National Astronaut Day – May 5

On April 12, 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin made history by becoming the first human to go to space aboard Vostok 1. Just a few weeks later, the U.S. responded with a historic achievement of its own. On May 5, 1961, Alan Shepard became the first American in space, flying a suborbital mission aboard the Freedom 7 spacecraft. This is why we now celebrate National Astronaut Day – May 5 every year!

NASA quickly ramped up its space program, leading to the iconic Apollo missions. In 1969, Neil Armstrong became the First Person to Walk on the Moon, declaring the famous words: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

As space programs expanded, so did their missions. Astronauts began conducting scientific experiments, building satellites, and eventually living aboard orbiting platforms like Skylab, Mir, and today’s International Space Station (ISS). We’ve even witnessed some fun moments, like Golf on the Moon, thanks to Alan Shepard’s makeshift lunar swing.

From tragic losses like the Challenger and Columbia disasters to inspirational breakthroughs like the First All-Female Spacewalk, human spaceflight has seen both triumph and sacrifice. Today, we even celebrate record-setters like The Oldest Person in Space, John Glenn, who flew at age 77, and Peggy Whitson, who holds the record for the most time spent in space by a woman.

And spaceflight isn't just for NASA anymore. Thanks to private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin, and personalities like the Everyday Astronaut, the next generation of explorers is already preparing to go farther than ever before—possibly to Mars.