每个人都曾去过太空,图表化

太空旅行者的人口结构随时间推移而变化

Detail of a violin chart shows the median going up over time and the range getting larger over time.

赞恩·沃尔夫

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1960年,没有人曾到过地球之外。现在,已有700多人飞越了50英里高的界线,这条界线在太空飞行刚开始时被认为是太空的边界。当时,只有苏联和美国这两个团队,而且几乎只有30岁左右的军人是参与者。从那时起,宇航员在许多方面变得多样化:来自47个国家的男性和女性已经到达太空,包括来自各大洲的居民,他们大多受雇于太空机构,有些则受雇于私营公司。然而,多样化并非一帆风顺:1963年,苏联将第一位女性送入太空,但在随后的几年里,总共只有五位女性宇航员升空,而每十年都有数十位男性宇航员升空。

太空访客的数量在20世纪90年代达到顶峰,当时美国国家航空航天局(NASA)平均每年执行六次航天飞机任务,每次通常搭载五到七名宇航员。第一架航天飞机于1981年发射,但在1986年挑战者号灾难后,该计划中断了近三年。当哥伦比亚号在返回地球的途中解体时,航天飞机机队再次停飞了两年多。

每年送入太空的宇航员的年龄分布


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此处显示了每年有人飞往太空时宇航员的年龄。每个斑点的宽度代表每个年龄段的飞行员人数。宇航员的平均年龄和年龄范围都随着时间的推移而逐渐上升。

Violin plot shows astronaut ages over time from 1961 to 2024. In 1961 the median age was 31. In 2024 it was 50.

赞恩·沃尔夫

按运营商划分的送入太空的宇航员人数(随时间推移)

多年来,NASA和俄罗斯航天局Roscosmos是世界上仅有的太空飞行实体。中国国家航天局于2003年发射了第一位宇航员。在NASA的航天飞机于2011年退役后,NASA购买了俄罗斯和后来的美国私人航天器的宇航员运输服务。

Chart shows number of astronauts that flew with each of seven operators over time. Up through the late 2010s public operators dominated (NASA, Roscosmos and CMSA). Private operators are now in the lead (Virgin Galactic, SpaceX and Blue Origins).

赞恩·沃尔夫

按公民身份地区和性别划分的宇航员人数(按十年)

黑色锯齿线分隔了太空旅行的十年。在每个区域内,显示了每个地理区域的太空旅行者人数,并按性别(实色为男性,条纹为女性)进行了细分。

Chart shows space travelers by decade, gender and region of citizenship. Russia and the U.S. were the only players in the 1960s (1 female and 76 male astronauts combined). The 1990s holds the largest number people in space. 2024 is shaping up to be the most diverse decade.

赞恩·沃尔夫

个人宇航员的任务数据

每个图块代表一位单独的太空飞行员。颜色和图块符号表示每个人的公民身份地区、性别、任务次数、太空停留时间、飞行类型以及公共或私人身份。白色线条标记了遇到的问题和在太空任务中丧生的宇航员,白色圆圈表示在新闻发布时(2024年12月)在太空中的宇航员。

Data for the 1960s is presented in this first in a series of seven charts. In 1961, four people experienced their first spaceflight. Valentina Tereshkova—the first female astronaut—flew in 1963. Three died on missions in this decade—Vladimir Komarov in 1964, Michael Adams in 1967 and Vladislav Volkov in 1969.
Data for the 1970s is presented in this second in a series of seven charts. A total of 47 people experienced their first spaceflight during this decade. All were male. Four were citizens of Europe/Central Asia, 19 were American, and 24 were Russian.
Data for the 1980s is presented in this third in a series of seven charts. Astronauts in this decade expanded to represent America, Russia, Canada, East Asia/Pacific, Europe/Central Asia, Latin America/Caribbean, the Middle East/North Africa and dual citizens.
Data for the 1990s is presented in this fourth in a series of seven charts. This decade holds a total of 172 first time fliers, including American Frederick W. Sturckow, who would eventually complete 4 public missions and 6 private ones.
Data for the 2000s is presented in this fifth in a series of seven charts. Three first time fliers from this decade would go on to several additional missions. Three are currently in space: Donald R. Pettit (on his 4th mission), Sunita L. Williams (3rd) and Butch Wilmore (3rd).
Data for the 2010s is presented in this sixth in a series of seven charts. This decade contains 58 first time fliers, the fewest number since the 1970s, which held 47.
Data for 2020 through 2024 is presented in this seventh in a series of seven charts. This decade ushers in the rise of private operator first-time fliers. 108 (out of 139) made their first flight with a private operator.

赞恩·沃尔夫

克拉拉·莫斯科维茨《大众科学》的高级编辑,她在那里负责报道天文学、太空、物理学和数学。她在《大众科学》工作了十年;此前她曾在Space.com工作。莫斯科维茨曾对火箭发射、航天飞机升空和着陆、亚轨道太空飞行训练、山顶天文台等进行过现场报道。她拥有卫斯理大学的天文学和物理学学士学位,以及加州大学圣克鲁兹分校的科学传播研究生学位。

更多作者:克拉拉·莫斯科维茨

赞恩·沃尔夫《大众科学》当前的图形实习生。她拥有跨学科研究背景,包括动物行为、软体机器人和天体物理学,目前专注于与科学传播相关的数据叙事。

更多作者:赞恩·沃尔夫
大众科学 Magazine Vol 332 Issue 2本文最初以“宇航员俱乐部”为标题发表于《大众科学》杂志 第332卷第2期(),第88页
doi:10.1038/scientificamerican022025-LZ8uxT6kydMF8ej8rDLA4
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