Published: March 1, 2015

Astronaut Bruce McCandless during a Challenger space shuttle mission

Since 1962, when Scott Carpenter (Aero’49, HonDocSci’00) became the fourth American and first CU-Boulder graduate to fly in space, nearly 20 other CU alumni, faculty and affiliates have followed him there.

This archival photo from shows astronaut Bruce McCandless, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, during a Challenger space shuttle mission led by CU alumnus Vance Brand (Fin’53, Aero’60).

Kjell Lindgren (MD’02), a member of NASA’s 2009 astronaut class, is scheduled to fly to the International Space Station this spring.

They go in peace for all humankind.

Photography by NASA