Astronauts Who Have Returned Forever to Those Stars

Apollo 7's Last Survivor Cunningham Passes Away
Astronauts Lead Diverse Lives After Retirement
Armstrong Becomes Professor, Aldrin Promotes Space Exploration

Walter Cunningham, the last surviving crew member of the US 'Apollo 7,' passed away on the 3rd (local time). With his death, most of the first-generation astronauts who marked the dawn of the space exploration era have now passed away. We look back on the lives of astronauts who, even after achieving the milestone of being the first humans to leave Earth, did not neglect their lives on Earth.

Neil Armstrong, the First Human to Step on the Moon... Dedicated to Training Successors After Return

Apollo 11 crew members. From the left, Captain Neil Armstrong, Command Module Pilot Michael Collins, Lunar Module Pilot Buzz Aldrin. / Photo by Yonhap News

The most famous figure produced by the US 'Apollo Program,' which succeeded in humanity's first moon exploration, is Neil Armstrong. He was selected as a NASA astronaut in 1962 and became the commander of the manned lunar module Apollo 11 in 1969.

The spacecraft landed on the lunar surface at the 'Sea of Tranquility' on July 21 of that year, and Armstrong had the honor of being the first human to set foot on the moon. However, his life after returning to Earth was modest.

After retiring from NASA, he served as an advisor to the US Peace Corps, visiting several countries, and later worked quietly as a professor in the engineering department at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio, focusing on nurturing future generations. Armstrong passed away from natural causes on August 25, 2012, at the age of 82.

Buzz Aldrin, Who Followed Armstrong to the Moon... Ambassador for Space Business Promotion

Astronaut jacket of Aldrin sold for 2.7 million dollars (about 3.537 billion won) at Sotheby's auction in New York / Photo by Yonhap News

Buzz Aldrin was the first astronaut to land on the moon alongside Armstrong on Apollo 11 and was the second person to walk on the lunar surface. Although he did not claim the title of the very first, his passion for space did not fade even after taking off his spacesuit.

He engaged in various writings and broadcasting activities related to space development, advocating the importance of government investment in space to the general public, gaining fame comparable to Armstrong through these efforts.

For example, the toy character 'Buzz Lightyear' from the famous American animated series 'Toy Story' was inspired by Buzz Aldrin.

With Walter Cunningham's passing, Buzz Aldrin is now the only surviving member among the Apollo 7 and Apollo 11 crews.

Yuri Gagarin, the Soviet Union's First Cosmonaut, Tragically Died During Fighter Jet Training

The United States was not the only country leading the space race in the 1960s. The Soviet Union was a formidable rival, having successfully launched the world's first artificial satellite, 'Sputnik,' in 1957, causing the US to experience the 'Sputnik Shock.'

Moreover, the Soviet Union produced the world's first cosmonaut. Yuri Gagarin was the first human to orbit the Earth aboard a manned spacecraft.

After completing his spaceflight, Gagarin was celebrated as a hero in the Soviet Union, but unfortunately, he did not live to fully enjoy his honors. Gagarin died in a crash while training in a Soviet jet fighter, the MiG-15. He was only 34 years old at the time.

Walter Cunningham, Who Passed Away on the 3rd

Photo taken by Cunningham during the Apollo 7 mission / Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, after retiring from NASA in 1971, Cunningham worked as a venture businessman and investor. He also once hosted a radio talk show and published a book in 2010 reflecting on his spaceflight days.

After Cunningham's death, NASA issued a statement saying, "Cunningham was a fighter pilot, physicist, entrepreneur, and above all, an explorer." They added, "He made history with his colleagues and paved the way for today's 'Artemis Project' era. We will always remember his contributions."