How many astronauts are still alive?

How Many Astronauts Are Still Alive?

Space. Just the word conjures images of daring adventures and the ultimate unknown. We’ve sent humans hurtling beyond Earth’s atmosphere for decades, pushing the very limits of what’s possible. So, how many of these brave souls are still with us today, as of July 2025? It’s a question that gets to the heart of our fascination with space exploration.

First, let’s clear up something: what exactly is an astronaut? Well, in the U.S., if you make it past 50 miles above the Earth, you’re awarded astronaut wings. Pretty cool, huh? The international standard, set by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), is a bit higher – you need to clear the Kármán line at 62 miles. By the U.S. definition, we’re talking about 676 people who’ve journeyed to space as of November 2023. The Kármán line folks number 643.

Since Yuri Gagarin took that giant leap for mankind in 1961, over 600 individuals have flown among the stars. That includes astronauts from all over the globe – Americans, Russians (we call them cosmonauts), and even Chinese astronauts (taikonauts). NASA alone has picked 360 astronaut candidates since way back in 1959. Talk about a legacy!

Now, let’s face it: space travel is risky business. Sadly, we’ve lost some incredible people along the way. As of early 2024, 18 astronauts have died during actual spaceflights. You probably remember the Challenger explosion in ’86, the Columbia disaster in ’03, and the earlier Soyuz 11 tragedy in ’71. Gut-wrenching stuff. And it’s not just the flights themselves; accidents during training have also claimed lives. Think about the Apollo 1 fire in ’67 – a stark reminder of the dangers involved, even on the ground. In total, 21 NASA astronauts have died in spaceflight-related accidents.

Speaking of Apollo, that program was something else, wasn’t it? Landing on the moon… hard to believe it actually happened! Of the 24 astronauts who made it all the way to the moon, six are still with us as of February 22, 2025. Four of them actually walked on the lunar surface: the legendary Buzz Aldrin, the steadfast David Scott, the ever-curious Charles Duke, and the geologist Harrison Schmitt. And we can’t forget James Lovell and Fred Haise, who orbited the moon, coming so close to touching its surface. It’s amazing to think of the stories they must have. Sadly, William Anders, another Apollo astronaut, died in a plane crash in June 2024.

Of course, space exploration is still going strong. As I write this in late July 2025, things are always changing up there. Just last year, in August 2024, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams got stuck on the International Space Station (ISS) longer than expected because of some issues with the Boeing Starliner. There was even talk of them having to hitch a ride back on a SpaceX capsule in early 2025! You just never know what’s going to happen in space.

So, to wrap it all up, pinning down an exact, up-to-the-minute number of living astronauts is a bit like trying to catch stardust. But one thing’s for sure: a remarkable number of these pioneers are still around, carrying with them incredible stories and a wealth of knowledge that continues to inspire us all. They’re a testament to the human spirit’s endless quest to explore, discover, and reach for the stars.