American pioneers: That day, now

When the space exploration program became more popular and the number of astronauts from the US Aerospace Agency (NASA) exceeded 300, many names disappeared from public memory.

However, the names of some of the pioneering astronauts will forever be associated with NASA's 'golden era' of space exploration, including the following prominent names, according to news agency. AP.

Neil Armstrong: Commander of Apollo 11 mission and the first person to set foot on the Moon. Leaving NASA in 1971, he joined technical teaching at the University of Cincinnati and later became president of several electronic system companies. The famous astronaut died on August 25, at the age of 82.

Buzz Aldrin: The pilot piloted the Moon probe during the Apollo 11 mission and was the second to set foot on the Moon after Commander Neil Armstrong. After leaving NASA in 1971, he returned to serve the Air Force. The former astronaut has written many books, including books titled 'Return to Earth' and 'Men from the Earth' . Mr. Aldrin is now 82 years old, always supporting the US space exploration program as well as being frequently invited as a speaker on this issue.

Michael Collins: The pilot drove the compartment, equipment for the Apollo 11 mission. He was tasked with driving the spacecraft flying around the Moon while colleagues - Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin - landed on the planet. . Collins left NASA in 1970 and became the first director of the US National Air and Space Museum at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. He is the author of 'Bring fire' which is considered to be one of the best works of those who directly participated in the space exploration. The former astronaut is 81 years old.

Eugene Cernan: Apollo 17 mission commander in 1972 and the last astronaut to walk the Moon. He left NASA in 1973 and became a business leader. The former astronaut is 84 years old.

Alan Shepard: The first American to fly into space in a single orbit of Earth, lasting 15 minutes in 1961. Shepard returned to space in 1971 as the commander of the Apollo 14 mission and floated. known for a golf shot on the Moon. He retired from NASA in 1974 to start a business in Houston. The former astronaut died in 1998, aged 74 years.

John Young: The first person from Earth flew into space 6 times and 7 times if taking into account the take-off from the Moon in 1972. Mr. Young participated in a total of 2 missions of the Gemini spacecraft and 2 missions of Apollo, then appointed commander of Columbia's first space shuttle flight in 1981. The space astronaut's last space exploration flight was on the Columbia ship in 1983. Mr. Young, currently 8 1 year old, retired from NASA in 2004.