{"id":177,"date":"2024-02-01T21:17:17","date_gmt":"2024-02-01T21:17:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/space\/?page_id=177"},"modified":"2025-08-15T01:27:19","modified_gmt":"2025-08-15T01:27:19","slug":"history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/space\/history\/","title":{"rendered":"One Giant Leap After Another: Purdue\u2019s Space Timeline"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n \"\"\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n \n

One Giant Leap After Another: Purdue\u2019s Space Timeline<\/h1>\n \n

Purdue has played a pivotal role in shaping the future of space exploration. Take a journey through the university\u2019s history, tracing the milestone events along a timeline that resulted in Purdue becoming known as the Cradle of Astronauts\u2122.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n

\n
\n
\n \"\"\/\n <\/figure>\n
\n \"\"\/\n <\/figure>\n
\n \"\"\/\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

START HERE<\/h2>\n
\n \n\n

<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n \"\"\n
\n
\n Watch Video<\/span>\n \"\" \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/figure>\n
\n

1946 <\/p>\n \n

\n Zucrow arrives at Purdue <\/h3>\n\n

Maurice J. Zucrow (Ph.D. ’28) joins Purdue\u2019s faculty as a professor of gas turbines and jet propulsion. He becomes the first professor at an American university to teach a course on jet and rocket propulsion, and writes the field\u2019s first textbook. The “Rocket Lab” he founded at Purdue is now the largest academic propulsion lab in the world.<\/p>\n Zucrow Labs Today<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

1947 <\/p>\n \n

\n Armstrong enrolls <\/h3>\n\n

Neil Armstrong<\/a> (BSAE \u201955) enrolls at Purdue at age 17. After serving as a naval aviator in 1951-52 during the Korean War, Armstrong returns to Purdue and graduates in 1955 with a degree in aeronautical engineering. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n \"Iven\n <\/figure>\n
\n

September 7, 1956<\/p>\n \n

\n The Proto-Astronauts <\/h3>\n\n

Iven Kincheloe Jr.<\/a> (BSAE ’49) flies the experimental Bell X-2 twenty miles above the earth, the first pilot to ever accomplish the feat. He was nicknamed “America’s No. 1 Spaceman,” and had the inside track to early astronaut training, before a test flight crash took his life in 1958.\n\nKincheloe was one of several proto-astronauts from Purdue, including Henry C. Gordon<\/a>, who trained alongside Neil Armstrong in the Dyna-Soar program; and Pete Knight<\/a>, who received Astronaut Wings for flying the X-15 at Mach 6.7 (4,520 mph), still the fastest manned aircraft flight in history.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

April 9, 1959 <\/p>\n \n

\n Grissom joins Mercury 7 <\/h3>\n\n

Virgil \u201cGus\u201d Grissom<\/a> (BSME \u201950) becomes a member of the Mercury Seven \u2014 the group of astronauts selected to make the United States\u2019 first attempt at manned spaceflight. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

June 16, 1961 <\/p>\n \n

\n Outlining Kennedy\u2019s vision <\/h3>\n\n

Bill Fleming (BSAE \u201943) and his task force produce \u201cA Feasible Approach for an Early Manned Lunar Landing.\u201d The document outlines the tasks, personnel and time frame necessary to achieve President John F. Kennedy\u2019s goal of putting a man on the moon by the end of the 1960s. <\/p>\n More on the “Roadmap to the Moon”<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n \"\"\n <\/figure>\n
\n

July 21, 1961 <\/p>\n \n

\n Grissom travels to space <\/h3>\n\n

Gus Grissom<\/a> becomes the second American to travel into space \u2014 and third person of any nationality \u2014 when he pilots the Liberty Bell 7 spacecraft on a 15-minute suborbital flight as part of Project Mercury. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

March 23, 1965 <\/p>\n \n

\n Gemini 3 mission <\/h3>\n\n

Gus Grissom<\/a> serves as command pilot on Gemini 3, the first crewed Project Gemini flight. Grissom and John Young make three revolutions of Earth during a mission that lasts nearly five hours. The mission makes Grissom the first NASA astronaut to travel into space twice. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

March 16, 1966 <\/p>\n \n

\n First successful docking <\/h3>\n\n

During the Gemini 8 mission, Neil Armstrong<\/a> performs the first successful docking of two vehicles in space. Armstrong becomes the first American civilian to travel in orbit (having resigned his Navy commission six years earlier).<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

June 5, 1966 <\/p>\n \n

\n Second American spacewalk <\/h3>\n\n

Eugene Cernan<\/a> (BSEE \u201956) becomes the second American to walk in space during the Gemini 9 mission. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n \"\"\n <\/figure>\n
\n

Jan. 27, 1967 <\/p>\n \n

\n Apollo 1 fire <\/h3>\n\n

Three astronauts \u2014 including Purdue alums Gus Grissom<\/a> and Roger Chaffee<\/a> (BSAE \u201957) \u2014 are killed in a fire during prelaunch testing for the Apollo 1 mission. In 1968, Purdue named two campus buildings, Grissom Hall and Chaffee Hall, in memory of the two Boilermaker astronauts. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

May 22, 1969 <\/p>\n \n

\n Cernan sets the stage <\/h3>\n\n

During the Apollo 10 mission, Eugene Cernan<\/a> pilots the Snoopy lunar module to within approximately 8 miles of the lunar surface. This final test run sets the stage for Neil Armstrong and Apollo 11 to make the first lunar landing two months later. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n \"\"\n <\/figure>\n
\n

July 20, 1969 <\/p>\n \n

\n Armstrong\u2019s giant leap <\/h3>\n\n

During the Apollo 11 mission, Neil Armstrong<\/a> becomes the first human to set foot on the lunar surface, speaking the famous words, \u201cThat\u2019s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.\u201d <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n \"\"\n <\/figure>\n
\n

Dec. 14, 1972 <\/p>\n \n

\n Cernan walks on the moon <\/h3>\n\n

Eugene Cernan<\/a> becomes the most recent human to set foot on the moon. As commander of the Apollo 17 mission, Cernan is responsible for a number of record-setting achievements (including three extravehicular activities) during three days of surface activity. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

Aug. 30, 1984 <\/p>\n \n

\n First industry-sponsored astronaut <\/h3>\n\n

Charles Walker<\/a> (BSAAE \u201971) becomes the first industry-sponsored astronaut to fly on the space shuttle when he participates in the STS-41-D mission. A McDonnell Douglas employee, Walker operates the company\u2019s continuous-flow electrophoresis device (which he helped develop and has a patent for) during three shuttle missions. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n \"\"\n
\n
\n Watch Video<\/span>\n \"\" \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/figure>\n
\n

Nov. 26, 1985 <\/p>\n \n

\n Ross makes first spaceflight <\/h3>\n\n

Jerry Ross<\/a> (BSME \u201970, MSME \u201972) launches aboard his first space mission, STS-61-B. When he retires from NASA in 2012, Ross is the only person to have made seven spaceflights and ranks among history\u2019s most experienced spacewalkers (58 hours, 18 minutes spent on nine spacewalks). <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

Oct. 18-23, 1989 <\/p>\n \n

\n Deploying Galileo probe <\/h3>\n\n

Donald Williams<\/a> (BSME \u201964) serves as a commander and Michael McCulley<\/a> (BSMSE \u201970, MSMSE \u201970) as pilot on the STS-34 mission. Their crew successfully deploys the Galileo probe to travel to Jupiter. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

April 24-29, 1990 <\/p>\n \n

\n Deploying Hubble telescope <\/h3>\n\n

Loren Shriver<\/a> (MSAAE \u201968) commands the STS-31 mission, which deploys the Hubble Space Telescope. The Hubble provides a deep view into space that has led to numerous breakthroughs in astrophysics. In the process, Shriver commands the Shuttle to an altitude of 386 miles, the farthest altitude ever flown by the Shuttle.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n \"\"\n <\/figure>\n
\n

June 21, 1993 <\/p>\n \n

\n Voss becomes first Purdue woman in space <\/h3>\n\n

Janice Voss<\/a> (BSES \u201975) becomes the first Purdue woman to travel to space, conducting biomedical and material science experiments in the first Spacehab module during the STS-57 mission. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

July 13, 1995 <\/p>\n \n

\n Weber is Purdue\u2019s second female astronaut <\/h3>\n\n

Mary Ellen Weber<\/a> (BSChE \u201984), Purdue\u2019s second woman astronaut, launches on the STS-70 mission, the first of her two NASA spaceflights. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

May 19-29, 1996 <\/p>\n \n

\n Casper\u2019s record-setting final mission <\/h3>\n\n

John Casper<\/a> (MSAAE \u201967) commands his final space shuttle mission, STS-77, during which his crew performs a record number of rendezvous sequences. Casper logs more than 825 hours in space across four shuttle missions. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

Dec. 15, 1996 <\/p>\n \n

\n A commencement message from space <\/h3>\n\n

John Blaha<\/a> (MSAAE \u201966) sends a special message via satellite from the Russian space station Mir to Purdue\u2019s fall commencement graduates \u2014 one of whom is his daughter Carolyn. Blaha participates in five NASA missions, including as commander on STS-58, widely recognized as NASA\u2019s most successful Spacelab flight. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n \"\"\n <\/figure>\n
\n

Feb. 15-17, 1997 <\/p>\n \n

\n Pushing Hubble even higher <\/h3>\n\n

During STS-82 (his fourth space shuttle mission), Gregory Harbaugh<\/a> (BSAAE \u201978) participates in two spacewalks (totaling 14 hours, 1 minute) while doing upgrades and repairs on the Hubble Space Telescope. Afterward, the telescope is redeployed and reaches its highest orbit ever. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

Nov. 4, 1997 <\/p>\n \n

\n First American to vote from space <\/h3>\n\n

While aboard the Russian space station Mir, David Wolf<\/a> (BSEE \u201978) votes in a local election in Houston, Texas, becoming the first American to cast a vote from space. Wolf is aboard Mir for 128 days during the mission \u2014 one of his four missions where he totals 41 hours, 17 minutes over seven spacewalks. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

Feb. 11-22, 2000 <\/p>\n \n

\n Mapping the Earth\u2019s surface <\/h3>\n\n

During STS-99 (her fifth and final NASA mission), Janice Voss<\/a> and her crewmates map more than 47 million square miles of the Earth\u2019s land surface using synthetic aperture radar, creating the most comprehensive three-dimensional map of the Earth\u2019s surface to date.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

Feb. 7-20, 2001 <\/p>\n \n

\n First person of Korean ancestry in space <\/h3>\n\n

While piloting Space Shuttle Atlantis on STS-98, Mark Polansky<\/a> (BSAAE \u201978, MSAAE \u201978) becomes the first person of Korean ancestry to travel into space. Polansky serves on three NASA missions between 2001-09, each of which helps build and service the International Space Station. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n \"\"\n <\/figure>\n
\n

Oct. 27, 2007 <\/p>\n \n

\n Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering opens <\/h3>\n\n

Purdue dedicates the Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering, the flagship of the College of Engineering. Sixteen Purdue astronauts, including Neil Armstrong and Eugene Cernan, attend the dedication ceremony. <\/p>\n Watch the grand opening with Neil Armstrong<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

May 14-18, 2009 <\/p>\n \n

\n Feustel\u2019s spacewalks help Hubble <\/h3>\n\n

Andrew Feustel<\/a> (BSEAS \u201989, MSEAS \u201991) performs three spacewalks totaling 20 hours, 58 minutes during the STS-125 mission to the Hubble Space Telescope that extends and improves the observatory\u2019s capabilities. In three NASA missions, Feustel totals nine EVAs (61 hours, 48 minutes). <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n \"VOSS\n <\/figure>\n
\n

April 18, 2015 <\/p>\n \n

\n VOSS Model debuts <\/h3>\n\n

Purdue dedicates the VOSS (Visiting our Solar System) Model in Discovery Park District at Purdue. Named in honor of Boilermaker astronaut Janice Voss, the scale model of our solar system represents 5.4 million miles traveled in space for each foot visitors walk around the spiral. <\/p>\n Visit the VOSS Model<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n \"\"\n <\/figure>\n
\n

May 11, 2018 <\/p>\n \n

\n Honorary doctorate awarded aboard the ISS <\/h3>\n\n

Scott Tingle<\/a> (MSME \u201988) places the ceremonial hood on fellow Boilermaker astronaut Andrew Feustel<\/a> as Feustel accepts an honorary Doctor of Science degree via satellite uplink from the International Space Station during Purdue\u2019s spring commencement. <\/p>\n Drew’s journey<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

Feb. 22, 2019 <\/p>\n \n

\n First female commercial astronaut <\/h3>\n\n

Purdue’s first commercial astronaut, Beth Moses<\/a> (BSAAE \u201992, MSAAE \u201994) becomes the first ever female commercial astronaut on Virgin Galactic\u2019s VSS Unity VF-01. She is also the first person in history to unbuckle and float around on a suborbital spaceflight.<\/p>\n Beth’s journey<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n \"\"\n <\/figure>\n
\n

July 11, 2021 <\/p>\n \n

\n Moses, Bandla make fully crewed commercial spaceflight <\/h3>\n\n

Aboard Virgin Galactic\u2019s Unity 22 flight, Beth Moses<\/a> and Sirisha Bandla<\/a> (BSAAE \u201911) join Richard Branson as part of the first fully crewed commercial spaceflight.<\/p>\n Sirisha’s journey<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

Oct. 13, 2021 <\/p>\n \n

\n Powers joins Captain Kirk in space <\/h3>\n\n

Audrey Powers<\/a> (BSAAE \u201999) and a crew that includes \u201cStar Trek\u201d actor William Shatner make the second human spaceflight of Blue Origin\u2019s New Shepard spacecraft. Powers becomes the 27th graduate to join Purdue\u2019s Cradle of Astronauts\u2122. <\/p>\n Audrey’s journey<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n \"Marc\n <\/figure>\n
\n

March 31, 2022 <\/p>\n \n

\n First married couple on commercial spaceflight <\/h3>\n\n

Aboard the Blue Origin NS-20 suborbital flight, Purdue alum Marc Hagle<\/a> (BSEE \u201971, MS industrial administration \u201972) and his wife, Sharon, become the first married couple to travel on a commercial spaceflight. On Nov. 22, 2024, the Hagles\u2019 Blue Origin NS-28 flight makes them the first married couple to go to space twice. <\/p>\n Meet the Hagles<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n \"\"\n <\/figure>\n
\n

Sept. 15, 2023 <\/p>\n \n

\n O\u2019Hara launches to ISS <\/h3>\n\n

Loral O\u2019Hara<\/a> (MSAAE \u201909) launches aboard the Russian Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station as part of Expedition 69\/70. O\u2019Hara becomes Purdue\u2019s third female NASA astronaut \u2014 and sixth woman graduate \u2014 to travel into space. <\/p>\n Loral’s journey<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n \"Space\n <\/figure>\n
\n

July 20, 2025 <\/p>\n \n

\n Purdue launches the Neil Armstrong Space Prize <\/h3>\n\n

On the 56th anniversary of Boilermaker astronaut Neil Armstrong\u2019s first steps on the lunar surface, Purdue introduces the Neil Armstrong Space Prize<\/a>. The prestigious award will go to innovators who share Armstrong\u2019s spirit of discovery and whose work will help humankind make its next giant leaps in space.<\/p>\n Watch video<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n <\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n <\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\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-177","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/space\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/177","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=177"}],"version-history":[{"count":101,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/space\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/177\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1301,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/space\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/177\/revisions\/1301"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/space\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=177"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/space\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=177"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}