program to put a man into outer space before the Soviet Union did. The program was cancelled on August 1, 1958, and was replaced by NASA's Project Mercury. Only two men from the program would actually reach outer space. The first, Joseph A....
– USA
- Neil ArmstrongNeil ArmstrongNeil Alden Armstrong is an American former astronaut, test pilot, aerospace engineer, university professor, United States Naval Aviator, and the first person to set foot upon the Moon....
, William B. BridgemanBill BridgemanWilliam [Bill] Barton Bridgeman was an American test pilot who broke aviation records while working for the Douglas aircraft company testing experimental aircraft....
, Albert S. Crossfield, Iven C. Kincheloe, John B. McKayJohn B. McKayJohn B. McKay was one of the first pilots assigned to the X-15 flight research program at NASA's Flight Research Center, Edwards Air Force Base, California. As a civilian research pilot and aeronautical engineer, he made 30 flights in X-15s from October 28, 1960, until September 8, 1966...
, Robert A. RushworthRobert A. RushworthRobert Aitken Rushworth was a United States Air Force test pilot for the North American X-15 program. Born in Madison, Maine on October 9, 1924. He studied mechanical engineering at the University of Maine, receiving a BE in 1951. He received a BS in aeronautical engineering from the Air Force...
, Joseph A. WalkerJoseph A. WalkerJoseph Albert "Joe" Walker was an American NASA test pilot, and member of the U.S. Air Force Man In Space Soonest program. In 1963, he made two X-15 Experimental rocket aircraft flights beyond the altitude of 100 kilometers - at the edge of outer space...
, Alvin S. WhiteAlvin S. WhiteAlvin Swauger White was an American test pilot, engineer, and a USAF astronaut. He flew the maiden flights of both XB-70 Valkyrie aircraft, the first 2,000 mph flight, and all subsequent Mach 3 flights.-Biography:...
, Robert M. WhiteRobert M. WhiteMajor General Robert Michael "Bob" White was a military aircraft test pilot and a major general in the United States Air Force...
- Note: Nine test pilots from the National Advisory Committee for AeronauticsNational Advisory Committee for AeronauticsThe National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics was a U.S. federal agency founded on March 3, 1915 to undertake, promote, and institutionalize aeronautical research. On October 1, 1958 the agency was dissolved, and its assets and personnel transferred to the newly created National Aeronautics and...
(NACA), the United States Air ForceUnited States Air ForceThe United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
(USAF), North American AviationNorth American AviationNorth American Aviation was a major US aerospace manufacturer, responsible for a number of historic aircraft, including the T-6 Texan trainer, the P-51 Mustang fighter, the B-25 Mitchell bomber, the F-86 Sabre jet fighter, the X-15 rocket plane, and the XB-70, as well as Apollo Command and Service...
(NAA), and Douglas Aircraft Corporation were selected for the Man In Space SoonestMan In Space SoonestMan In Space Soonest was a United States Air Force program to put a man into outer space before the Soviet Union did. The program was cancelled on August 1, 1958, and was replaced by NASA's Project Mercury. Only two men from the program would actually reach outer space. The first, Joseph A....
project, a USAF initiative to put a man in space before the Soviet UnionSoviet UnionThe Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
did. The project was cancelled on August 1, but two of these men would later reach space: Walker made two X-15 flights above 100 kilometers in 1963; and Neil Armstrong joined NASANASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
in 1962 and flew in Project GeminiProject GeminiProject Gemini was the second human spaceflight program of NASA, the civilian space agency of the United States government. Project Gemini was conducted between projects Mercury and Apollo, with ten manned flights occurring in 1965 and 1966....
and Apollo, becoming the first human to walk on the Moon on July 21, 1969.
1959
April 9 – NASA Group 1Mercury Seven
Mercury Seven was the group of seven Mercury astronauts selected by NASA on April 9, 1959. They are also referred to as the Original Seven and Astronaut Group 1...
– Mercury Seven – USA
- Scott CarpenterScott CarpenterMalcolm Scott Carpenter is an American engineer, former test pilot, astronaut, and aquanaut. He is best known as one of the original seven astronauts selected for NASA's Project Mercury in April 1959....
, Gordon CooperGordon CooperLeroy Gordon Cooper, Jr. , also known as Gordon Cooper, was an American aeronautical engineer, test pilot and NASA astronaut. Cooper was one of the seven original astronauts in Project Mercury, the first manned space effort by the United States...
, John GlennJohn GlennJohn Herschel Glenn, Jr. is a former United States Marine Corps pilot, astronaut, and United States senator who was the first American to orbit the Earth and the third American in space. Glenn was a Marine Corps fighter pilot before joining NASA's Mercury program as a member of NASA's original...
, Gus Grissom, Wally SchirraWally SchirraWalter Marty Schirra, Jr. was an American test pilot, United States Navy officer, and one of the original Mercury 7 astronauts chosen for the Project Mercury, America's effort to put humans in space. He is the only person to fly in all of America's first three space programs...
, Alan ShepardAlan ShepardAlan Bartlett Shepard, Jr. was an American naval aviator, test pilot, flag officer, and NASA astronaut who in 1961 became the second person, and the first American, in space. This Mercury flight was designed to enter space, but not to achieve orbit...
and Deke SlaytonDeke SlaytonDonald Kent Slayton , better known as Deke Slayton, was an American World War II pilot and later, one of the original NASA Mercury Seven astronauts....
.
- Note: The first group of astronauts selected by NASANASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
were for Project MercuryProject MercuryIn January 1960 NASA awarded Western Electric Company a contract for the Mercury tracking network. The value of the contract was over $33 million. Also in January, McDonnell delivered the first production-type Mercury spacecraft, less than a year after award of the formal contract. On February 12,...
in April 1959. All seven were military test pilots, a requirement specified by President Eisenhower to simplify the selection process. All seven eventually flew in space, although one, Deke Slayton, did not fly a Mercury mission due to a medical disqualification, instead flying later on the Apollo-Soyuz mission. The other six each flew one Mercury mission. For two of these, Scott Carpenter and John Glenn, the Mercury mission was their only flight in the Apollo era (Glenn later flew on the Space ShuttleSTS-95STS-95 was a Space Shuttle Discovery mission launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida on 29 October 1998. It was the 25th flight of Discovery and the 92nd mission flown since the start of the Space Shuttle program in April 1981. It was a highly publicized mission due to former Project Mercury...
). Three of the Mercury astronauts, Gus Grissom, Gordon Cooper and Wally Schirra, also each flew a mission during the Gemini program. Alan Shepard was slated to fly Mercury 10 before its cancellation and was the original commander for the Gemini 3Gemini 3Gemini 3 was the first manned mission in NASA's Gemini program, the second American manned space program. On March 23, 1965, the spacecraft, nicknamed The Molly Brown, performed the seventh manned US spaceflight, and the 17th manned spaceflight overall...
mission, but did not fly due to a medical disqualification. After surgery to correct the problem, he later flew as commander of Apollo 14Apollo 14Apollo 14 was the eighth manned mission in the American Apollo program, and the third to land on the Moon. It was the last of the "H missions", targeted landings with two-day stays on the Moon with two lunar EVAs, or moonwalks....
. He was the only Mercury astronaut to go to the Moon. Wally Schirra also flew on ApolloProject ApolloThe Apollo program was the spaceflight effort carried out by the United States' National Aeronautics and Space Administration , that landed the first humans on Earth's Moon. Conceived during the Presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Apollo began in earnest after President John F...
as commander of Apollo 7Apollo 7Apollo 7 was the first manned mission in the American Apollo space program, and the first manned US space flight after a cabin fire killed the crew of what was to have been the first manned mission, AS-204 , during a launch pad test in 1967...
, as well as Mercury and Gemini, the only astronaut to fly on all three types of spacecraft. (Gus Grissom was scheduled to fly the first ApolloApollo 1Apollo 1 was scheduled to be the first manned mission of the Apollo manned lunar landing program, with a target launch date of February 21, 1967. A cabin fire during a launch pad test on January 27 at Launch Pad 34 at Cape Canaveral killed all three crew members: Command Pilot Virgil "Gus"...
flight, but died in a fire on the launch padApollo 1Apollo 1 was scheduled to be the first manned mission of the Apollo manned lunar landing program, with a target launch date of February 21, 1967. A cabin fire during a launch pad test on January 27 at Launch Pad 34 at Cape Canaveral killed all three crew members: Command Pilot Virgil "Gus"...
during training. It is also widely assumed that had he lived, he would have been the first man to walk on the moon.) Gordon Cooper was a backup commander for Apollo 10Apollo 10Apollo 10 was the fourth manned mission in the American Apollo space program. It was an F type mission—its purpose was to be a "dry run" for the Apollo 11 mission, testing all of the procedures and components of a Moon landing without actually landing on the Moon itself. The mission included the...
, the "dress rehearsal" flight for the lunar landing, and would have commanded another mission (likely to have been Apollo 13Apollo 13Apollo 13 was the seventh manned mission in the American Apollo space program and the third intended to land on the Moon. The craft was launched on April 11, 1970, at 13:13 CST. The landing was aborted after an oxygen tank exploded two days later, crippling the service module upon which the Command...
, according to the crew rotation), but was bumped from the rotation after a disagreement with NASA management.
- At least one member of the Mercury Seven flew on every NASA class of manned spacecraft of the 20th century, from Mercury, through Gemini and Apollo, and ending with John Glenn's flight on the STS-95STS-95STS-95 was a Space Shuttle Discovery mission launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida on 29 October 1998. It was the 25th flight of Discovery and the 92nd mission flown since the start of the Space Shuttle program in April 1981. It was a highly publicized mission due to former Project Mercury...
Space ShuttleSpace ShuttleThe Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
mission.
1960
March 7 – Air Force Group 1 – USSR- Ivan AnikeyevIvan AnikeyevIvan Nikolayevich Anikeyev was a Soviet cosmonaut who was dismissed from the Soviet space program for disciplinary reasons....
, Pavel BelyayevPavel BelyayevPavel Ivanovich Belyayev , , was a Soviet fighter pilot with extensive experience in piloting different types of aircraft...
, Valentin BondarenkoValentin BondarenkoValentin Vasiliyevich Bondarenko was a Soviet fighter pilot and cosmonaut. He died during a training accident in Moscow, USSR, in 1961. A crater on the Moon's far side is named for him.-Education and military training:...
, Valery Bykovsky, Valentin FilatyevValentin FilatyevValentin Ignatyevich Filatyev was a Soviet cosmonaut who was dismissed from the Soviet space program for disciplinary reasons....
, Yuri GagarinYuri GagarinYuri Alekseyevich Gagarin was a Soviet pilot and cosmonaut. He was the first human to journey into outer space, when his Vostok spacecraft completed an orbit of the Earth on April 12, 1961....
, Viktor GorbatkoViktor GorbatkoViktor Vasilyevich Gorbatko was a Soviet cosmonaut who flew on the Soyuz 7, Soyuz 24, and Soyuz 37 missions.After leaving the space program in 1982 he taught at the Air Force Engineering Academy in Moscow.-References:...
, Anatoli Kartashov, Yevgeny KhrunovYevgeny KhrunovYevgeni Vassilyevich Khrunov was a Soviet cosmonaut who flew on the Soyuz 5/Soyuz 4 mission.He was born in Prudy.Yevgeni Khrunov was a colonel, Hero of the Soviet Union and Kandidat of Technical Sciences ....
, Vladimir Komarov, Aleksei LeonovAleksei LeonovAlexey Arkhipovich Leonov is a retired Soviet/Russian cosmonaut and Air Force Major General who, on 18 March 1965, became the first human to conduct a space walk.-Biography:...
, Grigori NelyubovGrigori NelyubovGrigori Grigoyevich Nelyubov was a Soviet cosmonaut who was likely to have been the third or fourth person in space before his dismissal from the Soviet space program....
, Andrian NikolayevAndrian NikolayevAndriyan Grigoryevich Nikolayev , was a Soviet cosmonaut. He was an ethnic Chuvash.- History :...
, Pavel PopovichPavel Popovich- Biography :He was born in Uzyn, Kiev Oblast of Soviet Union . to Roman Porfirievich Popovich and Theodosia Kasyanovna Semyonov. He had two sisters and two brothers ....
, Mars RafikovMars RafikovMars Zakirovich Rafikov was a Soviet cosmonaut who was dismissed from the Soviet space program for disciplinary reasons.Senior Lieutenant Rafikov, age 26, was selected as one of the original 20 cosmonauts on March 7, 1960 along with Yuri Gagarin....
, Georgi ShoninGeorgi ShoninGeorgy Stepanovich Shonin was a Soviet cosmonaut, who flew on the Soyuz 6 space mission....
, Gherman TitovGherman TitovGherman Stepanovich Titov was a Soviet cosmonaut who, on August 6, 1961, became the second human to orbit the Earth aboard Vostok 2, preceded by Yuri Gagarin on Vostok 1...
, Valentin VarlamovValentin VarlamovValentin Varlamov was a Russian jet pilot who was selected for Tsentr Podgotovka Kosmonavtov or TsPK-1, the first intake of 20 cosmonaut candidates in 1960...
, Boris VolynovBoris VolynovBoris Valentinovich Volynov is a Soviet cosmonaut who flew two space missions of the Soyuz programme: Soyuz 5, and Soyuz 21. He was the first Jewish cosmonaut.-Biography:...
, and Dmitri ZaikinDmitri ZaikinDmitri Alekseyevich Zayikin was a trainer of cosmonauts.He graduated from Military Fighter Pilot School, Armavir and Frunse , in 1955, and was selected for the cosmonaut training in 1960, as one of a group of the twenty Air Force pilots who would train as the first cosmonauts.Zayikin was assigned as...
.
- Note: The initial group of Soviet cosmonauts was chosen from Soviet Air Force jet pilots.
April – Dyna-Soar Group 1 – USA
- Neil ArmstrongNeil ArmstrongNeil Alden Armstrong is an American former astronaut, test pilot, aerospace engineer, university professor, United States Naval Aviator, and the first person to set foot upon the Moon....
, Bill DanaWilliam H. Dana-Career:Dana was born in Pasadena, California, November 3, 1930, received his Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Military Academy in 1952 and served four years as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force...
, Henry C. GordonHenry C. GordonHenry Charles Gordon was a X-20 Dyna-Soar astronaut and a colonel in the United States Air Force....
, Pete KnightWilliam J. KnightWilliam J. "Pete" Knight was a U.S. politician, combat pilot, test pilot, and astronaut. Knight holds the world's speed record for flight in a winged, powered aircraft...
, Russell L. RogersRussell L. RogersRussell Lee Rogers was an astronaut assigned to the X-20 Dyna-Soar program. He was born on April 12, 1928 in Lawrence, Kansas. He was married with five children. Rogers was killed when the engine of his F-105 fighter plane failed near Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan on September 13, 1967...
, Milt ThompsonMilton O. ThompsonMilton Orville Thompson was a NASA research pilot who was selected as an astronaut for the United States Air Force X-20 Dyna-Soar program in April 1960. After the Dyna-Soar program was cancelled on 10 December 1963, he remained a NASA research pilot, and went on to fly the X-15 rocket plane...
, and James W. WoodJames W. WoodJames Wayne Wood was an American astronaut in the X-20 Dyna-Soar program.He was born in Paragould, Arkansas on August 9, 1924....
.
- Note: In April 1960, seven men were secretly chosen for the Dyna-Soar program. Armstrong had previously been part of the MISSMan In Space SoonestMan In Space Soonest was a United States Air Force program to put a man into outer space before the Soviet Union did. The program was cancelled on August 1, 1958, and was replaced by NASA's Project Mercury. Only two men from the program would actually reach outer space. The first, Joseph A....
program. Armstrong and Dana left the program in the summer of 1962.
1962
March 12 – Female Group – USSR- Tatyana KuznetsovaTatyana KuznetsovaTatyana Dmitryevna Kuznetsova is a former Soviet cosmonaut. She is the youngest person ever selected by a government human spaceflight program....
, Valentina PonomaryovaValentina PonomaryovaValentina Leonidovna Ponomaryova is a former Soviet Cosmonaut.In December 1961, the selection of female cosmonauts was authorised by the Soviet Government, with the specific intention of ensuring the first woman in space was a Soviet citizen. In February 1962 Ponomaryova was selected in a group of...
, Irina SolovyovaIrina SolovyovaIrina Bayanovna Solovyova was one of the five women chosen in the female group, now a retired Soviet cosmonaut. She never flew into space, but was chosen as the backup to Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space via Vostok 6 in June, 1963...
, Valentina TereshkovaValentina TereshkovaValentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova is a retired Soviet cosmonaut, and was the first woman in space. She was selected out of more than four hundred applicants, and then out of five finalists, to pilot Vostok 6 on the 16 June, 1963, becoming both the first woman and the first civilian to fly in...
, and Zhanna YorkinaZhanna YorkinaZhanna Dmitriyevna Yorkina is a former Soviet Cosmonaut.In December 1961, the selection of female cosmonaut trainees was authorized by the Soviet government, with the specific intention of ensuring the first woman in space was a Soviet citizen...
.
- Note: On March 12, 1962, a group of five civilian women with parachuting experience was added to the cosmonaut training program. Only Tereshkova would fly. A leading Soviet high-altitude parachutist, 20-year-old Tatyana KuznetsovaTatyana KuznetsovaTatyana Dmitryevna Kuznetsova is a former Soviet cosmonaut. She is the youngest person ever selected by a government human spaceflight program....
was, and remains, the youngest person ever selected to train for spaceflight.
September 17 – NASA Group 2
Astronaut Group 2
NASA's Astronaut Group 2, also known as The New Nine, was the second group of astronauts selected by NASA in September 1962. The group was required to augment the original Mercury 7 with the announcement of the Gemini program and leading to the Apollo program...
– The Next Nine (Also: The Nifty Nine, The New Nine) – USA
- Neil ArmstrongNeil ArmstrongNeil Alden Armstrong is an American former astronaut, test pilot, aerospace engineer, university professor, United States Naval Aviator, and the first person to set foot upon the Moon....
, Frank BormanFrank BormanFrank Frederick Borman, II is a retired NASA astronaut and engineer, best remembered as the Commander of Apollo 8, the first mission to fly around the Moon, making him, along with fellow crew mates Jim Lovell and Bill Anders, the first of only 24 humans to do so...
, Charles ConradPete ConradCharles "Pete" Conrad, Jr. was an American naval officer, astronaut and engineer, and the third person to walk on the Moon during the Apollo 12 mission. He set an eight-day space endurance record along with command pilot Gordon Cooper on the Gemini 5 mission, and commanded the Gemini 11 mission...
, Jim McDivitt, Jim LovellJim LovellJames "Jim" Arthur Lovell, Jr., is a former NASA astronaut and a retired captain in the United States Navy, most famous as the commander of the Apollo 13 mission, which suffered a critical failure en route to the Moon but was brought back safely to Earth by the efforts of the crew and mission...
, Elliott SeeElliott SeeElliot McKay See, Jr. , was an American astronaut, selected in the second group of astronauts.Elliot See was born in Dallas, Texas and attended Highland Park High School. After initially attending The University of Texas where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity, he then attended the United...
, Tom StaffordThomas Patten StaffordThomas Patten Stafford is a retired American Air Force lieutenant general and former NASA astronaut. He flew aboard two Gemini space flights; and in 1969 was the commander of Apollo 10, the second manned mission to orbit the Moon and the first to fly a lunar module there.In 1975, Stafford was...
, Ed WhiteEdward Higgins WhiteEdward Higgins White, II was an engineer, United States Air Force officer and NASA astronaut. On June 3, 1965, he became the first American to "walk" in space. White died along with fellow astronauts Gus Grissom and Roger Chaffee during a pre-launch test for the first manned Apollo mission at...
and John Young.
- Note: A second groupAstronaut Group 2NASA's Astronaut Group 2, also known as The New Nine, was the second group of astronauts selected by NASA in September 1962. The group was required to augment the original Mercury 7 with the announcement of the Gemini program and leading to the Apollo program...
of nine astronauts was selected by NASA in September 1962. All of this group flew missions in the Gemini program except Elliott See, who died in a flight accident while preparing for the Gemini 9 flight. All of the others also flew on Apollo, except for Ed White, who died in the Apollo 1Apollo 1Apollo 1 was scheduled to be the first manned mission of the Apollo manned lunar landing program, with a target launch date of February 21, 1967. A cabin fire during a launch pad test on January 27 at Launch Pad 34 at Cape Canaveral killed all three crew members: Command Pilot Virgil "Gus"...
launchpad fire. Three of this group, McDivitt, Borman and Armstrong, made single flights in both Gemini and Apollo. Four others, Young, Lovell, Stafford and Conrad, each made two flights in Gemini and at least one flight in Apollo. Young and Lovell both made two Apollo flights. Conrad and Stafford also made second flights in Apollo spacecraft, Conrad on Skylab 2Skylab 2-Backup crew:-Support crew:*Robert L. Crippen*Richard H. Truly*Henry W. Hartsfield, Jr*William E. Thornton-Mission parameters:*Mass: 19,979 kg*Maximum Altitude: 440 km*Distance: 18,536,730.9 km...
and Stafford in Apollo-Soyuz. Six of this group, Borman, Lovell, Stafford, Young, Armstrong and Conrad, made flights to the Moon. Lovell and Young went to the Moon twice. Armstrong, Conrad, and Young walked on the Moon. McDivitt was later Apollo Program Director and became the first general officerGeneralA general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
and would have been either the prime LM Pilot or backup commander for Apollo 14Apollo 14Apollo 14 was the eighth manned mission in the American Apollo program, and the third to land on the Moon. It was the last of the "H missions", targeted landings with two-day stays on the Moon with two lunar EVAs, or moonwalks....
, but left NASA due to a conflict between Alan Shepard and Deke Slayton. John Young also later flew on the Space ShuttleSpace ShuttleThe Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
(STS-1STS-1STS-1 was the first orbital flight of NASA's Space Shuttle program. Space Shuttle Columbia launched on 12 April 1981, and returned to Earth on 14 April, having orbited the Earth 37 times during the 54.5-hour mission. It was the first American manned space flight since the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project...
and STS-9STS-9STS-9 was a NASA Space Shuttle mission which carried the first Spacelab module into orbit to conduct space-based scientific experiments. It was the sixth mission of the Space Shuttle Columbia, and was Columbia's last flight until STS-61-C in January 1986...
) and would retire from NASA in 2004. He was both the first and last of his group to go into space.
September 19 – Dyna-Soar Group 2 – USA
- Albert CrewsAlbert H. CrewsAlbert Hanlin Crews, Jr. is a retired colonel in the United States Air Force and a former USAF astronaut. He was born on in El Dorado, Arkansas and is married with three children....
- Note: On September 19, 1962, Crews was added to the Dyna-Soar program and the names of the six active Dyna-Soar astronauts were announced to the public.
1963
January 10 – Air Force Group 2 – USSR- Yuri ArtyukhinYuri ArtyukhinYury Petrovich Artyukhin was a Soviet Russian cosmonaut and engineer who made a single flight into space.Artyukhin graduated from the Soviet Air Force Institute with a doctorate in engineering, specialising in military communication systems. He was selected for the space programme in 1963 and...
, Eduard Buinovski, Lev Demin, Georgy Dobrovolsky, Anatoly Filipchenko, Aleksei GubarevAleksei GubarevAleksei Aleksandrovich Gubarev was a Soviet cosmonaut who flew on two space flights: Soyuz 17 and Soyuz 28.Gubarev graduated from the Soviet Naval Aviation School in 1952 and went on to serve with the Soviet Air Force...
, Vladislav Gulyayev, Pyotr Kolodin, Eduard Kugno, Anatoli Kuklin, Aleksandr Matinchenko, Vladimir ShatalovVladimir ShatalovVladimir Aleksandrovich Shatalov is a former Soviet cosmonaut who flew three space missions of the Soyuz programme: Soyuz 4, Soyuz 8, and Soyuz 10....
, Lev Vorobyov, Anatoly Voronov, Vitaly Zholobov
October 17 – NASA Group 3
Astronaut Group 3
Astronaut Group 3 was the third group of astronauts selected by NASA. Their selection was announced in October 1963. Fourteen astronauts made up Group 3. Four died in training accidents before they could fly in space. All of the surviving ten flew in the Apollo program; five also flew Gemini...
– The Fourteen – USA
- Buzz AldrinBuzz AldrinBuzz Aldrin is an American mechanical engineer, retired United States Air Force pilot and astronaut who was the Lunar Module pilot on Apollo 11, the first manned lunar landing in history...
, William AndersWilliam AndersWilliam Alison Anders is a former United States Air Force officer, NASA astronaut, businessman, and engineer. He is, along with Apollo 8 crewmates Frank Borman and Jim Lovell, one of the first three persons to have left Earth orbit and traveled to the Moon .-Biography:Anders was born to Arthur...
, Charles BassettCharles BassettCharles Arthur "Art" Bassett, II was an American engineer and United States Air Force officer. He was selected as a NASA astronaut in 1963 and assigned to Gemini 9 but died in an airplane crash during training for his first spaceflight.-Early life and education:Bassett was born in Dayton, Ohio,...
, Alan BeanAlan BeanAlan LaVern Bean is a former NASA astronaut, engineer, and painter. Bean was selected to become an astronaut by NASA in 1963 as part of Astronaut Group 3. He made his first flight into space aboard Apollo 12, the second manned mission to land on the Moon, at the age of thirty-seven years in...
, Eugene Cernan, Roger Chaffee, Michael CollinsMichael Collins (astronaut)Michael Collins is a former American astronaut and test pilot. Selected as part of the third group of fourteen astronauts in 1963, he flew in space twice. His first spaceflight was Gemini 10, in which he and command pilot John Young performed two rendezvous with different spacecraft and Collins...
, Walter CunninghamWalter CunninghamRonnie Walter Cunningham , known as Walt Cunningham, is a retired American astronaut. In 1968, he was the Lunar Module pilot on the Apollo 7 mission...
, Donn Eisele, Theodore FreemanTheodore FreemanTheodore Cordy Freeman was a NASA astronaut and a captain in the United States Air Force. He was killed in the crash of a T-38 jet, marking the first fatality among the American astronaut corps...
, Richard GordonRichard F. Gordon, Jr.Richard Francis Gordon, Jr., Captain, USN, Ret. is a retired NASA astronaut. He is one of only 24 people to have flown to the Moon.-Military and flight experience:Gordon was born in Seattle, Washington...
, Russell Schweickart, David ScottDavid ScottDavid Randolph Scott is an American engineer, test pilot, retired U.S. Air Force officer, and former NASA astronaut and engineer, who was one of the third group of astronauts selected by NASA in October 1963...
, Clifton WilliamsClifton WilliamsThis article is about the American astronaut. For the composer, see Clifton Williams .Clifton Curtis 'C.C.' Williams was a NASA astronaut, a Naval Aviator, and a Major in the United States Marine Corps who was killed in a plane crash; he had never been to space...
- Note: All of the third group (except those who died) flew on the Apollo program – Aldrin, Bean, Cernan and Scott walked on the Moon. Five of them (Aldrin, Cernan, Collins, Gordon and Scott) also flew missions during the Gemini program. Cernan would be the only astronaut from this group to fly to the Moon twice (Apollo 10Apollo 10Apollo 10 was the fourth manned mission in the American Apollo space program. It was an F type mission—its purpose was to be a "dry run" for the Apollo 11 mission, testing all of the procedures and components of a Moon landing without actually landing on the Moon itself. The mission included the...
and Apollo 17Apollo 17Apollo 17 was the eleventh and final manned mission in the American Apollo space program. Launched at 12:33 a.m. EST on December 7, 1972, with a three-member crew consisting of Commander Eugene Cernan, Command Module Pilot Ronald Evans, and Lunar Module Pilot Harrison Schmitt, Apollo 17 remains the...
), while Bean would command the Skylab 3Skylab 3Skylab 3 was the second manned mission to Skylab. The Skylab 3 mission started July 28, 1973, with the launch of three astronauts on the Saturn IB rocket, and lasted 59 days, 11 hours and 9 minutes...
mission.
-
- Bassett, Chaffee, Freeman and Williams all died before they could fly in space – Chaffee in the Apollo 1Apollo 1Apollo 1 was scheduled to be the first manned mission of the Apollo manned lunar landing program, with a target launch date of February 21, 1967. A cabin fire during a launch pad test on January 27 at Launch Pad 34 at Cape Canaveral killed all three crew members: Command Pilot Virgil "Gus"...
fire, the others in plane crashes.
- Bassett, Chaffee, Freeman and Williams all died before they could fly in space – Chaffee in the Apollo 1
1964
January 25 – Air Force Group 2 Supplemental – USSR- Georgi BeregovoiGeorgi BeregovoiGeorgy Timofeyevich Beregovoy was a Soviet cosmonaut who commanded the space mission Soyuz 3 in 1968. At the time of his flight, Beregovoy was 47 years of age: he was the oldest human to go into space , three months and three days older than the second earliest-born astronaut, American John...
May 26 – Voskhod Group (Medical Group 1) – USSR
- Vladimir Benderov, Georgi Katys, Vasili Lazarev, Boris Polyakov, Aleksei Sorokin, Boris YegorovBoris YegorovBoris Borisovich Yegorov was a Soviet physician-cosmonaut and he became the first physician to make a space flight.Yegorov came from a medical background, with his father a prominent heart surgeon, and his mother an ophthalmologist. He also selected medicine as a career and graduated from the...
June 11 – Civilian Specialist Group 1 – USSR
- Konstantin FeoktistovKonstantin FeoktistovKonstantin Petrovich Feoktistov was a Soviet cosmonaut and an eminent space engineer. Feoktistov also wrote several books on space technology and exploration...
1965
June 1 – Journalist Group 1 – USSR- Yaroslav GolovanovYaroslav GolovanovYaroslav Kirillovich Golovanov was a Russian journalist, writer and science popularizer. He covered space exploration by the Soviet Union from its beginnings.Golovanov's father was director of a theatre . His mother was an actress....
, Yuri Letunov, Mikhail Rebrov
- Note: In 1965, three civilian journalists were selected for cosmonaut training in preparation for flight on a VoskhodVoskhod programmeThe Voskhod programme was the second Soviet human spaceflight project. Two manned missions were flown using the Voskhod spacecraft and rocket, one in 1964 and one in 1965....
mission. When the Voskhod program was canceled, Golovanov and Letunov were dismissed. Rebrov, on the other hand, stayed with the space program as a journalist until 1974.
June 1 – Medical Group 2 – USSR
- Yevgeni Illyin, Aleksandr Kiselyov, Yuri SenkevichYuri SenkevichYuri Aleksandrovich Senkevich was a Soviet doctor, scientist. He is Candidate of Sciences. He became famous in the USSR and worldwide for his participation in the Ra Expedition, in which he sailed together with Thor Heyerdahl.Senkevich was born of Russian parents in Mongolia...
- Note: These physicians were selected for the long-duration VoskhodVoskhod programmeThe Voskhod programme was the second Soviet human spaceflight project. Two manned missions were flown using the Voskhod spacecraft and rocket, one in 1964 and one in 1965....
flights, all of which were subsequently canceled to make way for the Soviet Moon program. All three were dismissed at the beginning of the following year.
June 28 – NASA Group 4 – The Scientists – USA
- Owen Garriott, Edward GibsonEdward GibsonEdward George Gibson, PhD, is a former NASA astronaut, pilot, and engineer.Before becoming a NASA astronaut, Gibson graduated from the University of Rochester and the California Institute of Technology...
, Duane GravelineDuane GravelineDuane Edgar Graveline is an American physician and former NASA astronaut. He was one of the six scientists selected in 1965, in NASA's fourth group of astronauts, for the Apollo program. He is most famous for being immersed in water for seven days as part of his zero gravity deconditioning...
, Joseph Kerwin, Curt Michel, Harrison SchmittHarrison SchmittHarrison Hagan "Jack" Schmitt is an American geologist, a retired NASA astronaut, university professor, and a former U.S. senator from New Mexico....
- Note: Graveline and Michel left NASA without flying in space. Schmitt walked on the Moon on Apollo 17Apollo 17Apollo 17 was the eleventh and final manned mission in the American Apollo space program. Launched at 12:33 a.m. EST on December 7, 1972, with a three-member crew consisting of Commander Eugene Cernan, Command Module Pilot Ronald Evans, and Lunar Module Pilot Harrison Schmitt, Apollo 17 remains the...
. Garriott, Gibson and Kerwin all flew to Skylab. Garriott also flew on Space ShuttleSpace ShuttleThe Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
flight STS-9STS-9STS-9 was a NASA Space Shuttle mission which carried the first Spacelab module into orbit to conduct space-based scientific experiments. It was the sixth mission of the Space Shuttle Columbia, and was Columbia's last flight until STS-61-C in January 1986...
, becoming the first Amateur radioAmateur radioAmateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
operator (callsign W5LFL) to operate from orbit.
October 28 – Air Force Group 3 – USSR
- Boris Belousov, Vladimir Degtyarov, Anatoli Fyodorov, Yuri GlazkovYuri GlazkovYury Nikolayevich Glazkov was a Soviet Air Force officer and a cosmonaut. Glazkov held the rank of major general in the Russian Air Force....
, Vitali Grishchenko, Veygeni Khludeyev, Leonid KizimLeonid KizimLeonid Denisovich Kizim was a Soviet cosmonaut who was twice named a Hero of the Soviet Union ....
, Pyotr KlimukPyotr KlimukPyotr Ilyich Klimuk Klimuk attended the Leninski Komsomol Chernigov High Aviation School and entered the Soviet Air Force in 1964. The following year, he was selected to join the space programme.His first flight was a long test flight on Soyuz 13 in 1973...
, Gennadi Kolesnikov, Aleksandr Kramarenko, Mikhail Lisun, Aleksandr Petrushenko, Vladimir Preobrazhensky, Valery Rozhdestvensky, Gennadi SarafanovGennadi SarafanovGennadi Vasiliyevich Sarafanov was a Soviet cosmonaut who flew on the Soyuz 15 spaceflight in 1974. This mission was intended to dock with the space station Salyut 3, but failed to do so after the docking system malfunctioned....
, Ansar Sharafutdinov, Vasili Shcheglov, Aleksandr Skvortsov, Eduard Stepanov, Valeri Voloshin, Oleg Yakovlev, Vyacheslav ZudovVyacheslav ZudovVyacheslav Dmitriyevich Zudov was a USSR cosmonaut.He was selected as a cosmonaut on October 23, 1965, flew as Commander on Soyuz 23 on October 14–16, 1976 and retired on May 14, 1987.Vyacheslav Zudov is married and has two children.-References:...
- Note: This group of cosmonauts was selected for participation in five separate Soyuz programmeSoyuz programmeThe Soyuz programme is a human spaceflight programme that was initiated by the Soviet Union in the early 1960s, originally part of a Moon landing project intended to put a Soviet cosmonaut on the Moon...
s that the USSR was running. These included military programs (with and without the AlmazAlmazThe Almaz program was a series of military space stations launched by the Soviet Union under cover of the civilian Salyut DOS-17K program after 1971....
/SalyutSalyutThe Salyut program was the first space station program undertaken by the Soviet Union, which consisted of a series of nine space stations launched over a period of eleven years from 1971 to 1982...
space stationSpace stationA space station is a spacecraft capable of supporting a crew which is designed to remain in space for an extended period of time, and to which other spacecraft can dock. A space station is distinguished from other spacecraft used for human spaceflight by its lack of major propulsion or landing...
s) and two lunar programs (only one of which aimed at an actual lunar landing). In the end, only the orbital program and the space station program went ahead, and few of the cosmonauts from this group ever were given the chance to fly.
November – USAF MOL Group 1 – USA
- Michael J. Adams, Albert H. CrewsAlbert H. CrewsAlbert Hanlin Crews, Jr. is a retired colonel in the United States Air Force and a former USAF astronaut. He was born on in El Dorado, Arkansas and is married with three children....
Jr., John L. FinleyJohn L. FinleyJohn "Jack" Lawrence Finley was a United States Navy aviator and was selected as an astronaut.He joined the US Navy and underwent flight training at the Pensacola Naval base , which he completed in August 1958...
, Richard E. LawyerRichard E. LawyerRichard Earl Lawyer was a USAF astronaut, test pilot, and combat veteran. Although he trained for the USAF Manned Orbital Laboratory , the program was cancelled before any of the MOL crews reached space....
, Lachlan MacleayLachlan MacleayLachlan "Mac" Macleay is a retired colonel in the United States Air Force and a former USAF astronaut. Although he trained for the USAF Manned Orbital Laboratory , the program was cancelled before any of the MOL crews reached space....
, Francis G. NeubeckFrancis G. NeubeckFrancis Gregory Neubeck is a retired colonel in the United States Air Force and a former USAF astronaut. Although he trained for the USAF Manned Orbital Laboratory , the program was cancelled before any of the MOL crews reached space....
, James M. TaylorJames M. TaylorJames Martin Taylor was a United States Air Force astronaut and test pilot. Although he trained for the USAF Manned Orbital Laboratory , the program was cancelled before any of the MOL crews reached space....
, Richard H. TrulyRichard H. TrulyRichard Harrison Truly is a retired Vice Admiral in the United States Navy, Naval Aviator, former astronaut, and was the eighth Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration from 1989 to 1992...
.
- Note: This group was selected for training for the U.S. Air Force's Manned Orbiting LaboratoryManned Orbiting LaboratoryThe Manned Orbiting Laboratory , originally referred to as the Manned Orbital Laboratory, was part of the United States Air Force's manned spaceflight program, a successor to the cancelled Boeing X-20 Dyna-Soar military reconnaissance space plane project...
program. Of this group, only Truly transferred to NASA after the cancellation of the MOL program and later flew on the Space Shuttle. In 1989, Truly became the first astronaut to be NASA Administrator.
1966
April 4 – NASA Group 5 – The Original 19 – USA- Vance Brand, John S. Bull, Gerald Carr, Charles Duke, Joseph Engle, Ronald EvansRonald EvansRonald Ellwin Evans, Jr. was a NASA astronaut and one of only 24 people to have flown to the Moon. He also served as a captain in the United States Navy....
, Edward GivensEdward GivensEdward Galen "Ed" Givens Jr was an United States Air Force officer and a NASA astronaut. He was selected in 1966 by NASA as a member of the 'Original 19' group....
, Fred HaiseFred HaiseFred Wallace Haise, Jr. is an engineer and former NASA astronaut. He is one of only 24 people to have flown to the Moon. Having flown on Apollo 13, Haise was to be the sixth human to walk on the Moon, but the mission did not land due to a failure aboard the spacecraft.-Early life and...
, James IrwinJames IrwinJames Benson Irwin was an American astronaut and engineer. He served as Lunar Module pilot for Apollo 15, the fourth human lunar landing; he was the eighth person to walk on the Moon.-Early life:...
, Don Lind, Jack Lousma, Ken MattinglyKen MattinglyThomas Kenneth "Ken" Mattingly II, is a retired American astronaut and rear admiral in the United States Navy who flew on the Apollo 16, STS-4 and STS-51-C missions. He had been scheduled to fly on Apollo 13, but was held back due to concerns about a potential illness...
, Bruce McCandless IIBruce McCandless IIBruce McCandless II is a former naval aviator with the United States Navy and former NASA astronaut. During the first of his two Space Shuttle missions he made the first ever untethered free flight, using the Manned Maneuvering Unit.-Education:McCandless is the son of Bruce McCandless, a decorated...
, Edgar Mitchell, William Pogue, Stuart RoosaStuart RoosaStuart Allen Roosa was a NASA astronaut, who was the command module pilot for the Apollo 14 mission. The mission lasted from January 31 to February 9, 1971 and was the third mission to land astronauts on the Moon...
, Jack SwigertJack SwigertHe later became staff director of the Committee on Science and Technology of the U.S. House of Representatives.Swigert was elected as a Republican to Colorado's newly created 6th congressional district in November 1982. He defeated Democrat Steve Hogan, 98,909 votes to 56,518...
, Paul WeitzPaul J. WeitzPaul Joseph Weitz is an American former astronaut who flew in space twice.-Personal data:Born in Erie, Pennsylvania, on July 25, 1932. Married to the former Suzanne M. Berry of Harborcreek, Pennsylvania. Two children: Matthew and Cynthia. Hunting and fishing are among his hobbies. His mother, Mrs...
, Alfred WordenAlfred WordenAlfred Merrill Worden is an American astronaut who was the command module pilot for the Apollo 15 Moon mission in July–August 1971. The son of Merrill and Helen Worden, he was born in Jackson, Michigan...
.
- Note: This group – except John Bull, who left NASA due to a medical disqualification; Edward Givens, who died; Joseph Engle, who was bumped from Apollo 17Apollo 17Apollo 17 was the eleventh and final manned mission in the American Apollo space program. Launched at 12:33 a.m. EST on December 7, 1972, with a three-member crew consisting of Commander Eugene Cernan, Command Module Pilot Ronald Evans, and Lunar Module Pilot Harrison Schmitt, Apollo 17 remains the...
for Harrison Schmitt; and Bruce McCandless and Don Lind, who were candidates for one of the canceled Apollo flights – flew on all Apollo flights after Apollo 12Apollo 12Apollo 12 was the sixth manned flight in the American Apollo program and the second to land on the Moon . It was launched on November 14, 1969 from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, four months after Apollo 11. Mission commander Charles "Pete" Conrad and Lunar Module Pilot Alan L...
. Fred Haise and Jack Swigert flew on Apollo 13Apollo 13Apollo 13 was the seventh manned mission in the American Apollo space program and the third intended to land on the Moon. The craft was launched on April 11, 1970, at 13:13 CST. The landing was aborted after an oxygen tank exploded two days later, crippling the service module upon which the Command...
, the latter replacing Ken Mattingly after he was scrubbed due to measles exposure although he later flew on Apollo 16Apollo 16Young and Duke served as the backup crew for Apollo 13; Mattingly was slated to be the Apollo 13 command module pilot until being pulled from the mission due to his exposure to rubella through Duke.-Backup crew:...
. Edgar Mitchell and Stuart Roosa both flew on Apollo 14Apollo 14Apollo 14 was the eighth manned mission in the American Apollo program, and the third to land on the Moon. It was the last of the "H missions", targeted landings with two-day stays on the Moon with two lunar EVAs, or moonwalks....
with Alan Shepard, while Alfred Worden and James Irwin flew with David Scott on Apollo 15Apollo 15Apollo 15 was the ninth manned mission in the American Apollo space program, the fourth to land on the Moon and the eighth successful manned mission. It was the first of what were termed "J missions", long duration stays on the Moon with a greater focus on science than had been possible on previous...
. Charles Duke, who was CAPCOM for Apollo 11, flew on Apollo 16Apollo 16Young and Duke served as the backup crew for Apollo 13; Mattingly was slated to be the Apollo 13 command module pilot until being pulled from the mission due to his exposure to rubella through Duke.-Backup crew:...
with John Young and Mattingly, while Ron Evans served as Command Module Pilot with Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt on Apollo 17Apollo 17Apollo 17 was the eleventh and final manned mission in the American Apollo space program. Launched at 12:33 a.m. EST on December 7, 1972, with a three-member crew consisting of Commander Eugene Cernan, Command Module Pilot Ronald Evans, and Lunar Module Pilot Harrison Schmitt, Apollo 17 remains the...
. Paul Weitz, Jack Lousma, Gerald Carr and William Pogue flew aboard SkylabSkylabSkylab was a space station launched and operated by NASA, the space agency of the United States. Skylab orbited the Earth from 1973 to 1979, and included a workshop, a solar observatory, and other systems. It was launched unmanned by a modified Saturn V rocket, with a mass of...
while Vance Brand, a backup Skylab astronaut, flew aboard ASTPASTPASTP might refer to:* Apollo–Soyuz Test Project* Advanced Space Transportation Program* Army Specialized Training Program...
with Thomas Stafford and Deke Slayton in 1975. Joseph Engle and Fred Haise, in 1977, commanded crews on the Space Shuttle Enterprise landing tests, with Engle, Lousma, Mattingly, Brand, Weitz, Bruce McCandless, and Don Lind later flying actual Space Shuttle flights. Engle, with MOL transferee Richard H. TrulyRichard H. TrulyRichard Harrison Truly is a retired Vice Admiral in the United States Navy, Naval Aviator, former astronaut, and was the eighth Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration from 1989 to 1992...
, would command the last all-rookie US spaceflight crew (STS-2STS-2STS-2 was a Space Shuttle mission conducted by NASA, using the Space Shuttle Columbia. The mission launched on 12 November 1981. It was the second shuttle mission overall, and was also the second mission for Columbia...
) in November, 1981, as current NASA policy requires that the Shuttle commander be an experienced astronaut.
May 23 – Civilian Specialist Group 2 – USSR
- Sergei Anokhin, Vladimir Bugrov, Gennadi Dolgopolov, Georgi GrechkoGeorgi GrechkoGeorgy Mikhaylovich Grechko is a retired Soviet cosmonaut who flew on several space flights among which Soyuz 17, Soyuz 26, and Soyuz T-14.Grechko graduated from the Leningrad Institute of Mechanics with a doctorate in mathematics. He was a member of Communist Party of Soviet Union...
, Valeri KubasovValeri KubasovValeri Nikolayevich Kubasov was a Soviet cosmonaut who flew on two missions in the Soyuz programme as a flight engineer: Soyuz 6 and Soyuz 19 , and commanded Soyuz 36 in the Intercosmos programme. On 21 July 1975, Soviet Soyuz module landed in Kazakhstan at-5:51pm and Valeriy Kubasov was the first...
, Oleg Makarov, Vladislav VolkovVladislav VolkovVladislav Nikolayevich Volkov was a Soviet cosmonaut who flew on the Soyuz 7 and Soyuz 11 missions. The second mission terminated fatally.-Biography:...
, Aleksei YeliseyevAleksei YeliseyevAleksei Stanislavovich Yeliseyev is a retired Soviet cosmonaut who flew on three missions in the Soyuz programme as a flight engineer: Soyuz 5, Soyuz 8, and Soyuz 10....
June 30 – USAF MOL Group 2 – USA
- Karol Bobko, Robert CrippenRobert CrippenRobert Laurel Crippen is an engineer, retired United States Navy Captain and a former NASA astronaut. He flew on four Space Shuttle missions, including three as commander...
, Gordon Fullerton, Henry HartsfieldHenry HartsfieldHenry Warren "Hank" Hartsfield, Jr. is a retired United States Air Force officer and a former USAF and NASA astronaut who logged over 480 hours in space.-Personal:...
, Robert Overmyer.
- Note: This group was selected for training for the U.S. Air Force's Manned Orbiting LaboratoryManned Orbiting LaboratoryThe Manned Orbiting Laboratory , originally referred to as the Manned Orbital Laboratory, was part of the United States Air Force's manned spaceflight program, a successor to the cancelled Boeing X-20 Dyna-Soar military reconnaissance space plane project...
program. All transferred to NASA after the MOL program was canceled and all five flew on the Space Shuttle as pilot astronauts.
1967
January 31 – Civilian Specialist Group 2 Supplemental – USSR- Nikolai RukavishnikovNikolai Rukavishnikov|Nikolai Nikolayevich Rukavishnikov was a Soviet cosmonaut who flew three space missions of the Soyuz programme: Soyuz 10, Soyuz 16, and Soyuz 33...
, Vitali SevastyanovVitali SevastyanovVitaly Ivanovich Sevastyanov was a Soviet cosmonaut who flew on the Soyuz 9 and Soyuz 18 missions.He trained as an engineer at the Moscow Aviation Institute and after graduation in 1959, joined Sergey Korolev's design bureau, where he worked on the design of the Vostok spacecraft. He also lectured...
May 7 – Air Force Group 4 – USSR
- Vladimir Alekseyev, Vladimir Beloborodov, Mikhail Burdayev, Sergei Gaidukov, Vladimir Isakov, Vladimir Kovalyanok, Vladimir Kozelsky, Vladimir LyakhovVladimir LyakhovVladimir Afanasyevich Lyakhov , Ukrainian SSR), Soviet Union on July 20, 1941) is a former Soviet cosmonaut, twice named a Hero of the Soviet Union....
, Yuri MalyshevYuri MalyshevYury Vasilyevich Malyshev was born in the village Nikolayevsk, Stalingrad Oblast , USSR on August 27, 1941. Studied in Taganrog's high school N24, 1949-1959. Married with two children. Selected as a cosmonaut on May 7, 1967. Retired on July 20, 1988...
, Viktor Pisarev, Nikolai Porvatkin, Mikhail Sologub
May 22 – Academy of Sciences Group – USSR
- Mars Fathulin, Rudolf Gulyayev, Ordinard Kolomitsev, Vsevolod Yegorov, Valentin Yershov
June – USAF MOL Group 3 – USA
- James Abrahamson, Robert Herres, Robert H. Lawrence Jr, Donald PetersonDonald H. PetersonDonald Herod Peterson is a retired United States Air Force officer and a former USAF and NASA astronaut. He was born in Winona, Mississippi, on October 22, 1933...
.
- Note: This group was selected for training for the US Air Force's Manned Orbiting LaboratoryManned Orbiting LaboratoryThe Manned Orbiting Laboratory , originally referred to as the Manned Orbital Laboratory, was part of the United States Air Force's manned spaceflight program, a successor to the cancelled Boeing X-20 Dyna-Soar military reconnaissance space plane project...
program. Lawrence was the first African-American to be chosen as an astronaut, but was killed in a jet accident before the MOL program was canceled in 1969 (had Lawrence not died, he would have been, if accepted by NASA, the first African-American astronaut for the agency, pre-dating Guion BlufordGuion BlufordGuion Stewart “Guy” Bluford, Jr. , is an engineer, retired Colonel from the United States Air Force and a former NASA Astronaut. He participated in four Space Shuttle flights between 1983 and 1992...
by nine years). Peterson transferred to NASA in 1969 after the MOL cancellation and would fly on the Space ShuttleSpace ShuttleThe Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
. Herres would later become the first Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffVice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffThe Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is by law the second highest ranking military officer in the United States Armed Forces ranking just below the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff...
under the Goldwater-Nichols ActGoldwater-Nichols ActThe Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986 , , made the most sweeping changes to the United States Department of Defense since the department was established in the National Security Act of 1947 by reworking the command structure of the United States military...
in 1987.
October 4 – NASA Group 6 – XS-11 (The Excess Eleven) – USA
- Joseph Allen, Philip Chapman, Anthony England, Karl Henize, Donald HolmquestDonald HolmquestDonald Lee Holmquest is a former NASA Astronaut. He is currently the CEO of the California Regional Health Information Organization .He attended Roger Q. Mills Elementary School and is a 1957 graduate of W. H...
, William B. LenoirWilliam B. LenoirWilliam Benjamin "Bill" Lenoir was an American engineer and a former NASA astronaut.Lenoir was born on March 14, 1939, in Miami, Florida. He was divorced and remarried, and was survived by three grown children. His recreational interests included sailing, wood-working and outdoor activities...
, Anthony LlewellynAnthony LlewellynJohn Anthony Llewellyn , is a British-born American scientist and a former NASA astronaut.-Biography:Llewellyn was born in Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom, and graduated from Cardiff High School in 1949. He received his BSc degree in 1955 and went on to achieve his PhD degree in chemistry in 1958...
, Story MusgraveStory MusgraveFranklin Story Musgrave is an American physician and a retired NASA astronaut. He is currently a public speaker and consultant to both Disney's Imagineering group and Applied Minds in California.-Personal life:...
, Brian O'LearyBrian O'LearyBrian Todd O'Leary was an American scientist, author, and former NASA astronaut. He was a member of the sixth group of astronauts selected by NASA in August 1967...
, Robert ParkerRobert A. ParkerRobert Allan Ridley Parker is the former director of the NASA Management Office at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and a retired NASA astronaut...
, William ThorntonWilliam E. ThorntonWilliam Edgar Thornton is a former NASA Astronaut. Thornton was born in Faison, North Carolina, and is married with two sons to the former Elizabeth Jennifer Fowler of Hertfordshire, England.-Education:...
.
- Note: This second group of scientist-astronauts were assigned as backup crew members for the last three Apollo missions or as backup crew members for Skylab. Except for Chapman, Holmquest, Llewellyn, and O'Leary, the group members eventually flew as Mission SpecialistMission SpecialistA Mission Specialist is a position held by certain NASA astronauts during Space Shuttle missions. A Mission Specialist is assigned to a limited field of the mission, such as for medical experiments or technical quests....
s during the Space Shuttle program. With his flight on STS-80 at the age of 61, Musgrave held the title of "oldest astronaut" prior to John Glenn's second flight.
1968
May 27 – Civilian Specialist Group 3 – USSR- Vladimir Fartushny, Viktor PatsayevViktor PatsayevViktor Ivanovich Patsayev was a Soviet cosmonaut who flew on the Soyuz 11 mission and had the unfortunate distinction of being part of the second crew to die during a space flight...
, Valeri Yazdovsky
1969
August 14 – NASA Group 7 – USA- Karol Bobko, Robert CrippenRobert CrippenRobert Laurel Crippen is an engineer, retired United States Navy Captain and a former NASA astronaut. He flew on four Space Shuttle missions, including three as commander...
, Gordon Fullerton, Henry HartsfieldHenry HartsfieldHenry Warren "Hank" Hartsfield, Jr. is a retired United States Air Force officer and a former USAF and NASA astronaut who logged over 480 hours in space.-Personal:...
, Robert Overmyer, Donald H. PetersonDonald H. PetersonDonald Herod Peterson is a retired United States Air Force officer and a former USAF and NASA astronaut. He was born in Winona, Mississippi, on October 22, 1933...
, Richard Truly.
- Note: This group is all USAF Manned Orbiting Laboratory astronauts who transferred to NASA after the cancellation of the MOL program in 1969. All flew on early Space Shuttle flights. Truly, in 1989, would become the first astronaut to become NASA Administrator, holding the position until 1992.
September 10 – Civilian Engineer Group – USSR
- Anatoli Demyanenko, Valeri Makrushin, Dmitri Yuyukov
1970
April 27 – Air Force Group 5 – USSR- Anatoli Berezovoi, Aleksandr Dedkov, Vladimir DzhanibekovVladimir DzhanibekovVladimir Aleksandrovich Dzhanibekov is a former cosmonaut who made five flights.He was born in the remote area of Iskandar in Tashkent Province, Uzbekistan. He changed his surname from Krysin when he married to honor his wife's family, which was noble kin of the descendants of the medieval Kazakh...
, Nikolai Fefelov, Valeri Illarianov, Yuri Isaulov, Vladimir Kozlov, Leonid PopovLeonid PopovLeonid Ivanovich Popov is a former Soviet cosmonaut.Popov was born in Oleksandriia, Kirovohrad Oblast, Ukrainian SSR. He was selected as a cosmonaut on April 27, 1970, and flew as Commander on Soyuz 35, Soyuz 40 and Soyuz T-7, logging 200 days, 14 hours, and 45 minutes in space before his...
, Yuri RomanenkoYuri RomanenkoYury Viktorovich Romanenko is a former Soviet cosmonaut, twice Hero of the Soviet Union . Over his career, Yury Romanenko spent a total of 430 days 20 hours 21 minutes 30 seconds in space and 18 hours in space walks. In 1987 he was a resident of the Mir space station, launching on Soyuz TM-2 and...
1971
February 25 – 1971 Scientific Group – USSR- Gurgen Ivanyan
May – Shuguang Group 1970 – China
- Chai Hongliang, Dong Xiaohai, Du Jincheng, Fang Guojun, Hu Zhanzi, Li Shichang, Liu Chongfu, Liu Zhongyi, Lu Xiangxiao, Ma Zizhong, Meng Senlin, Shao Zhijian, Wang Fuhe, Wang Fuquan, Wang Quanbo, Wang Rongsen, Wang Zhiyue, Yu Guilin, Zhang Ruxiang
1972
March 22 – Civilian Specialist Group 4 – USSR- Boris AndreyevBoris Andreyev (cosmonaut)Boris Dmitriyevich Andreyev is a former Russian Cosmonaut. He retired in 1983 for medical reasons and subsequently did not fly on any missions into space. He was, however, given backup assignments on several flights.-Early life and education:...
, Valentin LebedevValentin LebedevValentin Vitaljevich Lebedev was a Soviet cosmonaut who made two flights into space. His stay aboard the Space Station Salyut 7 with Anatoly Berezovoy in 1982, which lasted 211 days, was recorded in the Guinness Book of Records....
, Yuri Ponomaryov
March 22 – Medical Group 3 – USSR
- Georgi Machinski, Valeri Polyakov, Lev Smirenny
1973
March 27 – Civilian Specialist Group 5 – USSR- Vladimir AksyonovVladimir AksyonovVladimir Viktorovich Aksyonov is a Soviet cosmonaut, married with two children....
, Vladimir Gevorkyan, Aleksandr IvanchenkovAleksandr IvanchenkovAleksandr Sergeyevich Ivanchenkov is a retired Soviet cosmonaut who flew as Flight Engineer on Soyuz 29 and Soyuz T-6, he spent 147 days, 12 hours and 37 minutes in space....
, Valeri Romanov, Valery RyuminValery RyuminValery Victorovich Ryumin, born August 16, 1939 in Komsomolsk-on-Amur) is a former Soviet cosmonaut.In 1958, he was graduated from the Kaliningrad Mechanical Engineering Technical College with the specialty "Cold Working of Metal." In 1966, he was graduated from the Department of Electronics and...
, Gennady StrekalovGennady StrekalovGennadi Mikhailovich Strekalov was an Instructor-Test-Cosmonaut and Department Head at Russian aerospace firm RSC Energia. He has been decorated twice as Hero of the Soviet Union...
1976
August 23 – Air Force Group 6 – USSR- Leonid Ivanov, Leonid Kadenyuk, Nikolai Moskalenko, Sergei Protchenko, Yevgeni Saley, Anatoly SolovyevAnatoly SolovyevAnatoly Yakovlevich Solovyev is a former Soviet pilot, cosmonaut, and Colonel. Solovyev holds the world record on the number of spacewalks performed , and accumulated time spent spacewalking .- Family :...
, Vladimir TitovVladimir TitovVladimir Georgiyevich Titov , Colonel, Russian Air Force, Ret., and former Russian cosmonaut was born January 1, 1947, in Sretensk, in the Zabaykalsky Krai region of Russia. He is married to the former Alexandra Kozlova of Ivanovo Region, Russia...
, Vladimir VasyutinVladimir VasyutinVladimir Vladimirovich Vasyutin was a Soviet cosmonaut.He was selected as a cosmonaut on December 1, 1978...
, Alexander VolkovAlexander Alexandrovich Volkov (cosmonaut)Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Volkov is a Russian cosmonaut.At the age of 13, Volkov witnessed Yuri Gagarin become the first man in space and this inspired him to become a cosmonaut...
November 25 – 1976 Intercosmos Group – USSR
- Miroslaw HermaszewskiMiroslaw HermaszewskiMirosław Hermaszewski , is a retired Polish Air Force officer. He became the first Pole in space when he flew aboard the Soyuz 30 spacecraft in 1978.-Early life:...
, Zenon JankowskiZenon JankowskiZenon Jankowski is a retired Polish pilot, colonel of the Polish Army and cosmonaut.Jankowski was selected as backup cosmonaut of Mirosław Hermaszewski for the Soyuz 30 mission.-External links:*...
, Sigmund JähnSigmund JähnSigmund Werner Paul Jähn is a German pilot who became the first German to fly in space as part of the Soviet Union's Interkosmos program.-Biography:Jähn was born in Morgenröthe-Rautenkranz, in the Vogtland district of Saxony, Germany...
, Eberhard KöllnerEberhard KöllnerEberhard Köllner was selected for Soyuz 31 as the backup for Sigmund Jähn.He later became the Director of the Airforce Academy of the German Democratic Republic in the rank of an Oberst , following the reunion of Germany he refused to be transferred to the German Bundeswehr...
, Oldrich PelcakOldrich PelcakOldřich Pelčák was a Czech cosmonaut and engineer.He graduated from Gagarin Air Force Military Academy....
, Vladimír RemekVladimír RemekVladimír Remek is the first Czechoslovak in space and the first cosmonaut from a country other than the Soviet Union or the United States. As of 2004, with the entry of the Czech Republic into the European Union Vladimír Remek is considered to be the first astronaut from the EU...
1978
January 16 – NASA Group 8 – TFNG (Thirty-Five New Guys) – USA- Pilots: Daniel BrandensteinDaniel BrandensteinDaniel Charles Brandenstein is the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of United Space Alliance. He is a former naval aviator and NASA astronaut who flew four space shuttle missions....
, Michael CoatsMichael CoatsMichael Lloyd Coats is an engineer and former NASA astronaut, raised in Riverside, California...
, Richard Covey, John CreightonJohn Oliver CreightonJohn Oliver Creighton is a former NASA Astronaut who flew three space shuttle missions.-NASA experience:...
, Robert GibsonRobert L. GibsonRobert Lee "Hoot" Gibson is a retired Captain and Naval Aviator in the United States Navy and a retired NASA astronaut.-Personal:...
, Frederick D. GregoryFrederick D. GregoryFrederick Drew Gregory is a former NASA astronaut and former NASA Deputy Administrator. He also served briefly as NASA Acting Administrator in early 2005, covering the period between the departure of Sean O'Keefe and the swearing in of Michael Griffin.-Personal data:Gregory was born on January 7,...
, Frederick HauckFrederick HauckFrederick Hamilton "Rick" Hauck is a former NASA astronaut.-Personal data:He was born April 11, 1941 in Long Beach, California, but considers Winchester, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C. to be his hometowns. His parents are the late Captain and Mrs. Phillip F. Hauck. Rick is married to Susan...
, Jon McBrideJon McBrideJon Andrew McBride is retired United States naval officer and a former NASA astronaut.-Biography:Jon McBride was born August 14, 1943, in Charleston, West Virginia, but considers Beckley, West Virginia, to be his hometown...
, Francis "Dick" ScobeeDick ScobeeFrancis Richard "Dick" Scobee was an American astronaut. He was killed commanding the Space Shuttle Challenger, which suffered catastrophic booster failure during launch of the STS-51-L mission.-Early life:...
, Brewster Shaw, Loren ShriverLoren ShriverLoren James Shriver is a former NASA astronaut, aviator, and a retired US Air Force Colonel.-Career:Shriver currently holds the position of Deputy Director for Launch and Payload Processing at NASA's Kennedy Space Center...
, David WalkerDavid M. Walker (astronaut)David Mathieson Walker , was a United States Navy officer and a NASA astronaut. He flew aboard four Space Shuttle missions in the 1980s and 1990s.-Personal:...
, Donald WilliamsDonald E. WilliamsCaptain Donald Edward Williams is a former NASA astronaut. He has logged a total of 287 hours and 35 minutes in space....
- Mission specialists: Guion BlufordGuion BlufordGuion Stewart “Guy” Bluford, Jr. , is an engineer, retired Colonel from the United States Air Force and a former NASA Astronaut. He participated in four Space Shuttle flights between 1983 and 1992...
, James BuchliJames BuchliJames Frederick Buchli is an engineer, retired United States Marine aviator and former NASA astronaut who flew on four Space shuttle missions.-Education and memberships:...
, John FabianJohn M. FabianJohn McCreary Fabian is a former NASA Astronaut and Air Force officer who flew two space shuttle missions and on the development of the shuttle's robotic arm. He later led the Air Force's space operations....
, Anna Fisher, Dale GardnerDale GardnerDale Allan Gardner is a former NASA astronaut who flew two missions for NASA in the early 1980s.-NASA experience:...
, S. David GriggsS. David GriggsStanley David Griggs was a United States Navy officer and a NASA astronaut. He is credited with conducting the first unscheduled extra-vehicular activity of the space program during Space Shuttle mission STS-51-D...
, Terry HartTerry HartTerry Jonathan Hart is a Lieutenant Colonel and former NASA astronaut.-Education:Hart graduated from Mt. Lebanon High School in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, in 1964...
, Steven HawleySteven HawleySteven Alan Hawley is a former NASA astronaut who flew on five spaceflights.-Personal data:Born December 12, 1951, in Ottawa, Kansas, but considers Salina, Kansas, to be his hometown. Currently married to the former Eileen M. Keegan of Redondo Beach, California, a public affairs officer at NASA...
, Jeffrey Hoffman, Shannon LucidShannon LucidShannon Matilda Wells Lucid is an American biochemist and a NASA astronaut. At one time, she held the record for the longest duration stay in space by an American, as well as by a woman...
, Ronald McNairRonald McNairRonald Ervin McNair, Ph.D. was a physicist and NASA astronaut. McNair died during the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger on mission STS-51-L.-Background:...
, Richard MullaneRichard MullaneRichard Michael "Mike" Mullane is a retired USAF officer and a former NASA astronaut.-Personal:Mullane was born September 10, 1945, in Wichita Falls, Texas, but considers Albuquerque, New Mexico, to be his hometown. He was a Second Class Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. He graduated from St...
, Steven Nagel, George NelsonGeorge Nelson (astronaut)George Driver "Pinky" Nelson is a former NASA astronaut.Nelson was born in Charles City, Iowa, but considers Willmar, Minnesota, to be his hometown. His wife Susie is from Alhambra, California. They have two daughters, Aimee and Marti....
, Ellison OnizukaEllison Onizukawas a Japanese American astronaut from Kealakekua, Kona, Hawaii, who successfully flew into space with the Space Shuttle Discovery on STS-51-C, before losing his life to the destruction of the Space Shuttle Challenger, where he was serving as Mission Specialist for mission STS-51-L...
, Judith Resnik, Sally RideSally RideSally Kristen Ride is an American physicist and a former NASA astronaut. Ride joined NASA in 1978, and in 1983 became the first American woman—and then-youngest American, at 32—to enter space...
, Rhea Seddon, Robert StewartRobert L. StewartRobert Lee Stewart is a retired Brigadier General of the United States Army and former NASA astronaut.-Personal:Stewart was born August 13, 1942, in Washington, D.C.. He graduated from Hattiesburg High School, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, in 1960...
, Kathryn D. SullivanKathryn D. SullivanKathryn Dwyer Sullivan is an American geologist and a former NASA astronaut. A crew member on three Space Shuttle missions, she is the first American woman to walk in space.-Education:...
, Norman ThagardNorman ThagardNorman Earl Thagard is an American scientist and former NASA astronaut. He is the first American to ride to space on board a Russian vehicle, and can be considered the first American cosmonaut...
, James van HoftenJames van HoftenJames Dougal Adrianus "Ox" van Hoften is a former NASA Astronaut.-Personal data:Van Hoften was born June 11, 1944, in Fresno, California. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America where he achieved its second highest rank, Life Scout. He considers Burlingame, California, to be his hometown. ...
- Due to the long delay between the last ApolloProject ApolloThe Apollo program was the spaceflight effort carried out by the United States' National Aeronautics and Space Administration , that landed the first humans on Earth's Moon. Conceived during the Presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Apollo began in earnest after President John F...
mission and the first flight of the Space ShuttleSpace ShuttleThe Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
in 1981, few astronauts from the older groups stayed with NASANASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
. Thus in 1978 a new group of 35 astronauts was selected after 9 years without new astronauts, including the first American female astronauts, and also the first black astronauts to fly, Guion BlufordGuion BlufordGuion Stewart “Guy” Bluford, Jr. , is an engineer, retired Colonel from the United States Air Force and a former NASA Astronaut. He participated in four Space Shuttle flights between 1983 and 1992...
and Frederick D. GregoryFrederick D. GregoryFrederick Drew Gregory is a former NASA astronaut and former NASA Deputy Administrator. He also served briefly as NASA Acting Administrator in early 2005, covering the period between the departure of Sean O'Keefe and the swearing in of Michael Griffin.-Personal data:Gregory was born on January 7,...
(the first black astronaut was Lawrence). Bob StewartRobert L. StewartRobert Lee Stewart is a retired Brigadier General of the United States Army and former NASA astronaut.-Personal:Stewart was born August 13, 1942, in Washington, D.C.. He graduated from Hattiesburg High School, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, in 1960...
was the first Army astronaut to be selected (almost 19 years after the original Mercury SevenMercury SevenMercury Seven was the group of seven Mercury astronauts selected by NASA on April 9, 1959. They are also referred to as the Original Seven and Astronaut Group 1...
). Since then, a new group has been selected roughly every two years.
- Two different astronaut groups were formed: pilots and mission specialists. Additionally the shuttle program has payload specialists who are selected for a single mission and are not part of the astronaut corps – among them were mostly scientists, also a few politicians and many international astronauts.
- Of the first of the post-Apollo group, Sally Ride would become the first American woman in space (STS-7STS-7STS-7 was a NASA Space Shuttle mission, during which Space Shuttle Challenger deployed several satellites into orbit. The shuttle launched from Kennedy Space Center on 18 June 1983, and landed at Edwards Air Force Base on 24 June. STS-7 was the seventh shuttle mission, and was Challengers second...
). Later, she would fly with Kathryn Sullivan on a Shuttle flight, in which Sullivan would become the first American woman to perform an EVA. Dr. Thagard, who flew with Ride on STS-7, would later become the first American to be launched on a Russian rocket (Soyuz TM-18Soyuz TM-18Soyuz TM-18 was launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome and landing 112 km north of Arkalyk. TM-18 was a two day solo flight that docked with the Mir space station on January 10, 1994. The three cosmonauts became the 15th resident crew of the MIR...
or "Mir-18") to the MirMirMir was a space station operated in low Earth orbit from 1986 to 2001, at first by the Soviet Union and then by Russia. Assembled in orbit from 1986 to 1996, Mir was the first modular space station and had a greater mass than that of any previous spacecraft, holding the record for the...
space station, while Shannon Lucid would serve on the Mir for slightly over 6 months, breaking all American space duration records (both the Skylab 4Skylab 4Skylab 4 was the fourth Skylab mission and placed the third and final crew on board the space station. The mission started November 16, 1973 with the launch of three astronauts on a Saturn IB rocket, and lasted 84 days, 1 hour and 16 minutes...
record and Thagard's) in 1996–97 until Sunita WilliamsSunita WilliamsSunita Williams is a United States Naval officer and a NASA astronaut. She was assigned to the International Space Station as a member of Expedition 14 and then joined Expedition 15...
(who was selected 20 years later) broke Lucid's record. Of this group, Scobee, Resnik, Onizuka, and McNair would perish in the Challenger Disaster. Of the astronauts chosen, only Anna Fisher still remains on active duty (although her tenure included an extended leave of absence from 1989 to 1996), while Robert Gibson and Rhea Seddon became the first active duty astronauts to marry (both are now retired). Although classed as inactive (ie no longer available for mission selection), Shannon Lucid's tenure has been unbroken since 1978 and she served as a space shuttle CAPCOM up to the final day of the final shuttle mission. After the Challenger Disaster, Sally Ride would serve on both the Rogers Commission and the Columbia Accident Investigation BoardColumbia Accident Investigation BoardThe Columbia Accident Investigation Board was convened by NASA to investigate the destruction of the Space Shuttle Columbia during STS-107 upon atmospheric re-entry on February 1, 2003. In addition to determining the cause of the accident, the panel also recommended changes that should be made...
.
March 1 – 1978 Intercosmos Group – USSR
- Aleksandr P. AleksandrovAleksandr Panayotov AleksandrovAleksandr Panayotov Aleksandrov is a retired Bulgarian cosmonaut. He is the second Bulgarian to have flown to space behind Georgi Ivanov.-Biography:...
, Dumitru DediuDumitru DediuDumitru Dediu was a cosmonaut of the Romanian Air Force.In 1978, Dediu was selected as the backup for Dumitru Prunariu for the Soyuz 40 mission. He currently serves in the Romanian Army and lives in Bucharest.-References:...
, Jose Lopez Falcon, Bertalan FarkasBertalan FarkasBertalan Farkas was the first Hungarian cosmonaut and the first Esperantist in space. He is currently the president of Airlines Service and Trade...
, Maidarzhavyn GanzorigMaidarzhavyn GanzorigMaidarzhavyn Ganzorig |Tsetserleg]], Mongolia) is a Mongolian scientist. In 1978, he participated in the Soviet Intercosmos program and trained for a Soyuz space flight.Ganzorig graduated from the Kiev Polytechnic Institute in 1975...
, Jügderdemidiin Gürragchaa, Georgi IvanovGeorgi IvanovMajor general Georgi Ivanov Kakalov is a retired Bulgarian military officer and the first Bulgarian cosmonaut. He was a member of the National Assembly of Bulgaria in 1990.-Early life and military career:...
, Bela MagyariBéla MagyariBéla Magyari was Colonel of the Hungarian Air Force. He graduated from The Hungarian Airforce Academy "György Kilián" in 1969....
, Arnaldo Tamayo MéndezArnaldo Tamayo MéndezArnaldo Tamayo Méndez was the first Cuban citizen and the first person from a country in the Western Hemisphere other than the United States to travel into earth orbit...
, Dumitru PrunariuDumitru PrunariuDumitru-Dorin Prunariu is a retired Romanian astronaut who flew aboard Soyuz 40.-Early life and career:Born on September 27, 1952 in Braşov, Romania, Prunariu graduated from the Physics and Mathematics high school in Braşov in 1971 and from the University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest in 1976,...
May 1 – Spacelab
Spacelab
Spacelab was a reusable laboratory used on certain spaceflights flown by the Space Shuttle. The laboratory consisted of multiple components, including a pressurized module, an unpressurized carrier and other related hardware housed in the Shuttle's cargo bay...
Payload Specialists Group 1 – ESA
- Ulf MerboldUlf MerboldDr. Ulf Dietrich Merbold is the first West German citizen and second German native to have flown in space. He is also the first member of the European Space Agency Astronaut Corps to participate in a spaceflight mission. He holds the distinction of being the first non-US citizen to reach orbit in...
, Claude NicollierClaude NicollierClaude Nicollier is the first astronaut from Switzerland, and has flown on four Space Shuttle missions. His first spaceflight was in 1992, and his final spaceflight was in 1999. He took part in two servicing missions to the Hubble Space Telescope...
, Wubbo OckelsWubbo OckelsProf. Dr. Wubbo Johannes Ockels is a Dutch physicist and a former ESA astronaut. In 1985 he participated in a flight on a space shuttle , making him the first Dutch citizen in space. He was not the first Dutch-born astronaut, as he is preceded by the naturalized American Lodewijk van den Berg, who...
, Franco MalerbaFranco MalerbaFranco Egidio Malerba is an Italian astronaut. He was the first citizen of Italy to travel to space....
1979
August – USAF Manned Spaceflight EngineerManned Spaceflight Engineer Program
The Manned Spaceflight Engineer Program was an effort by the United States Air Force to train American military personnel as payload specialists for Department of Defense missions on the Space Shuttle program.-Background:...
– Group 1
- Frank J. Casserino, Jeffrey E. Detroye, Michael A. Hamel, Terry A. Higbee, Daryl J. Joseph, Malcolm W. Lydon, Gary E. Payton, Jerry J. Rij, Paul A. Sefchek, Eric E. Sundberg, David M. Vidrine, John B. Watterson, Keith C. Wright
April 1 – 1979 Intercosmos Group – USSR
- Tuân Pham, Thanh Liem Bui
1980
May 29 – NASA Group 9 – USA- Pilots: John Blaha, Charles Bolden, Roy BridgesRoy D. Bridges, Jr.Roy Dubard Bridges, Jr. is an American aviator, a retired U.S Air Force officer, the former director of NASA's John F...
, Guy GardnerGuy Gardner (astronaut)Guy Spence Gardner is a United States Air Force officer and a former astronaut. He holds the rank of Colonel. He flew as pilot on two Space Shuttle missions, STS-27 and STS-35. He is currently the President of the Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades.-Background and education:Gardner was...
, Ronald Grabe, Bryan O'Connor, Richard N. RichardsRichard N. RichardsRichard Noel "Dick" Richards is an American aviator, retired US Navy officer, and a former NASA astronaut. He flew aboard four Space Shuttle missions in the 1980s and 1990s.-Military career:...
, Michael J. Smith
- Mission specialists: James Bagian, Franklin Chang-Diaz, Mary Cleave, Bonnie Dunbar, William FisherWilliam Frederick FisherWilliam Frederick Fisher is American physician and a former NASA Astronaut.-Personal:Born April 1, 1946, in Dallas, Texas. He was married to a fellow astronaut, Dr. Anna Lee Fisher of St. Albans, New York in 1977. They have two daughters, Kristin Anne and Kara Lynne . .The Drs. Fisher were...
, David Hilmers, David LeestmaDavid LeestmaDavid Cornell Leestma is a former American astronaut.-Personal data:Born May 6, 1949, in Muskegon, Michigan. Married to the former Patti K. Opp of Dallas, Texas. They have six children. He enjoys golfing, tennis, aviation, and fishing. His parents, Dr. and Mrs. Harold F. Leestma, reside in Palm...
, John Lounge, Jerry RossJerry L. RossJerry Lynn Ross is a United States Air Force officer and a former NASA astronaut. He is a veteran of seven Space Shuttle missions, making him the record holder for most spaceflights .-Personal:Ross is married to the former Karen S. Pearson of Sheridan, Indiana. They have two children...
, Sherwood Spring, Robert Springer
- International mission specialists: Claude NicollierClaude NicollierClaude Nicollier is the first astronaut from Switzerland, and has flown on four Space Shuttle missions. His first spaceflight was in 1992, and his final spaceflight was in 1999. He took part in two servicing missions to the Hubble Space Telescope...
, Wubbo OckelsWubbo OckelsProf. Dr. Wubbo Johannes Ockels is a Dutch physicist and a former ESA astronaut. In 1985 he participated in a flight on a space shuttle , making him the first Dutch citizen in space. He was not the first Dutch-born astronaut, as he is preceded by the naturalized American Lodewijk van den Berg, who...
- Of this group, Franklin Chang-Diaz would become the first Hispanic-American in space, Michael Smith would perish in the Challenger Disaster, while John Blaha would fly aboard the MirMirMir was a space station operated in low Earth orbit from 1986 to 2001, at first by the Soviet Union and then by Russia. Assembled in orbit from 1986 to 1996, Mir was the first modular space station and had a greater mass than that of any previous spacecraft, holding the record for the...
space station. Both Jerry Ross and Chang-Diaz currently jointly hold the record of number of manned spaceflights flown at seven. Charles Bolden was chosen in 2009 to become the second NASA astronaut and the first African-American to the post of NASA Administrator on a full-time basis (although Frederick Gregory, who is also African-American and a former Shuttle commander, held the post on a temporary basis between the departure of Sean O'KeefeSean O'KeefeSean O'Keefe is the CEO of EADS North America, a subsidiary of the European aerospace firm EADS, a former Administrator of NASA, and former chancellor of Louisiana State University . O'Keefe is also a former member of the board of directors of DuPont...
and the appointment of Michael GriffinMichael D. GriffinMichael Douglas Griffin is an American physicist and aerospace engineer. From April 13, 2005 to January 20, 2009 he served as Administrator of NASA, the space agency of the United States...
in 2005). The announcement, made a day before the conclusion of the STS-125STS-125STS-125, or HST-SM4 , was the fifth and final space shuttle servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope .Launch occurred on 11 May 2009 at 2:01 pm EDT...
flight to the Hubble Space TelescopeHubble Space TelescopeThe Hubble Space Telescope is a space telescope that was carried into orbit by a Space Shuttle in 1990 and remains in operation. A 2.4 meter aperture telescope in low Earth orbit, Hubble's four main instruments observe in the near ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared...
, was coincidental, because Bolden was the pilot on the telescope's deployment flightSTS-31STS-31 was the thirty-fifth mission of the American Space Shuttle program, which launched the Hubble Space Telescope astronomical observatory into Earth orbit...
in 1990.
July 30 – LII
Gromov Flight Research Institute
M. M. Gromov Flight Research Institute or LII for short is an important Russian aircraft test base, scientific research center located in Zhukovsky, 40 km south-east of Moscow.It has one of the longest runways in Europe at 5,403 m...
-1/IMBP-3/MAP/NPOE-5
S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia
OAO S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia , also known as RKK Energiya, is a Russian manufacturer of spacecraft and space station components...
/AN-2 Cosmonaut Group – Soviet Union
- LII-1: Anatoly Levchenko, Alexandr Shchukin, Rimantas StankeviciusRimantas StankevičiusRimantas Antanas Stankevičius was a Lithuanian cosmonaut who test flew Soviet space shuttle Buran and its test vehicles. He was killed in a crash of his Su-27 fighter plane during an airshow in Salgareda.- Biography :In 1966 he has graduated from Chernigov Higher Aviation School...
, Igor VolkIgor VolkIgor Petrovich Volk was a cosmonaut and test pilot in the Soviet Union. He is married and has two children.Igor Volk was selected as a cosmonaut on July 30, 1980, flew as Research Cosmonaut on Soyuz T-12, the 7th expedition to Salyut 7... - IBMP: Galina Amelkina, Yelena Dobrokvashina, Larisa Pozharskaya, Tamara Zakharova
- MAP: Svetlana SavitskayaSvetlana SavitskayaSvetlana Yevgenyevna Savitskaya She started training as a cosmonaut in 1980. Upon returning to Earth, Savitskaya was assigned as the commander of an all-female Soyuz crew to Salyut 7 in commemoration of the International Women's Day, a mission that was later canceled.She was twice awarded the Hero...
- NPOE: Yekaterina Ivanova, Natalya Kuleshova, Irina Pronina
- AN-2: Irina Latysheva
1980 – CNES Group 1 – France
- Patrick BaudryPatrick BaudryPatrick Pierre Roger Baudry , is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the French Air Force and a former CNES astronaut...
, Jean-Loup ChrétienJean-Loup ChrétienJean-Loup Jacques Marie Chrétien, is a French engineer, a retired Général de Brigade in the Armée de l'Air , and a former CNES astronaut. He flew on two Franco-Soviet space missions and a NASA Space Shuttle mission...
- Chrétien and Baudry would become the first Frenchmen in space. Chrétien flew with Soviets to Salyut 7Salyut 7Salyut 7 was a space station in low Earth orbit from April 1982 to February 1991. It was first manned in May 1982 with two crew via Soyuz T-5, and last visited in June 1986, by Soyuz T-15. Various crew and modules were used over its lifetime, including a total of 12 manned and 15 unmanned launches...
in 1982, and Baudry on Space Shuttle STS-51-GSTS-51-GSTS-51-G was the eighteenth flight of NASA's Space Shuttle program, and the fifth flight of Space Shuttle Discovery. The mission launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on 17 June 1985...
flight in 1985. Chrétien would later fly to the Space Station Mir and would become a Shuttle Mission Specialist in the 1990s.
1982
August – USAF Manned Spaceflight EngineerManned Spaceflight Engineer Program
The Manned Spaceflight Engineer Program was an effort by the United States Air Force to train American military personnel as payload specialists for Department of Defense missions on the Space Shuttle program.-Background:...
– Group 2
- James B. Armor, Jr., Michael W. Booen, Livingston L. Holder, Jr.Livingston L. Holder, Jr.Livingston L. Holder, Jr. was a USAF astronaut in the Manned Spaceflight Engineer Program during the mid-1980s. He was assigned to fly as a payload specialist on the Space Shuttle Challenger, but the mission was canceled due to the Challenger accident in 1986.-Biography:Holder was born in Detroit,...
, Larry D. JamesLarry D. JamesLieutenant General Larry D. James is the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Headquarters USAF. Lt Gen James' last command was the 14th Air Force and Joint Functional Component Command for Space from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California...
, Charles E. JonesCharles Edward JonesColonel Charles Edward Jones was a United States Air Force officer, a computer programmer, and an astronaut in the USAF Manned Spaceflight Engineer Program.-Biography:...
, Maureen C. LaComb, Michael R. Mantz, Randy T. Odle, William A. PailesWilliam A. PailesWilliam Arthur Pailes was a USAF astronaut in the Manned Spaceflight Engineer Program during the mid-1980s. He served as a Payload Specialist on STS-51-J Atlantis .-Personal:...
, Craig A. Puz, Katherine E. Roberts, Jess M. Sponable, W. David Thompson, Glenn S. Yeakel
- Jones was killed on September 11, 2001, as a passenger aboard American Airlines Flight 11American Airlines Flight 11American Airlines Flight 11 was American Airlines' daily scheduled morning transcontinental flight from Logan International Airport, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Los Angeles International Airport, in Los Angeles, California...
.
December 1 – Spacelab Payload Specialists Group – Germany
1983
December – NRCNational Research Council of Canada
The National Research Council is an agency of the Government of Canada which conducts scientific research and development.- History :...
Group – Canada
- Roberta BondarRoberta BondarRoberta Bondar,is OC, O.Ont, FRCP, FRSC is Canada's first female astronaut and the first neurologist in space. Following more than a decade as NASA's head of space medicine, Bondar became a consultant and speaker in the business, scientific and medical communities.-Education:Roberta Bondar had...
, Marc GarneauMarc GarneauJoseph Jean-Pierre Marc Garneau, CC CD FCASI MP is a Canadian retired military officer, former astronaut, engineer and politician.Garneau was the first Canadian in space taking part in three flights aboard NASA Space shuttles...
, Steve MacLeanSteven MacLean (astronaut)Steven Glenwood MacLean is a Canadian astronaut. He is the current President of the Canadian Space Agency, appointed on September 1, 2008....
, Kenneth MoneyKenneth MoneyKenneth Money is the Senior Scientist at the Defence and Civil Institute of Environmental Medicine in Toronto. He has published over one hundred science articles and authored six different topics in the World Book Encyclopedia.-Education:Money attended North Toronto Collegiate Institute for high...
, Robert ThirskRobert ThirskRobert Brent "Bob" Thirsk is a Canadian engineer and physician, and a former Canadian Space Agency astronaut. He holds the Canadian records for the longest space flight and the most time spent in space .-Personal life:Thirsk is from New Westminster, British Columbia and is married to Brenda...
, and Bjarni Tryggvason
- This first Canadian astronaut group was selected by the National Research Council of CanadaNational Research Council of CanadaThe National Research Council is an agency of the Government of Canada which conducts scientific research and development.- History :...
and were transferred to the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) when it was created in 1989. All the astronauts flew on the U.S. Space Shuttle by 1997 except Kenneth Money, who resigned from CSA in 1992.
1984
February 15 – NPOE-6S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia
OAO S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia , also known as RKK Energiya, is a Russian manufacturer of spacecraft and space station components...
Cosmonaut Group – Soviet Union
- Aleksandr Kaleri, Sergei Yemelyanov
May 23 – NASA Group 10 – The Maggots – USA
- Pilots: Kenneth CameronKenneth D. CameronKenneth Donald Cameron , Colonel, USMC, Ret., is a former NASA astronaut.-Background:Cameron was born on November 29, 1949, in Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated from Rocky River High School, Rocky River, Ohio, in 1967...
, John CasperJohn CasperJohn Howard Casper is an American astronaut. Although born in South Carolina, he considers Gainesville, Georgia to be his hometown. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America where he achieved its second highest rank, Life Scout...
, Frank Culbertson, Sidney Gutierrez, Blaine Hammond, Michael McCulley, James Wetherbee
- Mission specialists: James AdamsonJames C. AdamsonJames Craig Adamson is a former NASA astronaut and retired colonel of the United States Army. He is married with 3 children...
, Ellen Baker, Mark BrownMark N. BrownMark Neil Brown is an engineer and former astronaut with NASA.-Education:* 1969: Graduated from Valparaiso High School, Valparaiso, Indiana...
, Sonny CarterSonny CarterManley Lanier "Sonny" Carter, Jr. was an American physician, professional soccer player, naval officer, and NASA astronaut who flew on STS-33.-Early life:...
, Marsha IvinsMarsha IvinsMarsha Sue Ivins is a former American astronaut and a veteran of five space shuttle missions.-Career:Ivins, born in Baltimore, Maryland, earned a degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1973 and went to work for NASA's Johnson Space Center...
, Mark LeeMark C. LeeMark Charles Lee USAF Colonel, is a former NASA astronaut who flew on four Space Shuttle missions. He retired from the Air Force and NASA on July 1, 2001.-Early life:...
, David LowG. David LowGeorge David Low was an American aerospace executive and a NASA astronaut.- Personal :Low was born February 19, 1956, in Cleveland, Ohio and was active in the Boy Scouts of America where he achieved its second highest rank, Life Scout. He was married to the former JoAnn Andochick of Weirton, West...
, William ShepherdWilliam ShepherdWilliam McMichael Shepherd is a former American astronaut who served as commander of Expedition 1, the first crew on the International Space Station. Shepherd is a recipient of the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.-Biography:...
, Kathryn Thornton, Charles Veach
- Of this group, William Shepherd would become the commander of the first International Space StationInternational Space StationThe International Space Station is a habitable, artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. The ISS follows the Salyut, Almaz, Cosmos, Skylab, and Mir space stations, as the 11th space station launched, not including the Genesis I and II prototypes...
crew (Expedition 1Expedition 1Expedition 1, or Expedition One, was the first long-duration stay on the International Space Station . The three-person crew stayed aboard the station for 136 days, from November 2000 to March 2001. It was the beginning of an uninterrupted human presence on the station which still continues, as of...
). James Wetherbee would become the only person to command five spaceflight missions. Sonny Carter died in 1991 in a plane crash while on NASA business.
1985
June 4 – NASA Group 11 – USA- Pilots: Michael A. BakerMichael A. BakerMichael Allen Baker is an engineer, retired United States Navy captain NASA astronaut, and the International Space Station Program Manager for International and Crew Operations, at NASA's Johnson Space Center...
, Robert D. CabanaRobert D. CabanaRobert Donald Cabana is the director of NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center, a NASA astronaut, and a veteran of four Space Shuttle flights. He is also a former Naval Flight Officer and Naval Aviator in the United States Marine Corps.-Personal:...
, Brian Duffy, Terence Henricks, Stephen Oswald, Stephen ThorneStephen Thorne (astronaut)Stephen Douglas Thorne was an American Naval officer and a NASA astronaut candidate.He was born on February 11, 1953, in Frankfurt, Germany, and graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1975...
- Mission Specialists: Jerome AptJerome AptJerome III "Jay" Apt, Ph.D. is an American astronaut and professor at Carnegie Mellon University. Before he became an astronaut, Apt was a physicist who worked on the Venus space probe project, and used visible light and infrared techniques to study the planets and moons of the solar system from...
, Charles Gemar, Linda Godwin, Richard HiebRichard HiebRichard James Hieb is a former NASA astronaut and a veteran of three space shuttle missions. He was a mission specialist on STS-39 and STS-49, and was a payload commander on STS-65...
, Tamara Jernigan, Carl Meade, Rodolfo Neri VelaRodolfo Neri VelaRodolfo Neri Vela is a Mexican scientist and astronaut who flow aboard a NASA Space Shuttle mission in 1985. He is the first and only Mexican, and then the second Latin-American, to have traveled to space.-Personal :...
, Pierre Thuot
- Note: Thorne was killed in the crash of a private airplane before his first flight assignment.
July 19 – NASA Teacher in Space
Teacher in Space Project
The Teacher in Space Project was a NASA program announced by Ronald Reagan in 1984 designed to inspire students, honor teachers, and spur interest in mathematics, science, and space exploration....
Program – USA
- Christa McAuliffeChrista McAuliffeChrista McAuliffe was an American teacher from Concord, New Hampshire, and was one of the seven crew members killed in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster....
, Barbara MorganBarbara MorganBarbara Radding Morgan is an American teacher and a former NASA astronaut. She participated in the Teacher in Space program as the backup to Christa McAuliffe for the ill-fated STS-51L mission of Space Shuttle Challenger. She then trained as a Mission Specialist, and flew on STS-118 in August 2007...
- Note: McAuliffe and Morgan were selected as the prime and backup Payload Specialists for the STS-51-LSTS-51-LSTS-51-L was the twenty-fifth flight of the American Space Shuttle program, which marked the first time an ordinary civilian, schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe, had flown aboard the Space Shuttle. The mission used Space Shuttle Challenger, which lifted off from the Launch Complex 39-B on 28 January...
mission in 1985. McAuliffe was killed in the Challenger DisasterSpace Shuttle Challenger disasterThe Space Shuttle Challenger disaster occurred on January 28, 1986, when Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, leading to the deaths of its seven crew members. The spacecraft disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of central Florida at 11:38 am EST...
, 73 seconds after lift-off. Morgan would later join the NASA Astronaut Corps in 1998. She flew on the STS-118STS-118- Crew notes :Astronaut Clayton Anderson originally was slated to be launched to the ISS on this mission, but was moved to STS-117. His replacement was Alvin Drew....
mission in 2007, 21 years after Challenger.
August 1 – 1985 NASDA Group – Japan
- Mamoru MohriMamoru Mohriis a Japanese scientist, a former NASDA astronaut, and a veteran of two NASA space shuttle missions.-Biography:Born in Yoichi, Hokkaidō, Japan, Mohri earned degrees in chemistry from Hokkaido University and a Doctorate from Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia, in 1976.Most of Mohri's...
, Chiaki MukaiChiaki Mukaiis a Japanese doctor, and JAXA astronaut. She was the first Japanese woman in space, and was the first Japanese citizen to have two spaceflights. Both were Space Shuttle missions; her first was STS-65 aboard Space Shuttle Columbia in July 1994, which was a Spacelab mission. Her second spaceflight...
, Takao DoiTakao Doiis a Japanese astronaut and a veteran of two NASA space shuttle missions.Doi holds a doctorate from the University of Tokyo in aerospace engineering, and has studied and published in the fields of propulsion systems, and microgravity technology...
August – USAF Manned Spaceflight Engineer
Manned Spaceflight Engineer Program
The Manned Spaceflight Engineer Program was an effort by the United States Air Force to train American military personnel as payload specialists for Department of Defense missions on the Space Shuttle program.-Background:...
– Group 3
- Joseph J. Caretto, Robert B. Crombie, Frank M. DeArmond, David P. Staib, Jr., Teresa M. Stevens
September 2 – GKNII-2/NPOE-7
S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia
OAO S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia , also known as RKK Energiya, is a Russian manufacturer of spacecraft and space station components...
Cosmonaut Group – Soviet Union
- GKNII: Viktor Afanasyev, Anatoly ArtsebarskyAnatoly ArtsebarskyAnatoly Pavlovich Artsebarsky is a former Soviet cosmonaut.He became a cosmonaut in 1985. Artsebarsky has spent almost 5 months in space on a single spaceflight. In 1991, he flew aboard Soyuz TM-12 and docked with the Mir Space Station. Artsebarsky and Sergei Krikalev stayed aboard Mir while the...
, Gennadi ManakovGennadi ManakovGennadi Mikhailovich Manakov is a former cosmonaut that commanded two Soyuz flights.Mankov was born in Yefimovka, Orenburg Oblast, Russian SFSR on June 1, 1950. He was selected as a Fluffer on September 2, 1985 and flew as Commander on Soyuz TM-10 and Soyuz TM-16, retiring on December 20, 1996. He... - NPOE: Sergei Krikalyov, Andrei Zaytsev
September 18 – CNES Group 2 – France
- Claudie André-Deshays, Jean-François ClervoyJean-François ClervoyJean-François André Clervoy is a French engineer and test pilot and an CNES and ESA astronaut. He is a veteran of three NASA Space Shuttle missions.-Personal life:...
, Jean-Jacques FavierJean-Jacques FavierJean-Jacques Favier is a French engineer and a former CNES astronaut who flew aboard the STS-78 NASA Space Shuttle mission.-Personal data:Born in Kehl, Germany, he later married Michèle Jean. They have four children...
, Jean-Pierre HaigneréJean-Pierre HaigneréJean-Pierre Haigneré is a French Air Force officer and a former CNES astronaut.Haigneré was born in Paris, France and joined the French Air Force, where he trained as a test pilot....
, Frédéric Patat, Michel TogniniMichel TogniniMichel Ange-Charles Tognini is a French test pilot, officer in the French Air Force, and a former CNES and ESA astronaut who currently serves as Head of the European Astronaut Centre of the European Space Agency. A veteran of two space flights, Tognini has logged a total of 19 days in space...
, Michel Viso
1987
March 26 – TsPK-8Yuri Gagarin Cosmonauts Training Center
The Yu. A. Gagarin State Scientific Research-and-Testing Cosmonaut Training Center is a Russian training facility responsible for training cosmonauts for their space missions...
/NPOE-8
S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia
OAO S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia , also known as RKK Energiya, is a Russian manufacturer of spacecraft and space station components...
Cosmonaut Group – Soviet Union
- TsPK: Valery KorzunValery KorzunValery Grigoryevich Korzun is a Russian cosmonaut of Ukrainian descent. He has been in space twice totalling 381 days. He has also conducted four career spacewalks.- Personal :...
, Vladimir DezhurovVladimir DezhurovVladimir Nikolayevich Dezhurov is a former cosmonaut who resides in Star City, Moscow. He is a veteran of two spaceflights, to the Mir and International Space Stations. During his career, Duzhurov also conducted nine spacewalks before his retirement on July 12, 2004.- Personal :Dezhurov was born...
, Yuri GidzenkoYuri GidzenkoYuri Pavlovich Gidzenko is a Russian cosmonaut. He was a test cosmonaut of the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center . Gidzenko has flown twice into space and has lived on board the Mir and International Space Stations. He has also conducted two career spacewalks. Although he retired on July 15,...
, Yuri MalenchenkoYuri MalenchenkoYuri Ivanovich Malenchenko is a Ukrainian-Russian cosmonaut. Malenchenko became the first person to marry in space, on 10 August 2003, when he married Ekaterina Dmitrieva, who was in Texas, while he was 240 miles over New Zealand, on the International Space Station...
, Vasily Tsibliyev - NPOE: Sergei AvdeyevSergei AvdeyevSergei Avdeyev is a Russian engineer and cosmonaut.Avdeyev was born in Chapayevsk, Samara Oblast , Russian SFSR. He graduated from in 1979 as an engineer-physicist. From 1979 to 1987 he worked as an engineer for NPO Energiya...
June 5 – NASA Group 12 – The GAFFers – USA
- Pilots: Andrew M. AllenAndrew M. AllenAndrew Michael "Andy" Allen is a retired United States Astronaut. A former United States Marine Corps aviator and Lt. Colonel, he worked as a test pilot before joining NASA in 1987. He flew three shuttle missions before retiring in 1997....
, Kenneth Bowersox, Curtis BrownCurtis BrownCurtis Lee "Curt" Brown, Jr. is an engineer, former NASA astronaut and retired United States Air Force Colonel.Colonel Brown graduated from East Bladen High School in Elizabethtown, North Carolina in 1974 and received a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the United States...
, Kevin Chilton, Donald McMonagle, William Readdy, Kenneth Reightler
- Mission specialists: Thomas AkersThomas AkersThomas Dale Akers is a former astronaut in the United States Space Shuttle program.-Education:He graduated from the University of Missouri–Rolla with B.S. and M.S...
, Jan DavisJan DavisNancy Jan Davis is a former American astronaut. A veteran of three space flights, Dr. Davis has logged over 673 hours in space. Dr. Davis is now retired from NASA.-Early life:She was born in Cocoa Beach, Florida, but considers Huntsville, Alabama, to be her hometown...
, Michael FoaleMichael FoaleColin Michael Foale, CBE, PhD is a British-American astrophysicist with dual citizenship and a NASA astronaut. He is a veteran of six space shuttle missions and extended stays on both Mir and the International Space Station...
, Gregory Harbaugh, Mae JemisonMae JemisonMae Carol Jemison is an American physician and NASA astronaut. She became the first black woman to travel in space when she went into orbit aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour on September 12, 1992.-Early years:...
, Bruce Melnick, Mario Runco, James Voss
- The group's informal nickname is an acronym for "George AbbeyGeorge AbbeyGeorge William Samuel Abbey is a former director of the Johnson Space Center and Fellow in Space Policy at the Baker Institute of Rice University.-Biography:Born in Seattle, Washington, Abbey attended Lincoln High School there...
Final Fifteen". Of this group, Mae Jemison would become the first female African-American in space, while Michael Foale would serve on extended missions to both MirMirMir was a space station operated in low Earth orbit from 1986 to 2001, at first by the Soviet Union and then by Russia. Assembled in orbit from 1986 to 1996, Mir was the first modular space station and had a greater mass than that of any previous spacecraft, holding the record for the...
and the International Space StationInternational Space StationThe International Space Station is a habitable, artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. The ISS follows the Salyut, Almaz, Cosmos, Skylab, and Mir space stations, as the 11th space station launched, not including the Genesis I and II prototypes...
as well as a mission to service the Hubble Space TelescopeHubble Space TelescopeThe Hubble Space Telescope is a space telescope that was carried into orbit by a Space Shuttle in 1990 and remains in operation. A 2.4 meter aperture telescope in low Earth orbit, Hubble's four main instruments observe in the near ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared...
. At the time of the Columbia accidentSpace Shuttle Columbia disasterThe Space Shuttle Columbia disaster occurred on February 1, 2003, when shortly before it was scheduled to conclude its 28th mission, STS-107, the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas and Louisiana during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, resulting in the death of all seven crew members...
in 2003, William Readdy was Associate Administrator for Space Flight and Kenneth Bowersox was commanding the Expedition 6Expedition 6Expedition 6 was the sixth expedition to the International Space Station. It was the last three man crew to reside on the station until the arrival of STS-121...
crew on the ISS. Chilton, after leaving NASA, became the first NASA astronaut to become a full General4 star rankFour-star rank is a term used to describe a very senior commander in many of the armed services holding a rank described by the NATO OF-9 code. The term is also used by some armed forces which are not NATO members...
in the U.S. Air Force (Lt. Gen. Thomas StaffordThomas Patten StaffordThomas Patten Stafford is a retired American Air Force lieutenant general and former NASA astronaut. He flew aboard two Gemini space flights; and in 1969 was the commander of Apollo 10, the second manned mission to orbit the Moon and the first to fly a lunar module there.In 1975, Stafford was...
, USAF, and VADM Richard Truly, USN were three-star officers) and held the position of commander, U.S. Strategic Command.
August 3 – 1987 German Group
- Renate Brümmer, Hans SchlegelHans SchlegelHans Wilhelm Schlegel is a German physicist, an ESA astronaut, and a veteran of two NASA Space Shuttle missions.-Early life and education:...
, Gerhard ThieleGerhard ThieleDr. Gerhard Paul Julius Thiele is a German physicist and a former ESA astronaut.-Early life and education:Born in Heidenheim an der Brenz, he attended the Friedrich-Schiller-Gymnasium in Ludwigsburg. After school he volunteered for the German Navy, serving as Operations/Weapons Officer aboard fast...
, Heike Walpot, Ulrich WalterUlrich WalterProf. Dr. Ulrich Hans Walter is a German physicist/engineer and a former DFVLR astronaut.Walter was born in Iserlohn, Germany. After finishing secondary school there and two years in the Bundeswehr, he studied physics at the University of Cologne...
1989
January 25 – IMBP-5/GKNII-3/NPOE-9S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia
OAO S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia , also known as RKK Energiya, is a Russian manufacturer of spacecraft and space station components...
/TsPK-10
Yuri Gagarin Cosmonauts Training Center
The Yu. A. Gagarin State Scientific Research-and-Testing Cosmonaut Training Center is a Russian training facility responsible for training cosmonauts for their space missions...
Cosmonaut Group – Soviet Union
- IMBP: Vladimir Karashtin, Vasili Lukiyanyuk, Boris MorukovBoris MorukovBoris Vladimirovich Morukov is a Russian physician at the State Research Center RF-Institute for Biomedical Problems . He trained with the Russian Federal Space Agency as a research-cosmonaut and flew aboard NASA Space Shuttle mission STS-106 as a mission specialist.-Biography:Morukov is married...
- GNKII: Anatoli Polonsky, Valeri Tokarev, Aleksandr Yablontsev
- NPOE: Nikolai BudarinNikolai BudarinNikolai Mikhailovich Budarin is a Russian cosmonaut, a veteran of three extended space missions aboard the Mir Space Station and the International Space Station...
, Yelena KondakovaYelena KondakovaYelena Vladimirovna Kondakova was the third Soviet/Russian female cosmonaut to travel to space and the first woman to make a long-duration spaceflight. Her first trip into space was on Soyuz TM-20 on October 4, 1994. She returned to Earth on March 22, 1995 after a five-month stay at the Mir space...
, Aleksandr Poleshchuk, Yury Usachov - TsPK: Sergei Kirchevsky, Gennady PadalkaGennady PadalkaGennady Ivanovich Padalka is a Russian Air Force officer and an RSA cosmonaut. As of June 2010, Gennady ranks sixth for career time in space due to his time on both Mir and the International Space Station....
, Yury Onufriyenko
1990
January 17 – NASA Group 13 – The Hairballs – USA- Pilots: Kenneth CockrellKenneth CockrellKenneth Dale "Taco" Cockrell is an American astronaut and a veteran of five space shuttle missions.Cockrell was born in Austin, Texas to Buford Dale Cockrell and Jewell Moorman. He earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 1972 and received his...
, Eileen CollinsEileen CollinsEileen Marie Collins is a retired American astronaut and a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel. A former military instructor and test pilot, Collins was the first female pilot and first female commander of a Space Shuttle. She was awarded several medals for her work. Col. Collins has logged 38 days 8...
, William G. GregoryWilliam G. GregoryWilliam George "Borneo" Gregory , is a retired NASA astronaut and United States Air Force lieutenant colonel.-Early life and education:...
, James Halsell, Charles Precourt, Richard Searfoss, Terrence Wilcutt
- Mission specialists: Daniel Bursch, Leroy ChiaoLeroy ChiaoDr. Leroy Chiao , is an American engineer, former NASA astronaut, entrepreneur, motivational speaker and engineering consultant. Chiao flew on three shuttle flights, and was the commander of Expedition 10, where he lived on board the International Space Station from October 13, 2004 to April 24,...
, Michael Clifford, Bernard Harris, Susan Helms, Thomas David JonesThomas David JonesThomas David Jones is a former United States astronaut. He was selected to the astronaut corps in 1990 and completed four space shuttle flights before retiring in 2001. He flew on STS-59 and STS-68 in 1994, STS-80 in 1996 and STS-98 in 2001. His total mission time was 53 days 48 minutes...
, William McArthurWilliam S. McArthurWilliam Surles McArthur, Jr. is a retired U.S. Army Colonel, a NASA astronaut, and a veteran of three space shuttle missions and one expedition to the International Space Station via the Russian Soyuz capsule.-Army career:...
, James NewmanJames H. NewmanJames Hansen Newman is an American physicist and a former NASA astronaut who flew on four Space Shuttle missions..- Personal data :...
, Ellen OchoaEllen OchoaEllen Ochoa is a former astronaut and engineer, and current Deputy Director of the Johnson Space Center.-Personal life:Ellen Ochoa was born on May 10, 1958 in Los Angeles, California, but considers La Mesa, California to be her hometown...
, Ronald Sega, Nancy Currie, Donald A. ThomasDonald A. ThomasDonald Alan Thomas, Ph.D., is an American engineer and a former NASA astronaut.-Education:Graduated from Cleveland Heights High School, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, in 1973; received a bachelor of science degree in Physics from Case Western Reserve University in 1977, and a master of science degree and...
, Janice Voss, Carl E. WalzCarl E. WalzCarl Erwin Walz is a former NASA astronaut currently working for Orbital Sciences Corporation's Advanced Programs Group as Vice President for Human Space Flight Operations. Walz was formerly assigned to the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC...
, Peter Wisoff, David Wolf
- Collins would go on to be the first female shuttle pilot, the first female shuttle commander, and then commander of the second "Return to FlightSTS-114-Original crew:This mission was to carry the Expedition 7 crew to the ISS and bring home the Expedition 6 crew. The original crew was to be:-Mission highlights:...
" mission in 2005. The "Hairballs" nickname, according to Jones in his book "Sky Walking," came after the group, the 13th NASA astronaut class, put a black cat on its group patch.
February – CNES Group 3 – France
- Léopold EyhartsLéopold EyhartsLéopold Eyharts is a Brigadier General in the French Air Force and an ESA astronaut.-Background:Eyharts was born April 28, 1957, in Biarritz, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France...
, Jean-Marc Gasparini, Philippe PerrinPhilippe PerrinPhilippe Perrin is a French test pilot and former CNES and European Space Agency astronaut.-Background:Perrin was born 6 January 1963, in Meknes, Morocco, but considers Avignon, Provence, to be his hometown. He entered the French École polytechnique in 1982 and graduated as "Ingénieur...
, Benoit Silve
May 11 – TsPK-11
Yuri Gagarin Cosmonauts Training Center
The Yu. A. Gagarin State Scientific Research-and-Testing Cosmonaut Training Center is a Russian training facility responsible for training cosmonauts for their space missions...
Cosmonaut Group – Soviet Union
- Talgat MusabayevTalgat MusabayevTalgat Amangeldyuly Musabayev , is a Kazakh test pilot and former cosmonaut who flew on three spaceflights. His first two spaceflights were long-duration stays aboard the Russian space station Mir. His third spaceflight was a short duration visiting mission to the International Space Station, which...
, Vladimir Severin, Salizhan SharipovSalizhan SharipovSalizhan Shakirovich Sharipov is a Kyrgyz cosmonaut. Sharipov is a co-author and investigator for the Advanced Diagnostic Ultrasound in Microgravity project. He has been to space twice and has conducted two spacewalks...
, Sergei Vozovikov, Sergei ZalyotinSergei ZalyotinSergei Viktorovich Zalyotin is a Russian cosmonaut and a veteran of a two space missions.Zalyotin was born in Tula and attended the Borisoglebsk Higher Military School before becoming a fighter pilot in the Russian Air Force. He also holds a degree in ecological management. Zalyotin was selected...
October 8 – 1990 German Group
- Reinhold EwaldReinhold EwaldDr. Reinhold Ewald is a German physicist and ESA astronaut.Born in Mönchengladbach, Germany, he received diploma in experimental physics from the University of Cologne in 1983 and the Ph.D. in 1986, with a minor degree in human physiology.In 1990, he was selected to the German astronaut team,...
, Klaus-Dietrich FladeKlaus-Dietrich FladeKlaus-Dietrich Flade is a German pilot and former German Aerospace Center astronaut who visited the Mir space station in 1992 aboard the Soyuz TM-14 mission, returning to Earth a week later aboard Soyuz TM-13.-Biography:...
1992
March 3 – NPOE-10S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia
OAO S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia , also known as RKK Energiya, is a Russian manufacturer of spacecraft and space station components...
Cosmonaut Group – Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
- Aleksandr LazutkinAleksandr LazutkinAleksandr Ivanovich Lazutkin is a Russian cosmonaut.He was selected as cosmonaut on March 3, 1992. His first spaceflight was Soyuz TM-25, on which he was the flight engineer.He is married and has two children....
, Sergei Treshchov, Pavel Vinogradov
March 31 – NASA Group 14 – The Hogs – USA
- Pilots: Scott Horowitz, Brent Jett, Kevin Kregel, Kent RomingerKent RomingerKent Vernon "Rommel" Rominger is a former American astronaut, former Chief of the NASA Astronaut Office at Johnson Space Center, and a Captain in the United States Navy. He joined ATK Launch Systems Group in 2006 as Vice President of Advanced Programs.- History :Kent Rominger was born in Del...
- Mission specialists: Daniel T. BarryDaniel T. BarryDaniel Thomas Barry is an American engineer, scientist, and a retired NASA astronaut. He was a contestant on the CBS reality television program Survivor: Panama-Exile Island...
, Charles BradyCharles E. Brady, Jr.Charles Eldon Brady, Jr. was an American physician and a NASA astronaut.-Personal data:...
, Catherine ColemanCatherine ColemanCatherine Grace "Cady" Coleman is an American chemist, a former United States Air Force officer, and a current NASA astronaut...
, Michael Gernhardt, John Grunsfeld, Wendy Lawrence, Jerry Linenger, Richard Linnehan, Michael Lopez-AlegriaMichael Lopez-AlegriaMichael Eladio "LA" López-Alegría b. May 30, 1958, is a Spanish-American astronaut; a veteran of three Space Shuttle missions and one International Space Station mission...
, Scott Parazynski, Winston Scott, Steven SmithSteven Smith (astronaut)Steven Lee Smith , is an American technology executive and NASA astronaut.-Education:Graduated from Leland High School, San Jose, California, in 1977; received a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering in 1981; a master of science degree in electrical engineering in 1982; and a...
, Joseph TannerJoseph R. TannerJoseph Richard "Joe" Tanner is an American instructor at the University of Colorado at Boulder, a former military jet pilot, and a former NASA astronaut. He was born in Danville, Illinois. He is unusual among astronauts as he did not have a background in flight test nor did he earn any advanced...
, Andy ThomasAndy ThomasAndrew "Andy" Sydney Withiel Thomas is an Australian-born American aerospace engineer and a NASA astronaut. He became a U.S. citizen in December 1986, hoping to gain entry to NASA's astronaut program...
, Mary Weber
- International mission specialists: Marc GarneauMarc GarneauJoseph Jean-Pierre Marc Garneau, CC CD FCASI MP is a Canadian retired military officer, former astronaut, engineer and politician.Garneau was the first Canadian in space taking part in three flights aboard NASA Space shuttles...
(Canada), Chris HadfieldChris HadfieldChris Austin "Chris" Hadfield, O.Ont, MSC, CD is a Canadian astronaut from the Canadian Space Agency who was the first Canadian to walk in space. Hadfield has flown two space shuttle missions, STS-74 in 1995 and STS-100 in 2001. He has served as CAPCOM for both Space Shuttle and International...
(Canada), Maurizio CheliMaurizio CheliMaurizio Cheli is an Italian engineer, air force officer, a European Space Agency astronaut and a veteran of one NASA space shuttle mission....
(Italy), Jean-François ClervoyJean-François ClervoyJean-François André Clervoy is a French engineer and test pilot and an CNES and ESA astronaut. He is a veteran of three NASA Space Shuttle missions.-Personal life:...
(France), Koichi WakataKoichi Wakatais a Japanese engineer and a JAXA astronaut. Wakata is a veteran of four NASA Space Shuttle missions and a long-duration stay on the International Space Station. During a nearly two decade career in spaceflight he has logged five months in space. Wakata is currently assigned to the Soyuz...
(Japan)
- Beginning with this NASA Group, non-US astronauts representing their home country's space agencies were brought in and trained alongside their NASA counterparts as full-fledged mission specialists, eligible to be assigned to any shuttle mission.
April – 1992 NASDA Group – Japan
- Koichi WakataKoichi Wakatais a Japanese engineer and a JAXA astronaut. Wakata is a veteran of four NASA Space Shuttle missions and a long-duration stay on the International Space Station. During a nearly two decade career in spaceflight he has logged five months in space. Wakata is currently assigned to the Soyuz...
June – CSA Group 2 – Canada
- Dafydd WilliamsDafydd WilliamsDafydd Rhys "Dave" Williams is a Canadian physician and a retired CSA astronaut. He had two spaceflights, both of which were Space Shuttle missions. His first spaceflight, STS-90 in 1998, was a 16-day mission aboard Space Shuttle Columbia dedicated to neuroscience research...
, Julie PayetteJulie PayetteJulie Payette, OC, CQ is a Canadian engineer and a Canadian Space Agency astronaut. Payette has completed two spaceflights, STS-96 and STS-127, logging more than 25 days in space...
, Chris HadfieldChris HadfieldChris Austin "Chris" Hadfield, O.Ont, MSC, CD is a Canadian astronaut from the Canadian Space Agency who was the first Canadian to walk in space. Hadfield has flown two space shuttle missions, STS-74 in 1995 and STS-100 in 2001. He has served as CAPCOM for both Space Shuttle and International...
and Michael McKay
- The second Canadian astronaut group were selected by CSA. All the astronauts flew on the U.S. Space Shuttle except Michael McKay who resigned due to medical reasons.
May 15 – 1992 ESA Group – ESA
- Maurizio CheliMaurizio CheliMaurizio Cheli is an Italian engineer, air force officer, a European Space Agency astronaut and a veteran of one NASA space shuttle mission....
(Italy), Jean-François ClervoyJean-François ClervoyJean-François André Clervoy is a French engineer and test pilot and an CNES and ESA astronaut. He is a veteran of three NASA Space Shuttle missions.-Personal life:...
(France), Pedro DuquePedro DuquePedro Duque Duque is a Spanish astronaut and a veteran of two space missions.Duque earned a degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid in 1986. He worked for GMV and for the European Space Agency for six years before being selected as an astronaut candidate in...
(Spain), Christer FuglesangChrister FuglesangDr. Arne Christer Fuglesang is a Swedish physicist and an ESA astronaut. He was first launched aboard the STS-116 Space Shuttle mission on December 10, 2006, at 01:47 GMT, making him the first Swedish citizen in space....
(Sweden), Marianne MerchezMarianne MerchezMarianne Merchez is a Belgian doctor from the Catholic University of Louvain and a former European Space Agency astronaut....
(Belgium), Thomas ReiterThomas ReiterThomas Arthur Reiter is a retired European astronaut and is a Brigadier General in the Luftwaffe currently working as Director of Human Spaceflight and Operations at the European Space Agency . , he was one of the top 25 astronauts in terms of total time in space...
(Germany)
1994
April 1 – NPOE-11S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia
OAO S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia , also known as RKK Energiya, is a Russian manufacturer of spacecraft and space station components...
Cosmonaut Group – Russia
- Nadezhda Kuzhelnaya, Mikhail TyurinMikhail TyurinMikhail Vladislavovich Tyurin is a Russian cosmonaut.-Personal data:Michael Tyurin lives in Korolev, a small city outside of Moscow. He was born March 2, 1960, in Kolomna, USSR where his parents still reside. He is married to Tatiana Anatoleyvna Tyurina. They have a daughter, Alexandra, born in...
December 12 – NASA Group 15 – The Flying Escargot – USA
- Pilots: Scott AltmanScott AltmanScott Douglas "Scooter" Altman, is a United States Navy Captain test pilot and former NASA astronaut. He is a veteran of four space shuttle missions. His fourth mission on STS-125 was the last servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.-Personal:Born in Lincoln, Illinois, Scott is married to...
, Jeffrey AshbyJeffrey AshbyJeffrey Shears "Bones" Ashby is an engineer, former American naval aviator and astronaut, a veteran of three space shuttle missions. He is a retired Captain in the U.S. Navy...
, Michael BloomfieldMichael J. BloomfieldMichael John "Bloomer" Bloomfield is a former American astronaut and a veteran of three space shuttle missions.-Early life and education:...
, Joe EdwardsJoe F. Edwards, Jr.Joe Frank Edwards, Jr., , is a former United States Naval officer and NASA astronaut.-Early life and education:Edwards was born in Richmond, Virginia, but considers Lineville, Alabama to be his hometown. He graduated from Lineville High School in 1976 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in...
, Dominic Gorie, Rick Husband, Steven Lindsey, Pamela MelroyPamela MelroyPamela Anne Melroy is a retired United States Air Force officer and a former NASA astronaut. She served as pilot on Space Shuttle missions STS-92 and STS-112 and commanded mission STS-120.-Early life and education:...
, Susan (Still) Kilrain, Frederick Sturckow
- Mission specialists: Michael AndersonMichael Phillip AndersonMichael Philip Anderson was a United States Lieutenant Colonel and NASA astronaut, who was killed in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster when the craft disintegrated after reentry into the Earth's atmosphere....
, Kalpana ChawlaKalpana ChawlaKalpana Chawla was an Indian-American astronaut with NASA. She was one of seven crew members killed in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster.-Early life:...
, Robert CurbeamRobert CurbeamRobert Lee Curbeam, Jr. is a former American astronaut, and Captain in the United States Navy.Curbeam graduated from Woodlawn High School, Baltimore County, Maryland in 1980...
, Kathryn Hire, Janet Kavandi, Edward Lu, Carlos Noriega, James ReillyJames F. ReillyJames Francis Reilly, II, Ph.D. is an American geologist and a former NASA astronaut who has flown on three space shuttle missions: STS-89, STS-104 and STS-117. He was born at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho and considers Mesquite, Texas to be his hometown...
, Stephen RobinsonStephen RobinsonStephen Kern Robinson is a NASA astronaut. He was born October 26, 1955, in Sacramento, California.He enjoys flying, antique aircraft, swimming, canoeing, hiking, music, art, and stereo photography. He plays lead guitar in Max Q, a rock and roll band...
- International mission specialists: Jean-Loup ChrétienJean-Loup ChrétienJean-Loup Jacques Marie Chrétien, is a French engineer, a retired Général de Brigade in the Armée de l'Air , and a former CNES astronaut. He flew on two Franco-Soviet space missions and a NASA Space Shuttle mission...
(France), Takao DoiTakao Doiis a Japanese astronaut and a veteran of two NASA space shuttle missions.Doi holds a doctorate from the University of Tokyo in aerospace engineering, and has studied and published in the fields of propulsion systems, and microgravity technology...
(Japan), Michel TogniniMichel TogniniMichel Ange-Charles Tognini is a French test pilot, officer in the French Air Force, and a former CNES and ESA astronaut who currently serves as Head of the European Astronaut Centre of the European Space Agency. A veteran of two space flights, Tognini has logged a total of 19 days in space...
(France), Dafydd WilliamsDafydd WilliamsDafydd Rhys "Dave" Williams is a Canadian physician and a retired CSA astronaut. He had two spaceflights, both of which were Space Shuttle missions. His first spaceflight, STS-90 in 1998, was a 16-day mission aboard Space Shuttle Columbia dedicated to neuroscience research...
(Canada)
- Husband, Anderson, and Chawla were crewmembers on the final ColumbiaSpace Shuttle Columbia disasterThe Space Shuttle Columbia disaster occurred on February 1, 2003, when shortly before it was scheduled to conclude its 28th mission, STS-107, the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas and Louisiana during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, resulting in the death of all seven crew members...
mission. Chrétien trained as a backup Spacelab crew member in the 1980s and flew on both U.S. and Soviet/Russian spacecraft, along with being the first non-U.S. or Soviet/Russian astronaut to perform a space walk.
1996
February 9 – MKSRussian Federal Space Agency
The Russian Federal Space Agency , commonly called Roscosmos and abbreviated as FKA and RKA , is the government agency responsible for the Russian space science program and general aerospace research. It was previously the Russian Aviation and Space Agency .Headquarters of Roscosmos are located...
/RKKE-12
S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia
OAO S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia , also known as RKK Energiya, is a Russian manufacturer of spacecraft and space station components...
Cosmonaut Group – Russia
- MKS: Oleg KotovOleg KotovOleg Valeriyevich Kotov was born October 27, 1965, in Simferopol, Crimean oblast in Ukrainian SSR. After a career as a military pilot, he joined the Russian cosmonaut corps. He has flown two long duration spaceflight on the International Space Station logging just short of a year in space...
, Yuri SharginYuri SharginYuri Georgiyevich Shargin is a cosmonaut in the Russian Space Forces.He was born March 20, 1960 in Engels, Saratov Oblast, Russian SFSR. He is divorced and has two children.... - RKKE: Konstantin KozeyevKonstantin KozeyevKonstantin Mirovich Kozeyev is a Russian cosmonaut.He was born in Korolyov, Moscow Oblast, Russian SFSR on December 1, 1967. He is divorced and has no children....
, Sergei RevinSergei RevinSergei Nikolayevich Revin is a Russian cosmonaut that was selected in 1996, and completed spaceflight training in 1998. Revin may serve as a backup crewmember for Flight Engineer Oleg Skripochka on the Expedition 22 crew bound for the International Space Station. Revin is married to Irina...
March 26 – MKS supplemental cosmonaut group – Russia
- Oleg KononenkoOleg KononenkoOleg Dmitriyevich Kononenko is a Russian cosmonaut.- Personal :Kononenko was born June 21, 1964, in Chardzhou, Turkmen SSR. He is married to Tatiana Mikhailovna Kononenko . They have a son, Andrey Olegovich Kononenko, and a daughter, Alisa Olegovna Kononenko. Kononenko enjoys reading, and team...
May 1 – NASA Group 16 – The Sardines – USA
- Pilots: Duane G. CareyDuane G. CareyDuane Gene "Digger" Carey is an engineer and former NASA Astronaut. Born April 30, 1957, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Married to the former Cheryl Ann Tobritzhofer of Saint Paul, Minnesota. They have two children. He enjoys motorcycle travel, racing motocross, camping, home-schooling his children,...
, Stephen FrickStephen FrickStephen Nathaniel Frick is an American astronaut and a veteran of two space shuttle missions. Raised in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, Frick graduated from Pine-Richland High School in 1982, earned a degree in aerospace engineering from the United States Naval Academy in 1986, was commissioned as a Navy...
, Charles O. HobaughCharles O. HobaughCharles Owen "Scorch" Hobaugh is a NASA astronaut and a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer. He has had three spaceflights, all of which were Space Shuttle missions to the International Space Station, lasting between 10 and 13 days.Hobaugh was selected to be an astronaut in 1996, and his first...
, James M. KellyJames M. KellyJames McNeal "Vegas" Kelly is a NASA Astronaut and a retired Colonel of the United States Air Force.-Education:Born in Burlington, Iowa, James Kelly graduated from Burlington Community High School in 1982. He received a B.S. degree in astronautical engineering from the United States Air Force...
, Mark Kelly, Scott Kelly, Paul LockhartPaul LockhartColonel Paul Scott "Paco" Lockhart is a former American astronaut and a veteran of two Space Shuttle missions.Lockhart, born and reared in Amarillo, Texas, earned degrees in mathematics and aerospace engineering from Texas Tech University and the University of Texas at Austin before being...
, Christopher LoriaChristopher LoriaChristopher Joseph "Gus" Loria is a United States Marine Corps officer and a former NASA astronaut. He was originally scheduled to fly on STS-113 as pilot, however he was grounded from spaceflight due to a severe back injury.-Personal:Born July 9, 1960 in Belmont, Massachusetts. He considers...
, William Cameron McCool, Mark L. PolanskyMark L. PolanskyMark Lewis "Roman" Polansky is an American aerospace engineer and research pilot and a NASA astronaut. Polansky received the nickname "Roman" as a joke, because he shares a last name with director Roman Polanski. He has flown on three Space Shuttle missions: STS-98, STS-116, and...
.
- Mission Specialists: David McDowell BrownDavid McDowell BrownDavid McDowell Brown was a United States Naval Captain and a NASA astronaut. He died on his first space flight, when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during orbital reentry into the Earth's atmosphere...
, Daniel C. BurbankDaniel C. BurbankDaniel Christopher Burbank is an American astronaut and a veteran of two space shuttle missions. Burbank, a Captain in the United States Coast Guard, is the second Coast Guard astronaut after Bruce Melnick....
, Yvonne CagleYvonne CagleYvonne Darlene Cagle is a NASA astronaut.- Education :Yvonne Cagle received her bachelor's degree in biochemistry from San Francisco State University in 1981, and a doctor of medicine degree from the University of Washington in 1985...
, Fernando CaldeiroFernando CaldeiroFernando "Frank" Caldeiro was an Argentine-American astronaut with a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Arizona and the University of Central Florida....
, Charles Camarda, Laurel Clark, Michael Fincke, Patrick G. ForresterPatrick G. ForresterPatrick Graham Forrester is a retired United States Army officer and a NASA astronaut. At the time of his retirement from the U.S. Army, Forrester had achieved the rank of colonel...
, John HerringtonJohn HerringtonJohn Bennett Herrington is an American business executive, former US Navy officer and former NASA astronaut. He is a veteran of one Space Shuttle mission. He is the first enrolled member of a Native American tribe to fly in space....
, Joan HigginbothamJoan HigginbothamJoan Elizabeth Higginbotham is an American engineer and a former NASA astronaut. She flew aboard Space Shuttle Discovery mission STS-116 as a mission specialist.-Early life:...
, Sandra MagnusSandra MagnusSandra Hall Magnus is an American engineer and a NASA astronaut. She returned to Earth with the crew of STS-119 Discovery on March 28, 2009, after having spent 134 days in orbit. She was assigned to the crew of STS-135, the final mission of the Space Shuttle...
, Michael J. MassiminoMichael J. MassiminoMichael James Massimino is an American engineer and a NASA astronaut. Mike is a veteran of two Space Shuttle missions, both of which serviced the Hubble Space Telescope , including the historic final repair mission.-Personal life:...
, Richard MastracchioRichard MastracchioRichard Alan "Rick" Mastracchio is an American engineer and a NASA astronaut. He has flown on three NASA Space Shuttle missions as a mission specialist...
, Lee Morin, Lisa NowakLisa NowakLisa Marie Nowak is a former American naval flight officer and NASA astronaut. Born in Washington, D.C., she was selected by NASA in 1996 and qualified as a mission specialist in robotics...
, Donald PettitDonald PettitDonald Roy Pettit is an American chemical engineer and a NASA astronaut. He is a veteran of a six-month stay aboard the International Space Station and a six-week expedition to find meteorites in Antarctica.-Personal:...
, John L. PhillipsJohn L. PhillipsJohn Lynch Phillips, PhD is a NASA astronaut. Phillips is also a retired Captain of the United States Navy Reserve. Phillips has received numerous awards and special honors. He is a National Merit Scholar, graduated 2nd in his class of 906 people at the U.S. Naval Academy in 1972...
, Paul W. RichardsPaul W. RichardsPaul William Richards is an American engineer and a former NASA Astronaut. He flew aboard one Space Shuttle mission in 2001.-Education:...
, Piers SellersPiers SellersPiers John Sellers OBE is a British-born Anglo-American meteorologist and a NASA astronaut. He is a veteran of three space shuttle missions....
, Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, Daniel M. TaniDaniel M. TaniDaniel Tani is an American engineer and a NASA astronaut. Although born in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, he considers Lombard, Illinois, to be his hometown...
, Rex J. WalheimRex J. WalheimRex Joseph Walheim is a United States Air Force officer and a NASA astronaut. He has flown three space shuttle missions, STS-110, STS-122, and STS-135. Rex has logged over 566 hours in space, including 36 hours and 23 minutes of spacewalk time...
, Peggy WhitsonPeggy WhitsonPeggy Annette Whitson is an American biochemistry researcher, NASA astronaut, and NASA's Chief Astronaut. Her first space mission was in 2002, with an extended stay aboard the International Space Station as a member of Expedition 5. Her second mission launched October 10, 2007, as the first female...
, Jeffrey Williams, Stephanie WilsonStephanie WilsonStephanie Diana Wilson is an American engineer and a NASA astronaut. She flew on her first mission in space on board the Space Shuttle mission STS-121, and is the second African American woman to go into space, after Mae Jemison.-Education:In middle school, Wilson interviewed an Astronomy professor...
.
- International Mission Specialists: Pedro DuquePedro DuquePedro Duque Duque is a Spanish astronaut and a veteran of two space missions.Duque earned a degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid in 1986. He worked for GMV and for the European Space Agency for six years before being selected as an astronaut candidate in...
(Spain), Christer FuglesangChrister FuglesangDr. Arne Christer Fuglesang is a Swedish physicist and an ESA astronaut. He was first launched aboard the STS-116 Space Shuttle mission on December 10, 2006, at 01:47 GMT, making him the first Swedish citizen in space....
(Sweden), Umberto GuidoniUmberto GuidoniUmberto Guidoni is an Italian politician and a former ESA astronaut. He is a veteran of two NASA space shuttle missions...
(Italy), Steven MacLeanSteven MacLean (astronaut)Steven Glenwood MacLean is a Canadian astronaut. He is the current President of the Canadian Space Agency, appointed on September 1, 2008....
(Canada), Mamoru MohriMamoru Mohriis a Japanese scientist, a former NASDA astronaut, and a veteran of two NASA space shuttle missions.-Biography:Born in Yoichi, Hokkaidō, Japan, Mohri earned degrees in chemistry from Hokkaido University and a Doctorate from Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia, in 1976.Most of Mohri's...
(Japan), Soichi NoguchiSoichi Noguchiis a Japanese aeronautical engineer and a JAXA astronaut. His first spaceflight was as a Mission Specialist aboard STS-114 on 26 July 2005 for NASA's first "return to flight" Space Shuttle mission after the Columbia disaster. He was most recently in space as part of the Soyuz TMA-17 crew and...
(Japan), Julie PayetteJulie PayetteJulie Payette, OC, CQ is a Canadian engineer and a Canadian Space Agency astronaut. Payette has completed two spaceflights, STS-96 and STS-127, logging more than 25 days in space...
(Canada), Philippe PerrinPhilippe PerrinPhilippe Perrin is a French test pilot and former CNES and European Space Agency astronaut.-Background:Perrin was born 6 January 1963, in Meknes, Morocco, but considers Avignon, Provence, to be his hometown. He entered the French École polytechnique in 1982 and graduated as "Ingénieur...
(France), Gerhard ThieleGerhard ThieleDr. Gerhard Paul Julius Thiele is a German physicist and a former ESA astronaut.-Early life and education:Born in Heidenheim an der Brenz, he attended the Friedrich-Schiller-Gymnasium in Ludwigsburg. After school he volunteered for the German Navy, serving as Operations/Weapons Officer aboard fast...
(Germany).
- Brown, Clark and McCool were crewmembers on the final ColumbiaSpace Shuttle Columbia disasterThe Space Shuttle Columbia disaster occurred on February 1, 2003, when shortly before it was scheduled to conclude its 28th mission, STS-107, the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas and Louisiana during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, resulting in the death of all seven crew members...
mission. Mark and Scott Kelly are twin brothers, James Kelly is not related. Loria resigned from his shuttle mission due to injury and never flew before retiring from the astronaut corps. Nowak, who flew on STS-121STS-121STS-121 was a space shuttle mission to the International Space Station flown by Space Shuttle Discovery. The main purposes of the mission were to test new safety and repair techniques introduced following the Columbia disaster of February 2003 as well as to deliver supplies, equipment and...
, was arrested on February 5, 2007, after confronting a woman entangled in a love triangleLove triangleA love triangle is usually a romantic relationship involving three people. While it can refer to two people independently romantically linked with a third, it usually implies that each of the three people has some kind of relationship to the other two...
with a fellow astronaut. She was dismissed by NASA on March 6, the first astronaut to be both grounded and dismissed (prior astronauts who were grounded due to non-medical issues usually resigned or retired).
June – NASDA Group – Japan
- Soichi NoguchiSoichi Noguchiis a Japanese aeronautical engineer and a JAXA astronaut. His first spaceflight was as a Mission Specialist aboard STS-114 on 26 July 2005 for NASA's first "return to flight" Space Shuttle mission after the Columbia disaster. He was most recently in space as part of the Soyuz TMA-17 crew and...
October – China Group 1996 – China
- Li QinglongLi QinglongLi Qinglong is a Chinese pilot selected as part of the Shenzhou program.-Biography:Li Qinglong was born in Dingyuan, Anhui province, China. In 1987 he graduated from the People's Liberation Army Air Force Missile College and later the PLAAF Flight College...
, Wu JieWu JieWu Jie is a Chinese military pilot and astronaut selected as part of the Shenzhou program.-Biography:He was born in Zhengzhou, Henan province, China. In 1987 he graduated from the People's Liberation Army Air Force Engineering College and later the PLAAF Flight College...
1997
July 28 – TsPK-12Yuri Gagarin Cosmonauts Training Center
The Yu. A. Gagarin State Scientific Research-and-Testing Cosmonaut Training Center is a Russian training facility responsible for training cosmonauts for their space missions...
/RKKE-13
S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia
OAO S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia , also known as RKK Energiya, is a Russian manufacturer of spacecraft and space station components...
Cosmonaut Group – Russia
- TsPK: Dmitri Kondratyev, Yury Lonchakov, Sergei Moshchenko, Oleg Moshkin, Roman RomanenkoRoman RomanenkoRoman Yurievich Romanenko is a cosmonaut at the Yu.A. Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.-Personal life:His parents, Yuri Victorovich Romanenko and Aleftina Ivanovna Romanenko, live in Star City. He is married to Yulia Leonidovna Romanenko . They have one son...
, Aleksandr SkvortsovAleksandr Skvortsov (cosmonaut)Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Skvortsov is a Russian cosmonaut. He has had one spaceflight, which was a long-duration stay aboard the International Space Station. His spaceflight took place from April to September 2010, and was launched with the spacecraft Soyuz TMA-18. He arrived at the station part...
, Maksim SurayevMaksim SurayevMaksim Viktorovich Surayev is a Russian cosmonaut.-Personal:Surayev was born in Chelyabinsk. During his childhood, Suraev lived in several places due to his father's military commitments. First he moved from his birthplace, Chelyabinsk in the Urals, to Siberia. When his father entered the military...
, Konstantin ValkovKonstantin ValkovKonstantin Anatolyevich Valkov is a Russian Cosmonaut. He was selected as part of the TsPK-12 Cosmonaut group in 1997.-Early life and education:Valkov was born in Kamensk-Uralsky, Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia on November 11, 1971...
, Sergey Volkov - RKKE: Oleg SkripochkaOleg SkripochkaOleg Ivanovich Skripochka is a Russian cosmonaut. In 2011 he was in space serving as an Expedition 25/26 crewmember.-Education:...
, Fyodor YurchikhinFyodor YurchikhinFyodor Nikolayevich Yurchikhin , is a Russian cosmonaut and RSC Energia test-pilot who has flown on three spaceflights. His first spaceflight was a 10-day Space Shuttle mission STS-112. His second was a long-duration stay aboard the International Space Station as a Flight Engineer for Expedition...
Israel
- Yitzhak Mayo, Ilan RamonIlan RamonIlan Ramon was a fighter pilot in the Israeli Air Force, and later the first Israeli astronaut....
- Ramon was the first Israeli astronaut to fly in space and also a Payload Specialist on the final mission of Space Shuttle ColumbiaSpace Shuttle Columbia disasterThe Space Shuttle Columbia disaster occurred on February 1, 2003, when shortly before it was scheduled to conclude its 28th mission, STS-107, the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas and Louisiana during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, resulting in the death of all seven crew members...
(STS-107STS-107-Mission parameters:*Mass:**Orbiter Liftoff: **Orbiter Landing: **Payload: *Perigee: *Apogee: *Inclination: 39.0°*Period: 90.1 min- Insignia :...
).
1998
January – Chinese Group 1 – China- Chen QuanChen QuanChen Quan is a Chinese pilot selected as part of the Shenzhou program.Chen was born in Suining, Sichuan, China.He joined the People's Liberation Army Air Force and became a fighter interceptor pilot and later as a regiment commander in the PLAAF....
陈全, Deng QingmingDeng QingmingDeng Qingming is a Chinese pilot selected as part of the Shenzhou program. He was born in the Jiangxi province of China. A fighter pilot in the People's Liberation Army Air Force, he was selected to be an astronaut in 1998.-References:...
邓清明, Fei JunlongFei JunlongColonel Fei Junlong is a Chinese military pilot and an astronaut. He flew on the second manned spaceflight of the Shenzhou program....
费俊龙, Jing Haipeng 景海鹏, Liu BomingLiu Boming (astronaut)Liu Boming is a Chinese pilot selected as part of the Shenzhou program. A fighter pilot in the People's Liberation Army Air Force, he was selected to be an CNSA member in 1998.-CNSA career:...
刘伯明, Liu WangLiu WangLiu Wang is a Chinese pilot selected as part of the Shenzhou program. He was born in the Shanxi province of China and was a fighter pilot in the People's Liberation Army Air Force. He was selected to be an astronaut in 1998.-References:* at the Encyclopedia Astronautica. Accessed 23 July 2005.*...
刘旺, Nie HaishengNie HaishengColonel Niè Hǎishèng is a Chinese military pilot and CNSA astronaut .-Military career:Nie was born in Yangdang town of Zaoyang, Hubei Province. After graduating from high school he joined the People's Liberation Army Air Force and became a fighter pilot. During his training at the PLAAF's No...
聂海胜, Pan ZhanchunPan ZhanchunPan Zhanchun is a Chinese pilot selected as part of the Shenzhou program. He was a fighter pilot in the People's Liberation Army Air Force and was selected to be an astronaut in 1998.-References:...
潘占春, Yang LiweiYang LiweiYáng Lìwěi is a Chinese major general and military pilot and a CNSA astronaut. He was the first man sent into space by the Chinese space program and his mission, Shenzhou 5, made China the third country to independently send people into space.-Background:...
杨利伟, Zhai ZhigangZhai ZhigangZhai Zhigang is an officer in the People's Liberation Army Air Force and a CNSA astronaut. During the Shenzhou 7 mission in 2008, he became the first Chinese citizen to carry out a spacewalk.-Early career:...
翟志刚, Zhang XiaoguanZhang XiaoguanZhang Xiaoguang is a Chinese pilot selected as part of the Shenzhou program. He was born in Liaoning province and was a squadron commander in the People’s Liberation Army Air Force when he was selected to be an astronaut in 1998. He had accumulated 1000 flight-hours as of 2004.-References:* at the...
张晓光, Zhao ChuandongZhao ChuandongZhao Chuandong is a Chinese pilot selected as part of the Shenzhou program. A fighter pilot in the People's Liberation Army Air Force, he was selected to be an astronaut in 1998.-References:...
赵传东- In October 2003, Yang Liwei became the first man to be sent into space by the space program of China, and his mission, Shenzhou 5Shenzhou 5Shenzhou 5 — was the first human spaceflight mission of the People's Republic of China , launched on October 15, 2003. The Shenzhou spacecraft was launched on a Long March 2F launch vehicle. There had been four previous flights of unmanned Shenzhou missions since 1999...
, made the PRC the third country to independently send people into space.
- In October 2003, Yang Liwei became the first man to be sent into space by the space program of China, and his mission, Shenzhou 5
February 24 – RKKE-14
S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia
OAO S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia , also known as RKK Energiya, is a Russian manufacturer of spacecraft and space station components...
Cosmonaut Group – Russia
- Mikhail KorniyenkoMikhail KorniyenkoMikhail Borisovich Korniyenko is a Russian cosmonaut.-Personal:...
June 4 – NASA Group 17 – The Penguins – USA
- Pilots: Lee ArchambaultLee ArchambaultLee Joseph "Bru" Archambault is an American test pilot and NASA astronaut. He has logged over 4250 flight hours in more than 30 different aircraft. Archambault is married with three children. His hobbies include bicycling, weightlifting, and playing ice hockey. Archambault has received numerous...
, Christopher FergusonChristopher FergusonChristopher J. Ferguson is a United States Navy captain and a NASA astronaut. He was the pilot of Space Shuttle Atlantis on his first mission to space, STS-115, which launched on September 9, 2006 and returned to Earth on September 21, 2006...
, Kenneth HamKenneth HamKenneth "Hock" Todd Ham is an American astronaut and a captain in the United States Navy. Ham was selected for NASA's astronaut program in August 1998, while serving as the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet lead carrier suitability test pilot. Ham's U.S...
, Gregory C. JohnsonGregory C. JohnsonGregory Carl "Ray J" Johnson , is a NASA astronaut and a retired captain in the United States Navy who spent his military career in both the Regular United States Navy and the Navy Reserve...
, Gregory H. Johnson, William OefeleinWilliam OefeleinWilliam Anthony "Bill" Oefelein is an American businessman and a former test pilot instructor, naval officer and NASA astronaut who, on his only spaceflight, piloted the STS-116 Space Shuttle mission....
, Alan PoindexterAlan G. PoindexterAlan Goodwin "Dex" Poindexter is an American naval officer and a former NASA astronaut.-Personal:Poindexter was born to John Poindexter in Pasadena, California, and grew up in Rockville, Maryland, which he considers to be his hometown. He is married to the former Lisa A. Pfeiffer of Gulf Breeze,...
, George Zamka
- Mission Specialists: Clayton AndersonClayton AndersonClayton Conrad Anderson is an American engineer and a NASA astronaut. Launched on STS-117, he replaced Sunita Williams on June 10, 2007 as a member of the ISS Expedition 15 crew.-Education:...
, Tracy Caldwell, Gregory ChamitoffGregory ChamitoffGregory Errol Chamitoff is an engineer and NASA astronaut. He was assigned to Expedition 17 and flew to the International Space Station on STS-124, launching 31 May 2008. He was in space 198 days, joining Expedition 18 after Expedition 17 left the station, and returned to Earth 30 November 2008 on...
, Timothy CreamerTimothy CreamerTimothy "TJ" Creamer is a NASA astronaut and a Colonel in the United States Army. Creamer was born in Fort Huachuca, Arizona, but considers Upper Marlboro, Maryland, to be his hometown. He is married to the former Margaret E. Hammer. They have two children.- Education :Bishop McNamara High School,...
, Michael ForemanMichael ForemanMichael James Foreman is an American astronaut.-Personal:Foreman was born in Columbus, Ohio, and grew up in Wadsworth, Ohio. He is married to Lorrie Dancer of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma...
, Michael E. FossumMichael E. FossumMichael Edward Fossum is an American astronaut. He flew into space on board the NASA Space Shuttle missions STS-121 and STS-124 as a mission specialist and is currently aboard the international space station as commander of Expedition 29.-Education:Michael Fossum spent his early life in McAllen,...
, Stanley LoveStanley G. LoveDr. Stanley G. Love, PH.D. is an American scientist and a NASA astronaut.-Early Life:Stanley G. Love was born on June 8, 1965 to Glen A. Love and Rhoda M. Love in San Diego, California. However, Love has stated he considers Eugene, Oregon to be his hometown. Love graduated from Winston Churchill...
, Leland MelvinLeland D. MelvinLeland Devon Melvin is an American engineer and a NASA astronaut. He served on board the Space Shuttle Atlantis as a mission specialist on STS-122, and as mission specialist 1 on STS-129...
, Barbara MorganBarbara MorganBarbara Radding Morgan is an American teacher and a former NASA astronaut. She participated in the Teacher in Space program as the backup to Christa McAuliffe for the ill-fated STS-51L mission of Space Shuttle Challenger. She then trained as a Mission Specialist, and flew on STS-118 in August 2007...
, John D. Olivas, Nicholas PatrickNicholas PatrickNicholas James MacDonald Patrick, Ph.D., is a British-born engineer and a NASA astronaut. His flight on the 2006 Discovery STS-116 mission made him the fifth Briton to go into space....
, Garrett ReismanGarrett ReismanGarrett Erin Reisman is an American engineer and former NASA astronaut. He was a backup crew member for Expedition 15 and joined Expedition 16 aboard the International Space Station for a short time before becoming a member of Expedition 17. He returned to Earth 14 June 2008 on board STS-124 on...
, Patricia RobertsonPatricia RobertsonPatricia Consolatrix Hilliard Robertson was an American physician and a NASA astronaut.-Personal:She was born in Indiana, Pennsylvania to Ilse Hilliard and the late Harold Hilliard of Homer City. She was married to Scott Robertson.-Education:She graduated from Homer-Center High School, Homer City,...
, Steven SwansonSteven SwansonSteven Ray Swanson is an American engineer and a NASA astronaut. Swanson is married and has 3 children. Steven has received numerous awards and honors. These include the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal and the JSC Certificate of Accommodation and many others...
, Douglas WheelockDouglas H. WheelockDouglas Harry "Wheels" Wheelock is an American astronaut. He has flown in space twice logging 178 days on the Space Shuttle, International Space Station, and Russian Soyuz...
, Sunita WilliamsSunita WilliamsSunita Williams is a United States Naval officer and a NASA astronaut. She was assigned to the International Space Station as a member of Expedition 14 and then joined Expedition 15...
, Neil WoodwardNeil WoodwardNeil W. Woodward III is an American Naval officer and a former NASA astronaut.-Personal:Married. Enjoys reading, computers, sailing, music, wine and cooking. His father, Dr. Neil W. Woodward Jr., resides in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. His mother, Aileen S. Woodward, is deceased...
- International Mission Specialists: Léopold EyhartsLéopold EyhartsLéopold Eyharts is a Brigadier General in the French Air Force and an ESA astronaut.-Background:Eyharts was born April 28, 1957, in Biarritz, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France...
(France), Paolo Nespoli (Italy), Marcos PontesMarcos PontesMarco Pontes is a Brazilian Air Force pilot. He became the first Brazilian and the first Lusophone to go into space when he launched to the International Space Station aboard Soyuz TMA-8 on March 30, 2006...
(Brazil), Hans SchlegelHans SchlegelHans Wilhelm Schlegel is a German physicist, an ESA astronaut, and a veteran of two NASA Space Shuttle missions.-Early life and education:...
(Germany), Robert ThirskRobert ThirskRobert Brent "Bob" Thirsk is a Canadian engineer and physician, and a former Canadian Space Agency astronaut. He holds the Canadian records for the longest space flight and the most time spent in space .-Personal life:Thirsk is from New Westminster, British Columbia and is married to Brenda...
(Canada), Bjarni Tryggvason (Canada), Roberto VittoriRoberto VittoriRoberto Vittori is an Italian air force officer and an ESA astronaut. After graduating from the Italian Air Force Academy in 1989, Vittori flew in the Italian Air Force. He then trained as a test pilot in the United States....
(Italy)
-
- Note: Group includes Barbara Morgan, who was the backup "Teacher-In-Space" for Christa McAuliffeChrista McAuliffeChrista McAuliffe was an American teacher from Concord, New Hampshire, and was one of the seven crew members killed in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster....
for the ill-fated ChallengerSpace Shuttle ChallengerSpace Shuttle Challenger was NASA's second Space Shuttle orbiter to be put into service, Columbia having been the first. The shuttle was built by Rockwell International's Space Transportation Systems Division in Downey, California...
Disaster in 1986. While often referred to as an Educator Astronaut, Morgan was selected by NASA as a Mission Specialist, before the Educator Astronaut ProjectEducator Astronaut ProjectThe Educator Astronaut Project is a NASA program designed to educate students and spur excitement in math, science, and space exploration. It is a successor to the Teacher in Space Project of the 1980s that was cancelled after Christa McAuliffe died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster...
was formed. - Patricia RobertsonPatricia RobertsonPatricia Consolatrix Hilliard Robertson was an American physician and a NASA astronaut.-Personal:She was born in Indiana, Pennsylvania to Ilse Hilliard and the late Harold Hilliard of Homer City. She was married to Scott Robertson.-Education:She graduated from Homer-Center High School, Homer City,...
(née Hilliard) was killed in the crash of a private airplane before she was assigned to a Shuttle mission.
- Note: Group includes Barbara Morgan, who was the backup "Teacher-In-Space" for Christa McAuliffe
October 7 – 1998 ESA Group – ESA
- Frank De WinneFrank De WinneFrank, Viscount De Winne is a Belgian Air Component officer and an ESA astronaut. He is Belgium's second person in space . He was the first ESA astronaut to command a space mission when he served as commander of ISS Expedition 21.-Education:De Winne graduated in 1979 from the Royal School of Cadets...
, Léopold EyhartsLéopold EyhartsLéopold Eyharts is a Brigadier General in the French Air Force and an ESA astronaut.-Background:Eyharts was born April 28, 1957, in Biarritz, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France...
, André KuipersAndré KuipersAndré Kuipers is a Dutch physician and ESA astronaut. He officially became the second Dutch and the third Dutch-born astronaut upon launch of Soyuz TMA-4 on April 19, 2004. Kuipers returned to Earth aboard Soyuz TMA-3 11 days later.Kuipers is scheduled to become the first Dutch astronaut to...
, Paolo NespoliPaolo A. NespoliPaolo Angelo Nespoli is an Italian astronaut. In 2007, he first traveled into space aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery as a mission specialist of STS-120. In the December of 2010 he again traveled into space aboard the Soyuz TMA-20 spacecraft as an Expedition 26/27 flight...
, Hans SchlegelHans SchlegelHans Wilhelm Schlegel is a German physicist, an ESA astronaut, and a veteran of two NASA Space Shuttle missions.-Early life and education:...
, Roberto VittoriRoberto VittoriRoberto Vittori is an Italian air force officer and an ESA astronaut. After graduating from the Italian Air Force Academy in 1989, Vittori flew in the Italian Air Force. He then trained as a test pilot in the United States....
1999
February – 1999 NASDA Group – Japan- Satoshi FurukawaSatoshi Furukawais a Japanese surgeon and a JAXA astronaut.-Personal:Furukawa was born in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. He enjoys baseball, bowling, music and traveling...
, Akihiko HoshideAkihiko Hoshideis a Japanese engineer and a JAXA astronaut.He was born in 1968 in Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan, but grew up in New Jersey. He received an International Baccalaureate Diploma from the United World College of South East Asia in 1987, a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Keio University in...
, Naoko SuminoNaoko Yamazakiis a former Japanese female astronaut at JAXA, the second Japanese woman to qualified. The first was Chiaki Mukai.-Early life:Yamazaki was born Naoko Sumino in Matsudo City. She spent two years of her childhood in Sapporo...
1 November – 1999 ESA Group – Europe
- Claudie André-Deshays, Philippe PerrinPhilippe PerrinPhilippe Perrin is a French test pilot and former CNES and European Space Agency astronaut.-Background:Perrin was born 6 January 1963, in Meknes, Morocco, but considers Avignon, Provence, to be his hometown. He entered the French École polytechnique in 1982 and graduated as "Ingénieur...
, Michel TogniniMichel TogniniMichel Ange-Charles Tognini is a French test pilot, officer in the French Air Force, and a former CNES and ESA astronaut who currently serves as Head of the European Astronaut Centre of the European Space Agency. A veteran of two space flights, Tognini has logged a total of 19 days in space...
- The three remaining CNES astronauts transferred to the ESA's astronaut corps in 1999.
2000
July 26 – NASA Group 18 – The Bugs – USA- Pilots: Dominic A. AntonelliDominic A. AntonelliDominic Anthony "Tony" Antonelli is a NASA astronaut. Antonelli was born in Detroit, Michigan, but was raised in both Indiana and North Carolina. He is married and has two children.-Education:...
, Eric A. BoeEric A. BoeColonel Eric A. Boe, USAF , in Miami, Florida) is an Air Force fighter pilot, test pilot and a NASA astronaut. He flew as the pilot of Space Shuttle missions STS-126 and STS-133.-Early life and education:...
, Kevin A. FordKevin A. FordKevin Anthony Ford is a retired United States Air Force Colonel and a NASA astronaut. He is married with two children. Ford has received a number of special honors and awards, some of which are the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Aerial Achievement Medal and the...
, Ronald J. Garan, Jr.Ronald J. Garan, Jr.Ronald John Garan, Jr. is a NASA astronaut. After graduating from State University of New York College at Oneonta in 1982, he joined the Air Force, becoming a Second Lieutenant in 1984. He became an F-16 pilot, and flew combat missions in Desert Shield and Desert Storm...
, Douglas G. HurleyDouglas G. HurleyDouglas Gerald Hurley is an engineer and NASA astronaut. He piloted Space Shuttle mission STS-127, which launched July 15, 2009. He was assigned and flew as pilot for STS-135, the final flight of the Space Shuttle program, in July 2011...
, Terry W. Virts, Jr., Barry E. WilmoreBarry E. WilmoreBarry Eugene "Butch" Wilmore is a NASA astronaut and United States Navy test pilot. He has had one spaceflight, which was an 11-day Space Shuttle mission in November 2009, to the International Space Station...
- Mission Specialists: Michael R. BarrattMichael R. BarrattMichael Reed Barratt is an American physician and a NASA astronaut. Specializing in aerospace medicine, Barratt served as a flight surgeon for NASA before his selection as an astronaut, and has played a role in developing NASA's space medicine programs for both the Shuttle-Mir Program and...
, Robert L. BehnkenRobert L. BehnkenRobert Louis "Bob" Behnken is an engineer, U. S. Air Force officer and a NASA astronaut. Behnken holds a Ph.D in Mechanical Engineering and has reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force. Bob Behnken has logged over 1000 flight hours in 25 different aircraft. He flew on Space...
, Stephen G. BowenStephen G. BowenStephen Gerard Bowen is a US Navy submariner and a NASA astronaut; he was the second submariner to travel into space. Bowen has been on three spaceflights, all of which were Space Shuttle missions to the International Space Station...
, B. Alvin DrewB. Alvin DrewColonel Benjamin Alvin Drew is a United States Air Force officer and a NASA astronaut. He has been on two spaceflights; the first one was the Space Shuttle mission STS-118 to the International Space Station, in August 2007. Drew's second spaceflight took place in March 2011 on STS-133, another...
, Andrew J. FeustelAndrew J. FeustelAndrew J. Feustel is an American Geophysicist and a NASA astronaut. His first spaceflight in May 2009, named STS-125, lasted just under 13 days . This was a mission with six other astronauts to repair the Hubble Space Telescope, aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis. Feustel performed three spacewalks...
, Michael T. GoodMichael T. GoodMichael Timothy "Bueno" Good is a NASA astronaut and retired commissioned officer in the United States Air Force, holding the rank of Colonel. Mike Good flew aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis for its STS-125 mission. STS-125 was the final Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission...
, Timothy L. KopraTimothy L. KopraTimothy Lennart Kopra is a colonel in the United States Army and a NASA astronaut. Kopra deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Desert Storm as a member of the 3rd Armored Division...
, K. Megan McArthurK. Megan McArthurKatherine Megan McArthur is an American oceanographer and a NASA astronaut. She has served as a CAPCOM for both the space shuttle and space station. Megan McArthur has flown one space shuttle mission, STS-125. She is known as the last person to be hands on with the Hubble Space Telescope...
, Karen L. NybergKaren L. NybergKaren LuJean Nyberg is an American mechanical engineer and NASA astronaut. Nyberg was the 50th woman in space.-Personal:...
, Nicole P. StottNicole P. StottNicole Marie Passonno Stott is an American engineer and a NASA astronaut. She served as a Flight Engineer on ISS Expedition 20 and Expedition 21 and was a Mission Specialist on STS-128. In 2011, She flew a second time as a Mission Specialist on STS-133....
2003
May 23 – TsPK-13Yuri Gagarin Cosmonauts Training Center
The Yu. A. Gagarin State Scientific Research-and-Testing Cosmonaut Training Center is a Russian training facility responsible for training cosmonauts for their space missions...
/RKKE-15
S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia
OAO S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia , also known as RKK Energiya, is a Russian manufacturer of spacecraft and space station components...
/IMBP-6 Cosmonaut Group – Russia
- TsPK: Anatoli IvanishinAnatoli IvanishinAnatoli Alekseyevich Ivanishin is a Russian cosmonaut. His first visit to the space was on board the Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft launched on 14 November 2011.- Personal :Ivanishin is married to Svetlana Ivanishina. They have one son, Vladislav, born in 1993...
, Aleksandr SamokutyayevAleksandr SamokutyayevAleksandr Mikhailovich Samokutyayev is a Russian cosmonaut. Samokutyayev served as a Flight Engineer for the International Space Station long duration Expedition 27/28 missions. He also served as the Soyuz TMA-21 commander...
, Anton ShkaplerovAnton ShkaplerovAnton Nikolaevich Shkaplerov is a Russian cosmonaut.- Personal :Shkaplerov is married to Tatyana Petrovna, and they have two daughters named Kristina and Kira. His parents, Nikolay Ivanovich Shkaplerov and Tamara Viktorovna Shkaplerova, live in Sevastopol...
, Evgeny TarelkinEvgeny TarelkinEvgeny Igorevich Tarelkin is a Russian cosmonaut. He was selected as part of the TsPK-13 group in 2003.-Biography:Tarelkin graduated from the Yeysk Air Force School in 1996 and the Gagarin Air Force Academy in 1998 before rising to the rank of Captain in the Russian Air Force...
, Sergei Zhukov - RKKE: Oleg Artemyev, Andrei BorisenkoAndrei BorisenkoAndrei Ivanovich Borisenko is a Russian cosmonaut. He was selected to be a cosmonaut in May 2003, and since 2008 he has been training as a back-up crew member for a long-duration mission to the International Space Station...
, Mark Serov - IMBP: Sergei Ryazansky
September 11 – SpaceShipOne – USA
- Brian BinnieBrian BinnieWilliam Brian Binnie is a former United States Navy officer and is one of the test pilots for SpaceShipOne, the experimental spaceplane developed by Scaled Composites.-History:...
, Mike MelvillMike MelvillMichael Winston "Mike" Melvill is one of the test pilots for SpaceShipOne, the experimental spaceplane developed by Scaled Composites. Melvill piloted SpaceShipOne on its first flight past the edge of space, flight 15P on June 21, 2004, thus becoming the first commercial astronaut and the 434th...
, Doug ShaneDoug ShaneDouglas B. Shane is an American test pilot and has trained as a commercial astronaut. He was a member of the Scaled Composites astronaut team and one of the test pilots for SpaceShipOne, the experimental spaceplane developed by Scaled Composites...
, Peter SieboldPeter SieboldPeter Siebold is a member of the Scaled Composites astronaut team and was one of the test pilots for SpaceShipOne, the experimental spaceplane developed by Scaled Composites...
- Note: This was the first group of commercial astronautCommercial AstronautA commercial astronaut is a person trained to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a privately funded spacecraft.-Criteria:The criteria for determining who has achieved human spaceflight vary. The FAI defines spaceflight as any flight over of altitude...
s.
2004
May 6 – NASA Group 19 – The Peacocks – USA- Pilots: Randolph Bresnik, James Dutton
- Mission specialists: Thomas MarshburnThomas MarshburnThomas Henry "Tom" Marshburn is an American physician and a NASA astronaut. Marshburn was born in Statesville, North Carolina. He served as a Mission Specialist on STS-127.-Education:...
, Christopher CassidyChristopher CassidyChristopher John "Chris" Cassidy is a NASA astronaut and Navy SEAL. Chris Cassidy achieved the rank of Commander in the U.S. Navy. Cassidy attended York High School, in York, Maine,. He then graduated from the Naval Academy Prep School in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1989...
, R. Shane KimbroughR. Shane KimbroughRobert Shane Kimbrough is a U.S. Army officer and a NASA astronaut. He was part of the first group of candidates selected for NASA astronaut training following the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster.-Biography:...
, Jose HernándezJose Hernandez (astronaut)José Moreno Hernández , is an American engineer and a former NASA astronaut.Hernández was born in French Camp, California, but calls Stockton, California, his hometown. His family is from La Piedad, Michoacán, with indigenous Purépecha roots...
, Robert Satcher, Shannon WalkerShannon WalkerShannon Walker is an American scientist and a NASA astronaut, whose first space mission was Expedition 24 on the International Space Station with take-off on 15 June 2010. She is married to a fellow NASA astronaut, the Australian-born Andy Thomas...
- Educator mission specialists: Joseph M. AcabaJoseph M. AcabaJoseph Michael "Joe" Acaba is an educator, hydrogeologist, and NASA astronaut. In May 2004 he became the first person of Puerto Rican heritage to be named as a NASA astronaut candidate, when he was selected as a member of NASA Astronaut Training Group 19...
, Richard R. ArnoldRichard R. ArnoldRichard Robert "Ricky" Arnold II is an American educator and a NASA astronaut. He flew on Space Shuttle mission STS-119, which launched March 15, 2009 and delivered the final set of solar arrays to the International Space Station.Arnold was raised in Bowie, Maryland and is married to Eloise...
, Dorothy Metcalf-LindenburgerDorothy Metcalf-LindenburgerDorothy Marie "Dottie" Metcalf-Lindenburger was born on May 2, 1975 in Colorado Springs, Colorado and married Jason Metcalf-Lindenburger, a seventh grade teacher at the time, in 2000. She was a science teacher at Hudson's Bay High School in Vancouver, Washington when she was selected in 2004 as an...
- International mission specialists: Satoshi FurukawaSatoshi Furukawais a Japanese surgeon and a JAXA astronaut.-Personal:Furukawa was born in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. He enjoys baseball, bowling, music and traveling...
(Japan), Akihiko HoshideAkihiko Hoshideis a Japanese engineer and a JAXA astronaut.He was born in 1968 in Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan, but grew up in New Jersey. He received an International Baccalaureate Diploma from the United World College of South East Asia in 1987, a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Keio University in...
(Japan), Naoko YamazakiNaoko Yamazakiis a former Japanese female astronaut at JAXA, the second Japanese woman to qualified. The first was Chiaki Mukai.-Early life:Yamazaki was born Naoko Sumino in Matsudo City. She spent two years of her childhood in Sapporo...
(Japan)
- Note: This group was the first to include Educator mission specialistsEducator Astronaut ProjectThe Educator Astronaut Project is a NASA program designed to educate students and spur excitement in math, science, and space exploration. It is a successor to the Teacher in Space Project of the 1980s that was cancelled after Christa McAuliffe died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster...
. Based on the scheduled 2010 retirement of the Space ShuttleSpace ShuttleThe Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
, this will be the last NASA astronauts to train for Shuttle flights.
2006
March 30 – Virgin GalacticVirgin Galactic
Virgin Galactic is a company within Richard Branson's Virgin Group which plans to provide sub-orbital spaceflights to the paying public, along with suborbital space science missions and orbital launches of small satellites...
Astronaut Pilots Group – UK
- Steve Johnson, Alistair Hoy, David MacKay
September 4 – Angkasawan Group – Malaysia
- Sheikh Muszaphar ShukorSheikh Muszaphar ShukorSheikh Muszaphar Shukor is a Malaysian orthopaedic surgeon and was the first Malaysian to go into space. He was launched to the International Space Station aboard Soyuz TMA-11 with the Expedition 16 crew on October 10, 2007...
, Faiz KhaleedFaiz KhaleedFaiz bin Khaleed is a Malaysian military dentist with the Royal Malaysian Armed Forces. In September 2006, he was selected as one of two final candidates to undergo astronaut training in Star City as part of the Angkasawan program. The other candidate was Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor.Faiz received his...
, Siva Vanajah, Mohammed Faiz Kamaludin
- Note: In 2006, four Malaysians were chosen to train for a flight to the International Space Station through the Angkasawan program. Sheikh Muszaphar became the first Malaysian in space when he flew aboard Soyuz TMA-11Soyuz TMA-11Soyuz TMA-11 was a human spaceflight mission using a Soyuz-TMA spacecraft to transport personnel to and from the International Space Station . The mission began at 13:22 UTC on October 10, 2007 when the spacecraft was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome by a Soyuz FG launch vehicle...
.
October 11 – TsPK-14
Yuri Gagarin Cosmonauts Training Center
The Yu. A. Gagarin State Scientific Research-and-Testing Cosmonaut Training Center is a Russian training facility responsible for training cosmonauts for their space missions...
/RKKE-16
S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia
OAO S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia , also known as RKK Energiya, is a Russian manufacturer of spacecraft and space station components...
Cosmonaut Group – Russia
- TsPK: Aleksandr MisurkinAleksandr MisurkinAleksandr Aleksandrovich Misurkin born on September 23, 1977, major of Russian Air Force, is a Russian cosmonaut, selected in 2006.-External links:*...
, Oleg NovitskiyOleg NovitskiyOleg Viktorovich Novitskiy born on October 12, 1971, lieutenant colonel of Russian Air Force, is a Russian cosmonaut, selected in 2006.-External links:*...
, Aleksey OvchininAleksey OvchininAleksey Nikolayevich Ovchinin born on September 28, 1971, major of Russian Air Force, is a Russian cosmonaut, selected in 2006.-External links:*...
, Maksim PonomaryovMaksim PonomaryovMaksim Vladimirovich Ponomaryov , born on February 20, 1980, captain of Russian Air Force, is a Russian cosmonaut, selected in 2006.-External links:*...
, Sergey Ryzhikov - RKKE: Yelena SerovaYelena SerovaYelena Olegovna Serova was born April 22, 1976. She is a Russian cosmonaut, selected in 2006.She is the wife of cosmonaut Mark Serov.-External links:*...
, Nikolai TikhonovNikolai Tikhonov (cosmonaut)Nikolay Vladimirovich Tikhonov was born May 23, 1982. He is a Russian cosmonaut, selected in 2006.-External links:*...
December 25 – Korean Astronaut Program
Korean Astronaut Program
The Korean Astronaut Program was an initiative by the South Korean government to send the first Korean into space via the Russian space program.-Program overview:...
Group
- Yi So-yeonYi So-yeonYi So-yeon is a South Korean scientist and Ph.D. graduate of KAIST . On April 8, 2008, she became the first Korean and the second Asian woman to fly in space, after Chiaki Mukai.-Biography:Yi So-yeon was born to father Yi Gil-soo...
, Ko SanKo SanKo San is a South Korean researcher at the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology.Ko was born in Busan. His father died when he was a boy, and his mother raised Ko and his sister. A graduate of Hanyoung Foreign Language High School, Ko went on to study mathematics at Seoul National University...
- Note: Ko San was chosen as the prime candidate over Yi So-yeon in September 2007. Yi So-yeon became prime candidate in March 2008.
2009
February 25 – JAXA Group – Japan- Takuya OnishiTakuya Onishiis a Japanese astronaut from JAXA, who was selected in 2009.Onishi was born in Nerima, Tokyo, Japan. He graduated from Seiko High School in Yokohama in 1994 and received a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Aeronautical and Space Engineering from the University of Tokyo in 1998...
, Kimiya YuiKimiya Yuiis a Japanese astronaut from Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, who has been selected in 2009.Yui, from Nagano Prefecture, enrolled at the Japan Air Self-Defense Force after graduating from the National Defense Academy of Japan in 1992. He has piloted a F-15 Eagle fighter, and currently works in...
May 13 – CSA Group – Canada
- Jeremy HansenJeremy HansenJeremy Roger Hansen, CD is a Canadian astronaut with the Canadian Space Agency . He was selected to join the CSA in the 2009 CSA selection along with David Saint-Jacques...
, David Saint-JacquesDavid Saint-JacquesDavid Saint-Jacques is a Canadian astronaut with the Canadian Space Agency . He was selected to join the CSA in the 2009 CSA selection along with Jeremy Hansen....
May 20 – ESA Group – The Shenanigans – ESA
- Samantha CristoforettiSamantha CristoforettiSamantha Cristoforetti is an engineer, the third woman astronaut in the European Space Agency, and the first Italian woman astronaut.-Biography:...
(Italy), Alexander GerstAlexander GerstAlexander Gerst is a European Space Agency astronaut having been selected in 2009 to undergo training. He studied at the University of Karlsruhe, Germany, where he received a university degree in physics. He also studied Earth Science at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand, where he...
(Germany), Andreas MogensenAndreas MogensenAndreas Enevold Mogensen was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1976. In Denmark he worked as an engineer in the R&D department of Vestas Wind Systems in Denmark. He has been working in Germany as an attitude & orbit control system and guidance, navigation & control engineer for HE Space Operations...
(Denmark), Luca ParmitanoLuca ParmitanoLuca Parmitano is an astronaut in the European Astronaut Corps for the European Space Agency . The astronauts work on missions at the International Space Station. He was selected as an ESA astronaut in May 2009....
(Italy), Timothy PeakeTimothy PeakeTimothy Nigel Peake is a former British Army Air Corps officer and a current European Space Agency astronaut. He is the first British citizen to be selected as an astronaut by ESA...
(United Kingdom), Thomas PesquetThomas PesquetThomas Pesquet is French engineer and pilot who has been chosen to train as a European Space Agency astronaut....
(France)
June 29 – NASA Group 20 – Chumps – USA
- Pilots: Jack D. FischerJack D. FischerJack David "2fish" Fischer is an American test pilot and a NASA astronaut. Fischer was selected in June 2009 as a member of the NASA Astronaut Group 20 and qualified as an astronaut in 2011.-Biography:...
, Scott D. TingleScott D. TingleScott David Tingle is a current NASA Astronaut. Tingle was selected in June 2009 as a member of the NASA Astronaut Group 20, qualifying in 2011.-Biography:...
, Gregory R. (Reid) WisemanGregory R. WisemanGregory Reid Wiseman is an American astronaut and naval aviator. Wiseman was selected in June 2009 as a member of the NASA Astronaut Group 20 and qualified as an astronaut in 2011... - Mission Specialists: Serena M. AuñónSerena M. AuñónSerena Maria Auñón, M.D., M.P.H., is an American physician, engineer, and NASA astronaut. Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, Auñón lives in League City, Texas.-Education:...
, Jeanette J. EppsJeanette J. EppsJeanette Jo Epps is a CIA intelligence officer, and current NASA astronaut. Born in Syracuse, New York, Epps lives in Fairfax, Virginia.-Education:Epps holds degrees from Le Moyne College, and the University of Maryland...
, Michael S. HopkinsMichael S. HopkinsMichael Scott Hopkins is a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force, and a current NASA astronaut. Hopkins was selected in June 2009 as a member of the NASA Astronaut Group 20. He is currently assigned as a Flight Engineer on Soyuz TMA-10M/Expedition 37/Expedition 38 scheduled for launch in...
, Kjell N. LindgrenKjell N. LindgrenKjell Norwood Lindgren is a current NASA astronaut. Lindgren was selected in June 2009 as a member of the NASA Astronaut Group 20.-Biography:...
, Kathleen (Kate) RubinsKathleen RubinsKathleen Hallisey Rubins is a current NASA astronaut. Rubins was selected in June 2009 as a member of the NASA Astronaut Group 20.-Biographical elements:...
, Mark T. Vande HeiMark T. Vande HeiMark Thomas Vande Hei is a current NASA astronaut. Vande Hei was selected in June 2009 as a member of the NASA Astronaut Group 20.-Biography:Lt. Colonel Vande Hei, U.S. Army, was born in Falls Church, Virginia... - International Mission Specialists: Jeremy HansenJeremy HansenJeremy Roger Hansen, CD is a Canadian astronaut with the Canadian Space Agency . He was selected to join the CSA in the 2009 CSA selection along with David Saint-Jacques...
(Canada), Norishige KanaiNorishige Kanaiis a Japanese doctor and a JAXA astronaut candidate.He is a lieutenant and Diving Medical Officer in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force .-Personal:...
(Japan), Takuya OnishiTakuya Onishiis a Japanese astronaut from JAXA, who was selected in 2009.Onishi was born in Nerima, Tokyo, Japan. He graduated from Seiko High School in Yokohama in 1994 and received a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Aeronautical and Space Engineering from the University of Tokyo in 1998...
(Japan), David Saint-JacquesDavid Saint-JacquesDavid Saint-Jacques is a Canadian astronaut with the Canadian Space Agency . He was selected to join the CSA in the 2009 CSA selection along with Jeremy Hansen....
(Canada), Kimiya YuiKimiya Yuiis a Japanese astronaut from Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, who has been selected in 2009.Yui, from Nagano Prefecture, enrolled at the Japan Air Self-Defense Force after graduating from the National Defense Academy of Japan in 1992. He has piloted a F-15 Eagle fighter, and currently works in...
(Japan)
- Note: NASA selected the nine members of Group 20 from over 3,500 applicants. The NASA candidates were announced in June, the international astronauts were added later that year.
September 8 – JAXA Group – Japan
- Norishige KanaiNorishige Kanaiis a Japanese doctor and a JAXA astronaut candidate.He is a lieutenant and Diving Medical Officer in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force .-Personal:...
See also
- NASA Astronaut Groups
- List of cosmonauts
- List of astronauts by name
- List of astronauts by nationality