Category: Cradle of Astronauts

Purdue alumni Rob Lantz, Jason Endsley and Emily Spreen stand next to a practice Orion crew module

article | Experience

Purdue alums waiting to help Artemis astronauts return home safely

The Landing and Recovery Operations team spent years preparing for Artemis II splashdown.
Astronaut Gus Grissom and the Liberty Bell 7

article | Experience

Remembering an American hero: Purdue’s first astronaut, Gus Grissom

Purdue astronaut Gus Grissom would have celebrated his 100th birthday on April 3, 2026.
Sunrise over Earth.

video

Purdue University is the Cradle of Astronauts®

Explore space with Boilermakers past and present. When it comes to space exploration, Purdue University stands out — 30 astronauts strong. Neil Armstrong (BS aeronautical engineering ’55) was the first person to walk on the #moon. Eugene Cernan (BS electrical...

video | Experience

How Purdue astronaut Neil Armstrong’s giant leap still inspires us today

Purdue created the Neil Armstrong Space Prize to pay tribute to the spirit of discovery that drove Armstrong throughout his life On July 20, 1969, Purdue engineer Neil Armstrong took arguably the most famous single step in human history.  But...
Images from the life of Purdue astronaut Neil Armstrong

article | Experience

How Neil Armstrong ‘spawned lots of aerospace engineers’ with one giant leap

Only a few events are so important that all of humanity uses them to mark time.
Dayle and Claire Alexander pose in front of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket

article | Experience

Identical twin alumnae help Blue Origin, New Glenn shoot for the stars

The thrill of the New Glenn launch was nothing new for sisters Dayle and Claire Alexander.
A photo illustration of children wearing astronaut uniforms

article | Experience

‘Space is for everyone’

Sharon Hagle wants kids to think differently about what it means to be a space explorer.

podcast | Education

Podcast Ep. 119: ‘Boilers to Mars’ Film Premiere Panel with Former NASA Astronaut Drew Feustel, Purdue Professors Briony Horgan and Marshall Porterfield, and SpaceKids Global Founders Marc and Sharon Hagle

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to former NASA astronaut and Purdue University Presidential Ambassador Drew Feustel (BS solid earth sciences ’89, MS geophysics ’91), Purdue professors and NASA contributors Briony Horgan and Marshall Porterfield, and SpaceKids...
boilers to mars

video | Experience

Boilers to Mars

A legacy of innovation for over 155 years. A fictional crew of four Boilermakers. A first-of-its-kind story, told in just 10 minutes. Purdue University presents “Boilers to Mars.” The university’s short film explores what it will take to go to...
Members of Purdue’s Cradle of Astronauts

podcast | Education

Podcast Ep. 107: Astronaut Panel From the Total Solar Eclipse Event at IMS, Presented by Purdue University

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to five members of Purdue’s Cradle of Astronauts: Sirisha Bandla (BS aeronautical and astronautical engineering ’11), Drew Feustel (BS solid earth sciences ’89, MS geophysics ’91), Beth Moses (BS aeronautical and...
Julie Kramer White, director of engineering for NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

article | Education

Purdue alumna is leading NASA to the moon, Mars and beyond

Julie Kramer White (BSAAE ’90) is the director of engineering for all of Johnson Space Center.
Audrey Powers at Purdue’s Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering

article | Education

Audrey Powers ‘overwhelmed’ to join Purdue’s Cradle of Astronauts

By performing vital engineering work during Blue Origin’s New Shepard flight, Audrey Powers qualified as Purdue’s third commercial astronaut and 27th member of the Cradle of Astronauts.