{"id":144,"date":"2024-02-01T19:51:23","date_gmt":"2024-02-01T19:51:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/space\/?page_id=144"},"modified":"2026-01-06T18:07:38","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T18:07:38","slug":"purdues-enduring-legacy-in-space-exploration","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/space\/","title":{"rendered":"Purdue\u2019s Enduring Legacy In Space Exploration\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n    <div  class=\"purdue-home-diagonal-hero has-black-background image-align-left-desktop\">\n        <div class=\"section has-padding-top-large has-padding-bottom-large\">\n            <div class=\"purdue-home-diagonal-hero__content\">\n                \n                                                        <h1 class=\"second-level-page-heading purdue-home-diagonal-hero__header\">Purdue\u2019s Enduring Legacy In Space Exploration<\/h1>\n                \n                                    <div class=\"purdue-home-diagonal-hero__subtext\">\n\n                        \n<p>Purdue is known as the Cradle of Astronauts\u00ae because of its extraordinary influence on the U.S. space program, specifically the 30 Boilermakers who have been chosen to become astronauts. Today\u2019s generation of Boilermakers extends that proud tradition by contributing to projects \u2014 from the James Webb Space Telescope, to our return to the Moon, to future missions to Mars and beyond \u2014 that will further expand humankind\u2019s understanding of the cosmos.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n                    <\/div>\n                \n                                    <ul class=\"purdue-home-button-list\">\n                                                                                <li class=\"\"><a class=\"purdue-home-button purdue-home-button--white\" href=\"\/space\/astronauts\/\" target=\"_self\">Read Astronaut Bios<\/a><\/li>\n                                            <\/ul>\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"image\">\n                            <video class=\"\" autoplay preload=\"metadata\" title=\"space_homepage_looping_video_1\" loop muted playsinline=\"\">\n                    <source src=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/space_homepage_looping_video_1.mp4#t=0.1\">\n                <\/video>\n                <button class=\"cta-btnctrl cta-pause\" aria-label=\"Pause Video\" data-toggle-label=\"Play Video\">\n                    <i class=\"fa-regular fa-circle-pause cta-pause-icon\"><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n<div class=\"purdue-home-video-embed \">\n        <div class=\"section has-black-background has-padding-top-large has-padding-bottom-large\">\n        <div class=\"container is-16by9\">\n                        <div class=\"tagged-header-container\">\n                <h2 class=\"tagged-header purdue-home-video-embed__header\">THE CRADLE OF ASTRONAUTS<\/h2>\n            <\/div>\n            \n            <div class=\"purdue-home-cta-card purdue-home-cta-card--horizontal purdue-home-cta-card--video\">\n    <div class=\"image is-16by9\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"purdue-home-background-image\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/ENG-23-639206-Space-Website-Rebrand-Cradle-Astronauts-Video-Thumbnail.jpg\" \/>\n            <\/div>\n    <div class=\"flex-container flex-container--align-center\">\n        <span class=\"cta-link purdue-home-cta-card__link\">Watch Video<\/span>\n        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"cta-icon cta-icon--play\" src=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/space\/wp-content\/themes\/purdue-home-theme\/imgs\/play_icon_gold.svg\" alt=\"\">                                       \n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"iframe-container is-sr-only\">\n        <div class=\"youtube-video\" id=\"z_1UqAX7z9s\" data-title=\"ENG-23-639206-Space-Website-Rebrand-Cradle-Astronauts-Video-Thumbnail\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/z_1UqAX7z9s?rel=0&#038;autoplay=1&#038;enablejsapi=1&#038;mute=1&#038;origin=https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\"><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n<div  class=\"purdue-home-news-and-events  post-50-50\">\n    <div class=\"section\">\n                <div class=\"container\">\n                        <div class=\"tagged-header-container\">\n                <h2 class=\"tagged-header purdue-home-news-events__header--tagged\">FEATURED STORIES                <\/h2>\n            <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                <div class=\"container\">\n            <div class=\"columns is-multiline\">\n                                <div class=\"column\">\n                                        <div class=\"glide purdue-home-slider--news\">\n                        <div class=\"glide__track\" data-glide-el=\"track\">\n                            <div class=\"glide__slides\">\n                                                                <div class=\"glide__slide\">\n                                                                        <div class=\"purdue-home-cta-card purdue-home-cta-card--news purdue-home-cta-card--story\">\n                                        <div class=\"image is-16by9\">\n                                                                                        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"purdue-home-background-image\" alt=\"\"\n                                                src=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ArtemisIIAlumni-StoryPhotos-mokcup-crop-Hero.jpg\" \/>\n                                                                                    <\/div>\n                                                                                <div\n                                            class=\"flex-container flex-container--align-vertical-bottom post-type-article\">\n                                            <a class=\"purdue-home-news-events__content\" href=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/space\/purdue-alums-help-artemis-astronauts-return-home-safely\/\"\n                                                target=\"_self\">\n                                                <h3 class=\"purdue-home-news-events__title\">Purdue alums help Artemis astronauts return home safely<\/h3>\n                                                                                                <p class=\"purdue-home-news-events__date\">\n                                                                                                                                                            <span class=\"purdue-tax-tag\">Purdue News<\/span>                                                <\/p>\n                                                                                            <\/a>\n                                        <\/div>\n\n                                                                            <\/div>\n                                <\/div>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                                <div class=\"column\">\n                    <div class=\"purdue-home-news-events__list  post-type-article  is-50-50\">\n    <div class=\"flex-container flex-container--align-center\">\n        <div class=\"columns\">\n                        <div class=\"column is-4 is-hidden-tablet-only\">\n                                <div class=\"image is-16by9\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"purdue-home-background-image\" alt=\"\"\n                        src=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Astronaut-Gus-Grissom-Liberty-Bell-7-Capsule-1536x864-1.jpg\" \/>\n                <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                        <a class=\"column\" href=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/space\/remembering-an-american-hero-purdues-first-astronaut-gus-grissom\/\" target=\"_self\">\n                <h3 class=\"purdue-home-news-events__title\">Remembering an American hero: Purdue\u2019s first astronaut, Gus Grissom<\/h3>\n                                <p class=\"purdue-home-news-events__date\">\n                                                            <span class=\"purdue-tax-tag\">Purdue News<\/span><\/p>\n                            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"purdue-home-news-events__list  post-type-article  is-50-50\">\n    <div class=\"flex-container flex-container--align-center\">\n        <div class=\"columns\">\n                        <div class=\"column is-4 is-hidden-tablet-only\">\n                                <div class=\"image is-16by9\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"purdue-home-background-image\" alt=\"\"\n                        src=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/frueh-spacedebris.jpg\" \/>\n                <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                        <a class=\"column\" href=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/space\/limiting-space-junk-in-the-earth-moon-neighborhood\/\" target=\"_self\">\n                <h3 class=\"purdue-home-news-events__title\">Limiting space junk in the Earth-moon neighborhood<\/h3>\n                                <p class=\"purdue-home-news-events__date\">\n                                                            <span class=\"purdue-tax-tag\">Purdue Aeronautics and Astronautics<\/span><\/p>\n                            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"purdue-home-news-events__list  post-type-article  is-50-50\">\n    <div class=\"flex-container flex-container--align-center\">\n        <div class=\"columns\">\n                        <div class=\"column is-4 is-hidden-tablet-only\">\n                                <div class=\"image is-16by9\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"purdue-home-background-image\" alt=\"\"\n                        src=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ajay.jpg\" \/>\n                <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                        <a class=\"column\" href=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/space\/two-more-experiments-for-virgin-galactic-flight-to-highlight-in-space-manufacturing-and-quantum-technology\/\" target=\"_self\">\n                <h3 class=\"purdue-home-news-events__title\">Two more experiments for Virgin Galactic flight to highlight in-space manufacturing and quantum technology<\/h3>\n                                <p class=\"purdue-home-news-events__date\">\n                                                            <span class=\"purdue-tax-tag\">Purdue News<\/span><\/p>\n                            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n                            <a class=\"purdue-home-button purdue-home-news-events__list-button purdue-home-button--black\"\n                                href=\"\/space\/stories\/\" target=\"_self\">View ALL Stories<\/a>\n                                            <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- Print iframes -->\n\n\n<div  class=\"purdue-home-two-column-cta \">\n            <div class=\"purdue-home-two-column-cta__cards\">\n                            <div class=\"purdue-home-cta-card purdue-home-cta-card--vertical\">\n                    <figure class=\"image is-4by3\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"purdue-home-background-image\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/ENG-23-639206-Space-Website-Rebrand-History-50-50-block.jpg\" \/>\n                    <\/figure>\n                    <div class=\"flex-container flex-container--align-center\">\n                        <h2 class=\"purdue-home-two-column-cta__card-title\">History in Space<\/h2>\n                                                    <p class=\"purdue-home-two-column-cta__card-subtext\">Take a journey along a timeline that traces Boilermakers\u2019 historic accomplishments in space exploration. <\/p>\n                                                                            <a class=\"purdue-home-button\" href=\"\/space\/history\/\" target=\"_self\" >Learn more<\/a>\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"purdue-home-cta-card purdue-home-cta-card--vertical\">\n                    <figure class=\"image is-4by3\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"purdue-home-background-image\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/PurdueBoilersToMarsAstronauts-1.jpeg\" \/>\n                    <\/figure>\n                    <div class=\"flex-container flex-container--align-center\">\n                        <h2 class=\"purdue-home-two-column-cta__card-title\">Boilers to Mars<\/h2>\n                                                    <p class=\"purdue-home-two-column-cta__card-subtext\">What will it take to go first? \u201cBoilers to Mars,\u201d Purdue&#8217;s first short film, explores space like never before.<\/p>\n                                                                            <a class=\"purdue-home-button\" href=\"https:\/\/boilerstomars.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Learn more (Opens in a new tab)\">Learn more<\/a>\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"coauthors":[108],"class_list":["post-144","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/space\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/144","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/space\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/space\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/space\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/space\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=144"}],"version-history":[{"count":40,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/space\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/144\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1417,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/space\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/144\/revisions\/1417"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/space\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=144"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/space\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=144"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}