Association of Space Explorers

Watch ASE member @AstroVicGlover welcome our newest members (@Astro_Christina, @Astro_Jeremy, and @astro_hathaway) while aboard Artemis II! "@Astro_Reid and I are both members, and we're proud to welcome ... them to this international body of human space explorers."

#ASEspotlight: Danny Olivas 💫 During STS-128, ASE Life Member Olivas waved to the camera while participating in a spacewalk in September 2009. Fun fact: He enjoys surfing! Happy 60th birthday, Danny! 🎉

Congrats to the crew of Shenzhou 23 on their recent successful launch to the Tiangong space station! 🚀 Welcome back to space, Zhu Yangzhu! Congrats to Zhang Zhiyuan & Lai Ka-ying for becoming the 646th & 647th orbital fliers in the Registry of Space Travelers! Pic: CMSA/CCTV

#HappyBirthday to ASE member Ivan Bella, who flew to space in 1999 aboard Soyuz TM-29 as part of a trip to Mir!

#HappyBirthday to ASE member Dmitry Kondratyev, who flew to space in 2010 aboard Soyuz TMA-20 as part of an expedition to the @Space_Station (Expedition 26/27)!

#ASEspotlight: Ronald Parise 🌠 During STS-67, ASE member Parise posed for a picture with the Earth as his backdrop aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour in March 1995. Fun fact: He became a licensed radio operator when he was 11! Today, we remember Ron on his 75th birthday. ✨

#HappyBirthday to ASE member Thomas Reiter, who flew to space twice between 1995 and 2006 (Soyuz TM-22 and STS-121) as part of expeditions aboard Mir (Mir EO-20) and the @Space_Station (Expedition 13/14)!

#OTD 5 years ago ✨ Unity 21 launched on May 22, 2021! Fun fact: This was the first human spaceflight to launch from New Mexico!

In Memoriam: ASE Distinguished Member John Fabian January 28, 1939 - May 21, 2026

#HappyBirthday to ASE member Ernst Messerschmid, who flew to space in 1985 aboard STS-61-A!

#HappyBirthday to ASE Life Member Robert Springer, who flew to space twice between 1989 and 1990 (STS-29 and STS-38)!

Today, we remember ASE member David Walker on his #birthday. Walker flew to space four times between 1984 and 1995 aboard STS-51-A, STS-30, STS-53, and STS-69. ✨

#HappyBirthday to ASE Life Member Pierre Thuot, who flew to space three times between 1990 and 1994 (STS-36, STS-49, and STS-62)!

#OTD 30 years ago ✨ STS-77 launched on May 19, 1996, with ASE members @MarcGarneau; John Casper; Daniel Bursch; and Mario Runco, Jr. aboard. Fun fact: @CocaCola sponsored a soda dispenser experiment to test taste perception and fluids management on this flight!

#HappyBirthday to ASE member Jean-Pierre Haigneré, who flew to space twice in 1993 and 1999 (Soyuz TM-17 and Soyuz TM-29) as part of trips and expeditions aboard Mir (Mir EO-27) Pic: @esa

Today, we remember ASE member Don Lind on his #birthday. Lind flew to space in 1985 aboard STS-51-B. ✨

#OTD 35 years ago ✨ Soyuz TM-12 launched on May 18, 1991, with ASE members Anatoli Artsebarsky, Sergei Krikalev, and Helen Sharman aboard. Fun fact: This flight carried the first British citizen to space!

#HappyBirthday to ASE member Joe Acaba, who has flown to space three times between 2009 and 2018 (STS-119, Soyuz TMA-04M, and Soyuz MS-06) as part of trips and expeditions to the @Space_Station (Expedition 31/32 and Expedition 53/54)!

#OTD 15 years ago ✨ STS-134 launched on May 16, 2011, with ASE members @Astro_Box, @AstroIronMike, @CaptMarkKelly, @Astro_Taz, and @Astro_Feustel aboard. Fun fact: This mission was the final flight of Space Shuttle Endeavour!

#HappyBirthday to ASE Life Member Brewster Shaw, who flew to space three times between 1983 and 1989 (STS-9, STS-61-B, and STS-28)!

#HappyBirthday to ASE member @AstroDaveMD, who flew to space twice between 1998 and 2007 (STS-90 and STS-118), including as part of a trip to the @Space_Station!