Association of Space Explorers
aseastronauts.bsky.social
Association of Space Explorers
@aseastronauts.bsky.social
Earth's first emissaries to the cosmos. Pioneering the path to space. Delivering the astronaut perspective.
#ASEspotlight: Daniel Tani 💫

In February 2008, ASE member Tani smiled as he watched pieces of candy float freely aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis during STS-122.

Fun fact: He enjoys tennis!

Happy 65th birthday, Dan! 🎉
February 2, 2026 at 4:00 AM
Today, we remember ASE member Vladimir Aksyonov on his #birthday. Aksyonov flew to space twice in 1976 and 1980 (Soyuz 22 and Soyuz T-2), including as part of a trip to the Salyut 6 space station. ✨
February 2, 2026 at 2:00 AM
Today, we commemorate the crew of STS-107: Kalpana Chawla, Laurel Clark, William ("Willie") McCool, Rick Husband, David Brown, Ilan Ramon, and Michael Anderson. 🌠
February 1, 2026 at 2:01 PM
#OTD 55 years ago ✨

Apollo 14 launched on January 31, 1971, with ASE members Edgar Mitchell and Stuart Roosa aboard!

To learn more, check out the mission page from NASA: https://www.nasa.gov/mission/apollo-14/
February 1, 2026 at 2:00 AM
#HappyBirthday to ASE member Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez, who flew to space in 1980 aboard Soyuz 38 as part of a trip to the Salyut 6 space station!

Pic: Escla, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en
January 29, 2026 at 8:01 PM
#HappyBirthday to ASE member Mamoru Mohri, who flew to space twice in 1992 and 2000 (STS-47 and STS-99)!
January 29, 2026 at 3:01 PM
#ASEspotlight: Leonid Kadenyuk 🌠

Aboard Space Shuttle Columbia during STS-87, ASE member Kadenyuk worked with plants being grown for the Collaborative Ukrainian Experiment in 1997.

Fun fact: He enjoyed running!

Today, we remember Leonid on his 75th birthday. ✨
January 29, 2026 at 4:00 AM
#HappyBirthday to ASE Life Member John Fabian, who flew to space twice between 1983 and 1985 (STS-7 and STS-51-G)!
January 29, 2026 at 2:00 AM
#OTD 40 years ago 🌠

STS-51-L launched on January 28, 1986. Today, we commemorate the crew: Christa McAuliffe, Gregory Jarvis, Judith Resnik, Francis ("Dick") Scobee, Ronald McNair, Michael Smith, and Ellison Onizuka.
January 28, 2026 at 1:01 PM
Today, we commemorate the crew of Apollo 1: Roger Chaffee, Edward White, and Virgil ("Gus") Grissom. 🌠
January 27, 2026 at 2:02 PM
#HappyBirthday to ASE Life Member Mario Runco, Jr., who flew to space three times between 1991 and 1996 (STS-44, STS-54, and STS-77)!
January 26, 2026 at 4:01 PM
#HappyBirthday to ASE Life Member William Readdy, who flew to space three times between 1992 and 1996 (STS-42, STS-51, and STS-79), including as part of a trip to the Mir space station!
January 24, 2026 at 3:01 PM
#HappyBirthday to ASE member Jack Fischer, who flew to space in 2017 aboard Soyuz MS-04 as part of an expedition to the International Space Station (Expedition 51/52)!
January 23, 2026 at 11:00 PM
Today, we remember ASE member William Pogue on his #birthday. Pogue flew to space in 1973 aboard Skylab 4. ✨
January 23, 2026 at 8:01 PM
#HappyBirthday to ASE member Kjell Lindgren, who has flown to space twice in 2015 and 2022 (Soyuz TMA-17M and SpaceX Crew-4) as part of expeditions aboard the International Space Station (Expedition 44/45 and Expedition 67/68)!
January 23, 2026 at 5:01 PM
#HappyBirthday to ASE Life Member Robert Cabana, who flew to space four times between 1990 and 1998 (STS-41, STS-53, STS-65, and STS-88), including as part of a trip to the International Space Station!
January 23, 2026 at 2:02 PM
#HappyBirthday to ASE Life Member Thomas Jones, who flew to space four times between 1994 and 2001 (STS-59, STS-68, STS-80, and STS-98), including as part of a trip to the International Space Station!
January 23, 2026 at 12:00 AM
Congratulations to Blue Origin's #NS38 crew on its successful flight! 🚀

We can't wait for Laura Stiles, Timothy Drexler, Linda Edwards, Alberto Gutiérrez, Alain Fernandez, and Jim Hendren to receive their Universal Astronaut Insignia!

Pic: Blue Origin
January 22, 2026 at 4:55 PM
#HappyBirthday to ASE member Joseph Tanner, who flew to space four times between 1994 and 2006 (STS-66, STS-82, STS-97, and STS-115), including as part of trips to the International Space Station!
January 21, 2026 at 3:01 PM
#HappyBirthday to ASE Life Member Jerry Ross, who flew to space seven times between 1985 and 2002 (STS-61-B, STS-27, STS-37, STS-55, STS-74, STS-88, and STS-110), including as part of trips to Mir and the International Space Station!
January 20, 2026 at 6:01 PM
#HappyBirthday to ASE Life Member Buzz Aldrin, who flew to space twice between 1966 and 1969 (Gemini 12 and Apollo 11) and was the second person to walk on the Moon!
January 20, 2026 at 2:02 PM
#HappyBirthday to ASE Life Member Jeffrey Williams, who flew to space four times between 2000 and 2016 (STS-101, Soyuz TMA-8, Soyuz TMA-16, and Soyuz TMA-20M) as part of trips and expeditions to the International Space Station (Expedition 13, Expedition 21/22, and Expedition 47/48)!
January 18, 2026 at 7:00 PM
#HappyBirthday to ASE Life Member Daniel Brandenstein, who flew to space four times between 1983 and 1992 (STS-8, STS-51-G, STS-32, and STS-49)!
January 17, 2026 at 4:01 PM
#ASEspotlight: Michael Coats 💫

ASE Life Member Coats smiled for the camera as he updated the crew activity plan from the flight deck of Space Shuttle Discovery in March 1989.

Fun fact: He became the 10th director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in November 2005!

Happy 80th birthday, Mike! 🎉
January 17, 2026 at 12:30 AM
#HappyBirthday to ASE member Anatolii Solovyov, who flew to space five times between 1988 and 1998 (Soyuz TM-5, Soyuz TM-9, Soyuz TM-15, STS-71, and Soyuz TM-26) as part of expeditions aboard the Mir space station (Mir EP-2, Mir EO-6, Mir EO-12, Mir EO-19, and Mir EO-24)!
January 16, 2026 at 7:30 PM