It’s hard to imagine death in the vast expanse of space, yet tragically, many astronauts and cosmonauts have died while exploring our solar system. Since humans began their journey into space, more than 17 people have tragically lost their lives in pursuit of this exploration.
From fatal re-entries and explosions to fire aboard spacecraft, these brave explorers gave their lives for our curiosity about the universe. This blog covers the history of tragedy surrounding humankind’s ambitions for outer space exploration. Let’s see how many people have died in space.
First Human Flight
When most people think of human space exploration, they immediately think of Yuri Gagarin. He was the first man in history to enter outer space on April 12, 1961. A former Russian Air Force officer, he became an international celebrity after his successful space mission, and the rest is history.
But did you know that some people have died in outer space? Though it’s a rare occurrence, six astronauts in total have met their untimely end during various missions into space.
The Mercury and Gemini Missions
The Mercury Program was NASA’s pioneering effort to put a man in orbit around Earth from 1961-1963. Astronauts Gordon Cooper and Virgil Grissom both flew aboard these vessels without any fatalities or losses of life during the mission. However, a tragic accident occurred during pre-launch testing for Apollo 1, resulting in the deaths of astronaut Gus Grissom and two other crew members.
The Apollo Missions
Apollo 11 is perhaps one of the most famous manned spaceflights in history due to its success at landing on the moon in 1969, with Neil Armstrong becoming the first person ever to set foot on another celestial body besides Earth! Yet even before this historic mission was launched, tragedy struck during preparations for Apollo 1 when a fire broke out inside its cabin, killing three astronauts, including Gus Grissom.
Soyuz 1
On April 24th, 1967, Soyuz 1 was launched into space with Russian cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov aboard as its sole occupant. The mission ended tragically, however when severe safety issues forced him to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere prematurely. Komarov subsequently perished upon impact.
Challenger Disaster
On January 28th, 1986, Challenger exploded 73 seconds after liftoff due to an issue with O-ring seals on one of the solid rocket boosters, killing all seven astronauts onboard the spacecraft, including Christa McAuliffe, who would have become America’s first teacher in space.
Columbia Disaster
The Columbia disintegrated on February 1st, 2003, 16 minutes before it was supposed to land. The cause was heat tile damage during launch, which led to structural damage. This resulted in a complete loss of control and communication, and tragically, all seven crew members on board lost their lives.
Final Thoughts on How Many People Have Died in Space
Space exploration is an endeavor of bravery and dedication. Tragically, 18 individuals have lost their lives in pursuit of the unknown. Still, we honor their sacrifice and vow to use it as a reminder – strive for what’s possible, learn from our losses, and never compromise the safety of those who venture forth. May the heavens be kinder to those who follow.
