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National Astronaut Day

Celebrate National Astronaut Day with a blast - take a virtual tour of space and explore the stars!

Wednesday

May 2027

Last updated February 7, 2026 · by the Holiday Calendar Team

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YEARLY DATEMay 5

OBSERVED INUnited States

CATEGORYCulture

SUBCATEGORYFamous People

INTRO

Introduction

PHOTO

Celebrate National Astronaut Day on May 5 and join the world in honoring astronauts and their amazing accomplishments! This day was created to commemorate the anniversary of Alan Shepard's first space flight in 1961. It's an incredible opportunity to recognize all of the brave men and women who have taken part in space exploration over the years, pushing our understanding of science further than ever before.

TIMELINE

National Astronaut Day Timeline

Alan Shepard's Space Flight

Alan Shepard became the first American astronaut to travel into space, setting the stage for future space exploration.

Moon Landing

Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the moon as part of NASA's Apollo 11 mission.

First American Woman in Space

Sally Ride made history as the first American woman to go into space, flying on the space shuttle Challenger.

International Space Station

Construction began on the International Space Station (ISS), a home for astronauts during long-term space missions.

Private Space Transportation

SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft became the first commercial vehicle to deliver supplies to the ISS, marking a new era of private space flight.

First National Astronaut Day

The first National Astronaut Day was celebrated to honor astronauts and their contributions to space exploration.

GET INVOLVED

How to Celebrate National Astronaut Day

Watch a space movie

Gather some friends and have a space movie marathon. From classics such as The Right Stuff and 2001: A Space Odyssey to newer hits like Gravity and Interstellar, you’ll be sure to have a blast.

READ

Read an astronaut autobiography

From Sally Ride’s “To Space and Back” to Neil Armstrong’s “First Man”, there are plenty of autobiographies written by astronauts that provide incredible insight into their experiences in space.

VISIT

Visit a museum

Many museums around the world have astronaut related exhibits, from the Apollo 11 Command Module at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum to a full scale replica of the International Space Station at the Kennedy Space Center.

TAKE

Take a virtual tour of the ISS

The European Space Agency has created an interactive 360° tour of the International Space Station where you can explore each module as if you were really there.

ATTEND

Attend a space launch

If you’re lucky enough to live near one of NASA’s launch sites, attending a rocket launch is an experience you won't forget. With an online ticket reservation system it has never been easier to attend one.

WHY THIS DAY MATTERS

Why National Astronaut Day is Important

Promotes scientific literacy

Celebrating Space Exploration Day can help promote scientific literacy among the younger generation - especially those interested in astronomy. Learning about spacemen, their mission journeys, and the discoveries they make will open up their minds to new possibilities and could even inspire them to pursue a career in STEM fields.

Reminds us of the importance of space exploration

National Astronaut Day is an opportunity to celebrate and recognize astronauts who explore outer space. It also serves as a reminder of why space exploration is important, as it helps humanity gain a better understanding of our place in the universe and further our knowledge about galaxies, stars, and planets that are located far beyond Earth.

Celebrates human achievements

National Astronaut Day is a celebration of the amazing feats achieved by humankind in space exploration. Being able to leave Earth’s atmosphere and explore other galaxies is something few humans have done, and this day serves as a reminder that humans can do incredible things when we work together.

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