May 30

Alexei Leonov made history on March 18, 1965, as the first human to perform an extravehicular activity during the Voskhod 2 mission. Born in Pskov, he joined the Soviet Air Force and trained as a pilot before selection to the cosmonaut corps. Leonov’s 12-minute spacewalk demonstrated human capability in the vacuum of space but nearly ended in disaster when his suit inflated, forcing him to bleed off pressure to re-enter the spacecraft. After his pioneering flight, he rose to the rank of general and served in military leadership roles, including training future cosmonauts. Leonov greatly contributed to the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, fostering Soviet-American cooperation in space. An accomplished artist, he sketched scenes from his missions, blending science and creativity. He authored memoirs recounting his experiences and remained a celebrated figure until his death in 2019.

Born in 1958 in Madrid, Spain, López-Alegría moved to the United States and earned degrees in applied mathematics and marine engineering. He served as a Naval aviator and test pilot before joining NASA as an astronaut candidate in 1992. He completed four spaceflights, including long-duration missions on the International Space Station, and holds the American record for cumulative EVA time. In 2006, he commanded ISS Expedition 14 and later became Chief of the Astronaut Office. He retired from NASA in 2012 and continues to advocate for space exploration and STEM education.

Helen Patricia Sharman (born May 30, 1963) is an English chemist and astronaut who became the first British citizen to travel to space in 1991. Selected from a pool of applicants for Project Juno, she joined the Soviet Soyuz TM-12 crew for an eight-day mission to the Mir space station. During her flight, Sharman conducted a series of scientific experiments in materials science and medical research. After returning to Earth, she continued her work in chemistry and education, promoting science outreach to young people. Her pioneering journey paved the way for future UK astronauts and remains a milestone in space exploration history.