Huntsville in Madison County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Astronaut Facts

U.S. Space & Rocket Center

Photographed by Sandra Hughes Tidwell, May 20, 2024

1. Astronaut Facts Marker

Inscription. Of the 355 individuals that flew on NASA's Space Shuttles, 306 were men and 49 were women. Over the course of the program, astronauts from 16 different countries flew Shuttle missions. Sally Ride became the first American woman in space when she flew STS-7 in 1983. Space Camp alumni, Dr. Sandra Magnus (STS-112, STS-126, STS/WLF7) and Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger (STS-131) flew Shuttles to the ISS. Astronauts Jerry Ross and Franklin Chang-Diaz flew the most Shuttle missions with seven each. Story Musgrave is the only astronaut to have flown on all five Shuttles.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Exploration. A significant historical year for this entry is 1985.

Location. 34° 42.639′ N, 86° 39.174′ W. Marker is in Huntsville, Alabama, in Madison County. It is on Tranquility Base west of Old Madison Pike. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Tranquility Base, Huntsville AL 35805, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Alabama.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Discovery, OV-103 (here, next to this marker); The Orbiter (here, next to this marker); Seasoned Global Traveler (here, next to this marker); Atlantis, OV-104 (a few steps from this marker); Flight Span 30 Years (a few

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steps from this marker); Main Engines (within shouting distance of this marker); Pathfinder Orbiter (within shouting distance of this marker); External Tank (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Huntsville.

Also see . . . . STS-1: Astronaut Bob Crippen Remembers the Ride of His Life

Forty years ago, on April 12, 1981, NASA’s Space Shuttle Columbia, attached to an external tank and twin solid rocket boosters, lifted off on the first shuttle mission, STS-1, at 7 a.m. Eastern, from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This historic flight paired veteran astronaut and Commander John W. Young with Pilot Robert L. Crippen, who was heading to orbit for the first time.

(Submitted on May 28, 2024, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA.)

Photographed by Craig Baker

2. Astronaut Facts Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 9, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 28, 2024, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 313 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 28, 2024, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. 2. submitted on July 9, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.