Famous Astronauts

There have been many astronauts who have made tremendous contributions to our knowledge of space. But asking “who is the most famous?” is somewhat tricky. For one, it's a bit subjective. And second, it can be hard to objectively measure just how important an individual's contributions are. Surely, all astronauts are deserving of recognition and respect for their bravery and contributions to the pursuit of knowledge. Nevertheless, in the course of human space exploration, some names do stand out more than others. And some have made such immense contributions that their names will live on long after we too have passed away. So without further ado, here are just a few of the most famous astronauts, along with a list of their accomplishments. It’s impossible to put together a definitive list of the most famous astronauts of all time. After all, during the last 60 years, multiple generations of spaceflight fans have found awe and inspiration in different batches of cosmic explorers. But with that caveat aside, there are a handful of famous astronauts whose actions, achievements, and overall fame make them obvious choices.

THE FIRST MAN IN SPACE: YURI GAGARIN
Thanks to Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first words ever uttered in space were: “I see Earth. It’s so beautiful!” They may not resonate like the first words spoken on the Moon, but they do succinctly capture the spirit of spaceflight. Nearly six decades ago, Gagarin blasted off the surface of our planet to undertake a 108-minute spaceflight that reached an altitude of 203 miles (327 kilometers).