Best Astronaut

Alan Tracy represents a pioneering use of marionette animation in television. Created for *Thunderbirds*, he is a skilled astronaut and pilot piloting the iconic Thunderbird 3 spacecraft. The series, produced by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, utilized supermarionation – meticulously crafted puppets cont...

Alan Shepard was a naval aviator and astronaut who achieved significant milestones in American space exploration. He piloted Freedom 7, the first spacecraft to carry an American into orbit, on May 5, 1961. Later, as commander of Apollo 14, he became the first U.S. citizen to walk on the Moon solidif...

John Glenn was a pioneering aviator and public servant. He achieved historic distinction as the first U.S. astronaut to orbit Earth, piloting the spacecraft Friendship 7 during Project Mercury in 1962. Later serving as a U.S. Senator, Glenn’s career spanned aviation, space exploration, and governmen...

Buzz Aldrin was an American aviator and NASA astronaut renowned for his role in the Apollo 11 mission. He achieved historical significance as the second individual to walk on the Moon, participating in the first crewed lunar landing. Prior to spaceflight, Aldrin served as a fighter pilot during the...

Valentina Tereshkova is a Soviet aviator and cosmonaut recognized for her pioneering role in space exploration. She achieved global significance as the first woman to undertake a solo spaceflight in June 1963. Her mission aboard Vostok 6 involved orbiting Earth 48 times, providing crucial data durin...

James Lovell was an American naval aviator and astronaut renowned for his leadership during the Apollo 13 mission. He commanded the spacecraft and played a crucial role in the crew’s successful return to Earth following a critical oxygen tank failure. His expertise and calm demeanor under extreme pr...

Alexei Leonov was a Soviet aviator and cosmonaut renowned for his pioneering work in space exploration. He achieved global recognition as the first person to perform an extravehicular activity, or spacewalk, during the Voskhod 2 mission on March 18, 1965. This historic event involved exiting the spa...

Sally Ride was an American physicist and NASA astronaut recognized for pioneering achievements. She flew aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger as part of mission STS-7 in 1983, making her the first American woman to travel into space. Her historic flight inspired countless individuals and advanced opp...

Gene Cernan was an American naval aviator and astronaut best known for commanding Apollo 17. He holds the distinction of being the final person to walk on the Moon, completing his lunar surface excursion on December 14, 1972. His mission provided crucial data for scientific research and represented...

Pete Conrad was an American naval aviator and astronaut renowned for his leadership during the Apollo program. He achieved significant milestones including becoming the third person to walk on the Moon as commander of Apollo 12 in 1969. His subsequent command of the Skylab mission marked a crucial s...

Eileen Collins is an American aviator and retired U.S. Air Force officer. She achieved significant milestones as the first female pilot and commander of a NASA Space Shuttle mission. Her leadership on STS-93 in 1999 marked a pivotal moment for women in space exploration, paving the way for future fe...

The Right Stuff (1983), directed by Philip Kaufman and based on Tom Wolfe's 1979 book, dramatizes the early US space program from Chuck Yeager's sound barrier break through the Mercury Seven astronauts.

Frank Borman was an American aviator and NASA administrator best known for his leadership of Apollo 8. As commander of this historic mission in December 1968, he guided the first crewed spacecraft to orbit the Moon, achieving a groundbreaking “first moon orbit” before safely returning to Earth. His...

Deke Slayton was an American aviator and NASA astronaut who played a pivotal role in early space exploration. He was part of the original group of seven astronauts selected by NASA in 1962. His career was significantly impacted by a heart condition, delaying his spaceflight opportunities for many ye...

Gordon Cooper was an American aviator and NASA astronaut central to early space exploration. He achieved recognition for piloting the longest single Mercury mission, Faith 7’s 22 orbits around Earth in 1963. Later, he served as co-commandant of Gemini 5, contributing significantly to the program's s...

Wally Schirra was a highly decorated American aviator and NASA astronaut who played a crucial role in early space exploration. He participated in all three of NASA’s initial human spaceflight programs – Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo – demonstrating exceptional skill and adaptability. His participation...

Gus Grissom was an American aviator and astronaut pivotal to early space exploration. He piloted the Mercury-Redstone 4 mission in 1961, becoming the second U.S. citizen to journey into outer space. Later, he led the Gemini 3 crew’s historic first manned Gemini flight in 1965. Grissom's tragic death...

The Solovair 3 Eye Astronaut shoe represents a longstanding design heritage within British workwear. Constructed using Goodyear welting, this derby style offers exceptional durability and comfort. Originally produced for NASA support personnel, it’s now favored by professionals requiring robust foot...

The Solovair 4 Eye Astronaut Shoe is a classic British-made derby constructed with Goodyear welting for exceptional durability. Its distinctive four-eyelet design offers enhanced support and comfort compared to traditional styles. This robust shoe is favored by professionals requiring reliable footw...

Joe Engle was an American test pilot and NASA astronaut who flew the North American X-15 rocket plane above 50 miles on three separate flights, qualifying him for USAF astronaut wings. He later commanded the Space Shuttle *Columbia* on its second orbital flight (STS-2) in 1981, making him the only p...

Charles Duke is a former United States Air Force officer and NASA astronaut who served as the lunar module pilot for the Apollo 16 mission in April 1972. During this mission, he became the tenth person to walk on the Moon and, at age 36, remains the youngest person to do so. Prior to his lunar fligh...

Alan Bean was a United States Navy test pilot, aeronautical engineer, and NASA astronaut who became the fourth person to walk on the Moon during the Apollo 12 mission in November 1969. He later commanded the second crewed mission to the Skylab space station in 1973. Following his retirement from NAS...

Edgar Mitchell was a United States Navy aviator and NASA astronaut who served as the lunar module pilot for the Apollo 14 mission in February 1971. He became the sixth person to walk on the lunar surface, spending over nine hours conducting extravehicular activities in the Fra Mauro formation. On hi...

James Irwin was a United States Air Force test pilot and NASA astronaut who served as the lunar module pilot for the Apollo 15 mission in 1971. He was the eighth person to walk on the Moon and, alongside mission commander David Scott, was among the first astronauts to utilize the Lunar Roving Vehicl...

Steve Zodiac is the fictional commander of the spaceship Fireball XL5 in the 1962 British Supermarionation television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. As a colonel in the World Space Patrol, Zodiac leads his multinational crew on missions of space exploration and protection of Earth's in...

First Man is a 2018 American biographical drama film directed by Damien Chazelle. The movie chronicles NASA astronaut Neil Armstrong's journey during the 1960s, culminating in the historic Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969. Starring Ryan Gosling as Armstrong, the film focuses intently on the psychologi...

Ellen Ochoa is an American astronaut, electrical engineer, and former director of the NASA Johnson Space Center. In 1993, she made history as the first Hispanic woman to travel to space when she served as a mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. During her career at NASA, Ochoa logge...

Malcolm Scott Carpenter was an American naval aviator, test pilot, astronaut, and aquanaut selected in 1959 as one of NASA's original seven Mercury astronauts. On 24 May 1962, he piloted Aurora 7 on the United States' second crewed orbital flight, completing three Earth orbits before splashing down...

Gherman Titov was a Soviet cosmonaut who flew Vostok 2 on August 6 and 7, 1961. He became the second person to orbit Earth, after Yuri Gagarin, and completed more than 17 orbits during a flight lasting over 25 hours. At age 25, Titov was also the youngest person to travel in space, a record that rem...