USNA Honorable Graduates - Astronauts

Astronauts
Blue Bar

The Naval Academy has produced more astronauts than any other institution in the nation.


Alan B. Shepard, Jr Alan B. Shepard, Jr
Class of 1945

Launch of Freedom 7, the first American manned suborbital space flight. Astronaut Alan Shepard aboard, the Mercury-Redstone (MR-3) rocket is launched from Pad 5.

This view of the orbiting Gemini 7 spacecraft was taken from the Gemini 6 spacecraft during their historic rendezvous mission in space. The two spacecrafts were approximately 29 ft. apart when this picture was made.

The third Saturn V launch vehicle (SA-503) for the Apollo 8 mission lifted off from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center on December 21, 1968. The first manned Saturn V vehicle with a crew of three astronauts, Frank Borman, James A. Lovell, Jr., and William Anders, escaped Earth’s gravity, traveled to the lunar vicinity, and orbited the Moon.

The huge, 363-feet tall Apollo 16 space vehicle was launched from the Kennedy Space Center, April 16, 1972, on a lunar landing mission. Aboard the Apollo 16 spacecraft were astronauts John W. Young, commander; Thomas K. Mattingly II, command module pilot; and Charles M. Duke Jr., lunar module pilot.

Astronaut Charles M. Duke Jr. is photographed collecting lunar samples during the first Apollo 16 extravehicular activity at the Descartes landing site. This picture, looking eastward, was taken by Astronaut John W. Young, commander. The parked Lunar Roving Vehicle can be seen in the left background.

The Apollo Soyuz Test Project's (ASTP) NASA Apollo/Saturn 18 space vehicle is launched from Pad B, Launch Complex 39, Kennedy Space Center, Florida, at 3:50 p.m., July 15, 1975. The Soviet spacecraft (Soyuz 19) was launched seven and one-half hours before the American ASTP/Apollo-Saturn 18 liftoff.

STS-41B Challenger Mission Specialist Bruce McCandless II ventured further away (320 feet) from the confines and safety of his ship than any previous astronaut ever has. This space first was made possible by the Manned Maneuvering Unit or MMU, a nitrogen jet propelled backpack.

STS-49 Landing at Edwards with First Drag Chute Landing (May 16, 1992)

A Great Blue Heron seems oblivious to the trememdous spectacle of light and sound generated by a Shuttle liftoff, as the Space Shuttle Columbia soars skyward from Launch Pad 39B. Columbia lifted off at 9:53:00 a.m. EDT, October 20, 1995. On board are a crew of seven and the U.S. Microgravity Laboratory-2

Shuttle and Mir Docking (September 1996). STS-79 brought back to Earth U.S. astronaut Shannon Lucid after her 188 days in space. The mission conducted the first U.S. Shuttle-Mir crew exchange

Backdropped against white clouds and blue ocean waters, the International Space Station (ISS) moves away from the Space Shuttle Discovery. The U.S.- built Unity node (top) and the Russian-built Zarya or FGB module (with the solar array panels deployed) were joined during a December 1998 mission.

 Walter M. Schirra
Class of 1946 		Walter M. Shirra
           
James Irwin James Irwin
Class of 1951 		Donn F. Eisele
Class of 1952 		Donn F. Eisele
           
Edward G. Givens Edward G. Givens
Class of 1952 		James A. Lovell
Class of 1952 		James A. Lovell
           
Thomas P. Stafford Thomas P. Stafford
Class of 1952 		Theodore C. Freeman
Class of 1953 		Theodore C. Freeman
           
William A. Anders William A. Anders
Class of 1955 		Charles Moss Duke, Jr
Class of 1957 		Charles Moss Duke, Jr.
           
Bruce McCandless Bruce McCandless
Class of 1958 		David Griggs
Class of 1962 		David Griggs
           
Robert C. Springer Robert C. Springer
Class of 1964 		John O. Creighton
Class of 1966 		John O. Creighton
           
David M. Walker David M. Walker
Class of 1966 		James F. Buchli
Class of 1967 		James F. Buchli
           
Michael J. Smith Michael J. Smith
Class of 1967 		Charles F. Bolden
Class of 1968 		Charles F. Bolden
           
Michael L. Coats Michael L. Coats
Class of 1968 		Bryan D. O'Connor
Class of 1968 		Bryan D. O'Connor
           
John M. Lounge John M. Lounge
Class of 1969 		Robert D. Cabana
Class of 1971 		Robert D. Cabana
           
Frank L. Culbertson Frank L. Culbertson
Class of 1971 		David C. Leestma
Class of 1971 		David C. Leestma
           
William M. Shepherd William M. Shepherd
Class of 1971 		John L. Phillips
Class of 1972 		John L. Phillips
           
Stephen S. Oswald Stephen S. Oswald
Class of 1973 		Kenneth S. Reightler, Jr
Class of 1973 		Kenneth S. Reightler, Jr.
           
William F. Readdy William F. Readdy
Class of 1974 		Stephen D. Thorne
Class of 1975 		Stephen D. Thorne
           
J.M. Linenger J.M. Linenger
Class of 1977 		Pierre J. Thuot
Class of 1977 		Pierre J. Thout
           
Kenneth D. Bowersox Kenneth D. Bowersox
Class of 1978 		Daniel W. Bursch
Class of 1979 		Daniel W. Bursch
           
Michael J. Foreman Michael J. Foreman
Class of 1979 		Dominic L. Pudwill Gorie
Class of 1979 		Dominic L. Pudwill Gorie
           
Joe Frank Edwards, Jr. Joe Frank Edwards, Jr
Class of 1980 		Michael E. Lopez-Alegria
Class of 1980 		Michael E.Lopez-Alegria
           
Kathryn P. Hire Kathryn P. Hire
Class of 1981 		Brent W. Jett, Jr.
Class of 1981 		Brent W. Jett, Jr.
           
Wendy B. Lawrence Wendy B. Lawrence
Class of 1981 		Christopher J. Loria
Class of 1983 		Christopher J. Loria
           
William C. McCool William C. McCool
Class of 1983 		Robert L. Curbeam, Jr
Class of 1984 		Robert L. Curbeam, Jr.
           
Charles Owen Hobaugh Charles Owen Hobaugh
Class of 1984 		George D. Zamka
Class of 1984 		George D. Zamka
           
Stephen N. Frick   Stephen N. Frick
Class of 1986 		Stephen G. Bowen
Class of 1986 		Stephen G. Bowen
           
Sunita L. Williams Sunita L. Williams
Class of 1987 		Kenneth T. Ham
Class of 1987 		Kenneth T. Ham
           
    Christopher J. Cassidy
Class of 1993 		Christopher J. Cassidy