National Astronaut Day

Futuristic astronaut in space suit, exploring a vibrant alien landscape, with a friendly extraterrestrial creature by their side.. — National astronaut day illustration

Put on your virtual space helmets, folks! National Astronaut Day has got us moonwalking around with joy! This day goes beyond just admiring our favorite space-faring people. It's a day where we shoot for the stars to honor all those brave souls that have ventured beyond our atmosphere.

When is Astronaut Day?

It's national astronaut day on the 5th May.

The Galaxy of National Astronaut Day

Somewhere, amidst the vastness of the internet, mentions of National Astronaut Day started popping up like tiny stars in the night sky. Our detection systems here at WhatNationalDayIsIt.com recorded a stratospheric 2987 mentions online. Let's strap in our seat belts as we embark on the journey of exploring the virtual history of this intergalactic day.

Blast off: National Astronaut Day Origins

The most mentions were recorded on 05 May 2016. It makes us wonder - was there an alien intervention or did Elon Musk tweet about it? We may never know! But one thing's for sure - the internet went crazy that day, almost like spotting a UFO.

Floating Through the Cyber Space

From sharing inspiring tales of astronauts to youngsters dreaming about the Milky Way galore, the celebrations on the internet were as vast as the majestic cosmos itself. There were fascinating discussions about space explorations, and even Martian cook-offs in honor of the brave astronauts. Even though we have recorded no low gravity pizza tossings yet!

Why We Love National Astronaut Day

It's simple - who doesn't want to feel like a tiny speck in an impossibly majestic universe every once in a while? This day gives us the chance to reflect on our tiny existence in this endless cosmos, and also to appreciate the courage of those who've looked at the universe face-to-face. Now, that's stellar!

History behind the term 'Astronaut'

1929

Coined by Seussian vision.

The term 'astronaut' was first coined by the science fiction writer and explorer of whimsical worlds, Dr. Seuss. In his debut children's book 'And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street,' published in 1929, Seuss used the term to describe a fantastical being who traveled to space.

1940

Pre-NASA era takes flight.

In the 1940s, the term 'astronaut' gained popularity in science fiction literature and appeared in various works to depict individuals exploring the cosmos. This usage helped to establish 'astronaut' as a common term to describe someone who journeys beyond Earth's atmosphere.

1959

NASA takes the helm.

With the establishment of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on October 1, 1958, the term 'astronaut' became the official designation for American space travelers. NASA embraced this fascinating term, derived from Greek roots 'astron' (star) and 'nautes' (sailor), to represent the brave men and women venturing into the stars.

1961

Human mission to space.

On April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet cosmonaut, became the first human to journey into space aboard the spacecraft Vostok 1. Gagarin's historic flight further solidified the term 'astronaut' in the public consciousness as synonymous with space exploration.

1969

A giant leap for mankind.

On July 20, 1969, the Apollo 11 mission led by astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins achieved the seemingly impossible by landing the lunar module Eagle on the Moon's surface. Neil Armstrong's famous words, 'That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind,' marked a monumental moment in human history and cemented the term 'astronaut' as an emblem of extraordinary achievements beyond Earth.

Did you know?

Did you know that despite the dizzying speeds and vast distances involved in space travel, astronauts aboard the International Space Station eat dinner with their families every night via video call? Talk about long-distance relationships!