National Astronaut Day, observed every year on May 5, celebrates astronauts as the heroes as they are, and inspires the next generation of space explorers.

National Astronaut Day was created in 2016 by the Uniphi Space Agency. It marks the day in 1961 when astronaut Alan Bartlett Shepard, Jr. became the first American to launch to space in a flight that reached 116 miles and lasted for 15 minutes.

Since that historic event, more and more important milestones have been reached in space travel. From the Apollo 11 mission where Neil Armstrong took the first steps on the surface of the Moon, to the all-female spacewalk by Jessica Weir and Christina Koch in 2020, these brave astronauts have continued to break boundaries and inspire people to reach for the stars. Only recently, for instance, astronaut Jessica Watkins became the first Black woman to serve on a long-duration space mission aboard the International Space Station.

National Astronaut Day provides an excellent opportunity for people to appreciate and get to know more about the heroes and the many missions they have gone on, perhaps by reading or watching documentaries about them. Others may even listen to the Soundtrack of Space personally selected by astronauts, while those who will browse through some interesting astronaut facts may share them via social media using #WeBelieveInAstronauts and #NationalAstronautDay.

"The path for every Astronaut is different," noted Uniphi Space Agency. "The one thing they all have in common–They are leaders in their chosen fields, pioneers of space and seek to share their individual knowledge and lessons as an Astronaut to benefit us ALL."

On this day, let's have a look at some inspiring astronaut quotes. (Courtesy: Kennedy Space Center, Good Reads and Kidadl)

  • "There are great ideas undiscovered, breakthroughs available to those who can remove one of truth's protective layers. There are places to go beyond belief." -Neil Armstrong
  • "Don't let anyone rob you of your imagination, your creativity, or your curiosity. It's your place in the world; it's your life. Go on and do all you can with it, and make it the life you want to live." -Mae Jemison
  • "The dream is alive." -John Young
  • "All adventures, especially into new territory, are scary." -Sally Ride
  • "If we adopt the same collaborative mindset and practices that got to the moon and back, and that built the International Space Station, we can alleviate poverty—and do much more." -Ron Garan
  • "Space is for everybody. It's not just for a few people in science or math, or for a select group of astronauts. That's our new frontier out there, and it's everybody's business to know about space." -Christa McAuliffe
  • "Things aren't scary. People are scared." -Chris Hadfield
  • "One truth I have discovered for sure: when you believe that all things are possible and you are willing to work hard to accomplish your goals, you can achieve the next 'impossible' dream. No dream is too high!" -Buzz Aldrin
The Aldrin image, which fetched 5,373 euros, shows the astronaut on the surface of the moon in July 1969 during the first manned lunar landing. It was famously used on the cover of LIFE magazine
The Aldrin image, which fetched 5,373 euros, shows the astronaut on the surface of the moon in July 1969 during the first manned lunar landing. It was famously used on the cover of LIFE magazine NASA via AFP
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