National Astronaut Day

May 5, Monday

National Astronaut Day is an annual American holiday celebrated on May 5. It is dedicated to honoring astronauts as heroes and inspiring people to reach for the stars. The holiday was established in 2016 by the Uniphi Space Agency in honor of the first flight of an American into space — Alan Shepard, who made a suborbital flight aboard the Freedom 7 spacecraft on May 5, 1961.

History of the holiday
On May 5, 1961, astronaut Alan Bartlett Shepard Jr. became the first American in space, making a 15-minute suborbital flight to an altitude of 116 miles (about 187 km). This flight was an important step in space exploration and inspired further research.

How National Astronaut Day is celebrated
Various events are held on this day to promote space and inspire future generations:

- watching space documentaries
- reading astronaut biographies
- participating in educational programs and lectures
- sharing stories and memories of astronauts on social media using the hashtags #NationalAstronautDay and #WeBelieveInAstronauts

These activities help people learn more about space and inspire them to reach new heights.

National Astronaut Day – days left: 15. Create Countdown to Event

National Astronaut Day in other years

2021 May 5, Wednesday
2022 May 5, Thursday
2023 May 5, Friday
2024 May 5, Sunday
2026 May 5, Tuesday