On This Day in Space History

Experience the legacy of human spaceflight by exploring the milestones that define On This Day in Space History. From the roaring engines of historic rocket launches that paved the way to the stars to the personal legacies of the astronauts born or who passed away on this date, every day marks a significant chapter in our journey beyond Earth. Whether you are tracking a specific mission anniversary or honoring the pioneers of the Final Frontier, our comprehensive daily guide connects you with the cosmic events that happened on this very day.

Rocket Launches On This Day

Astronauts Born On This Day

Franklin Chang Díaz

• Date of Birth: 04/05/1950
• Nationality: United States of America
• First Flight: 01/12/1986
• Last Flight: 06/05/2002

Franklin Ramón Chang Díaz is a Costa Rican Chinese American mechanical engineer, physicist, former NASA astronaut. He is the founder and current CEO...

Judith Resnik

• Date of Birth: 04/05/1949
• Date of Death: 01/28/1986
• Nationality: United States of America
• First Flight: 08/30/1984
• Last Flight: 01/28/1986

Judith Arlene Resnik was an American electrical engineer, software engineer, biomedical engineer, pilot and NASA astronaut, who died when the Space Sh...

Astronauts In Remembrance

Philip K. Chapman

• Date of Birth: 03/05/1935
• Date of Death: 04/05/2021
• Nationality: United States of America

Philip Kenyon Chapman was the first Australian-born American astronaut, serving for about five years in NASA Astronaut Group 6 (1967).

Sonny Carter

• Date of Birth: 08/15/1947
• Date of Death: 04/05/1991
• Nationality: United States of America
• First Flight: 11/23/1989
• Last Flight: 11/23/1989

Manley Lanier "Sonny" Carter Jr., M.D. was an American chemist, physician, professional soccer player, naval officer and aviator, test pilot...

Vitaly Sevastyanov

• Date of Birth: 07/08/1935
• Date of Death: 04/05/2010
• Nationality: Russia
• First Flight: 06/01/1970
• Last Flight: 05/24/1975

Vitaly Ivanovich Sevastyanov (Russian: Вита́лий Ива́нович Севастья́нов; 8 July 1935 – 5 April 2010) was a Soviet cosmon...