Astronauts
Astronauts recognized for integrity, not altitude
Flying in space is an extraordinary achievement and, on its own, not evidence of character. The astronaut category is our most comprehensive: we maintain a research roster that aims to cover the living astronaut population across agencies and eras, and we recognize only those whose documented conduct meets the same standard applied to everyone else.
Recognized astronauts
No astronauts have been published yet. Candidates are researched and reviewed before anything appears here, and no one is recognized for achievement alone. If you know of documented conduct that meets our standard, nominate them.
Category considerations
How we evaluate astronauts
Leadership under pressure
How a commander or crew member handled a difficult professional decision, a safety concern, or a crisis, as documented by agency records, contemporaneous reporting, or named colleagues.
Scientific and professional honesty
Candor about risk, data, and mistakes, including public statements that were inconvenient for the program. Honesty in the face of institutional pressure is among the strongest evidence we see.
Teamwork and treatment of colleagues
Crediting crews, flight controllers, and ground teams; mentoring; fair treatment of people with less status in a hierarchical profession. On-the-record accounts from named colleagues matter most.
Public service beyond the mission
Sustained, hands-on service: education, medicine, community work, or advocacy that produced results and reflects personal commitment rather than a speaking circuit.
Who counts as an astronaut
We distinguish professional astronauts (selected and trained by a national agency), commercial crew members (trained professionals flying on commercial missions), and private spaceflight participants. All three are eligible; the category is recorded on every profile. Flying in space is a prerequisite for the category, never a qualification for recognition.
Our roster is not our directory
The internal research roster lists hundreds of living astronauts for coverage. Appearing on it means nothing more than being eligible for research. Only people who pass a completed review appear here.
Sources for astronaut records include NASA, ESA, JAXA, CSA, Roscosmos, and other national agencies, along with reputable biographical records. Living status, agency, nationality, and mission history are verified before any review begins.
Nominate someone
Know someone whose actions speak for them?
Anyone can nominate a living actor, athlete, or astronaut. Nominations are private, reviewed by people, and judged on documented conduct rather than popularity.