Astronauts The term “astronaut” derives from the Greek words meaning “star sailor,” and refers to all who have been launched as crew members aboard NASA spacecraft bound for orbit and beyond. The term “astronaut” has been maintained as the title for those selected to join the NASA corps of astronauts who make “star sailing” their career profession.
Astronauts Astronauts train for a variety of missions, including performing research on the International Space Station, launching from American soil on spacecraft built by commercial companies, and preparing for missions to the Moon with Artemis.
The NASA Astronaut Fact Book provides information on the 360 explorers who have been selected as astronauts since NASA's first class in 1959.
After stringent screening, NASA announced its selection of seven men, all pilots, as the first American astronauts. NASA has selected 23 more groups of astronauts since the “Original Seven.” The backgrounds of NASA’s latest group of astronaut candidates include test pilots, engineers, medical professionals, a geologist, and more.
While astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, commander, and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., lunar module pilot, descended in the Lunar Module (LM) “Eagle” to explore the Sea of Tranquility region of the moon, astronaut Michael Collins, command module pilot, remained with the Command and Service Modules (CSM) “Columbia” in lunar orbit.
NASA’s astronauts currently work as scientists on the International Space Station—a laboratory that orbits Earth approximately 240 miles above the planet’s surface. Astronauts on the station conduct scientific experiments such as innovative cancer research and research on the human body and living in space.
Our Artemis Crew Meet the astronauts who will venture around the Moon on Artemis II, the first crewed flight aboard NASA’s human deep space capabilities, paving the way for future lunar surface missions.