每個人都曾去過太空,圖表化

太空旅行者的人口結構隨時間推移而變化

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

贊恩·沃爾夫

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1960年,沒有人曾到過地球之外。現在,已有700多人飛越了50英里高的界線,這條界線在太空飛行剛開始時被認為是太空的邊界。當時,只有蘇聯和美國這兩個團隊,而且幾乎只有30歲左右的軍人是參與者。從那時起,宇航員在許多方面變得多樣化:來自47個國家的男性和女性已經到達太空,包括來自各大洲的居民,他們大多受僱於太空機構,有些則受僱於私營公司。然而,多樣化並非一帆風順:1963年,蘇聯將第一位女性送入太空,但在隨後的幾年裡,總共只有五位女性宇航員升空,而每十年都有數十位男性宇航員升空。

太空訪客的數量在20世紀90年代達到頂峰,當時美國國家航空航天局(NASA)平均每年執行六次太空梭任務,每次通常搭載五到七名宇航員。第一架太空梭於1981年發射,但在1986年挑戰者號災難後,該計劃中斷了近三年。當哥倫比亞號在返回地球的途中解體時,太空梭機隊再次停飛了兩年多。

每年送入太空的宇航員的年齡分佈


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此處顯示了每年有人飛往太空時宇航員的年齡。每個斑點的寬度代表每個年齡段的飛行員人數。宇航員的平均年齡和年齡範圍都隨著時間的推移而逐漸上升。

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

贊恩·沃爾夫

按運營商劃分的送入太空的宇航員人數(隨時間推移)

多年來,NASA和俄羅斯航天局Roscosmos是世界上僅有的太空飛行實體。中國國家航天局於2003年發射了第一位宇航員。在NASA的太空梭於2011年退役後,NASA購買了俄羅斯和後來的美國私人航天器的宇航員運輸服務。

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).

贊恩·沃爾夫

按公民身份地區和性別劃分的宇航員人數(按十年)

黑色鋸齒線分隔了太空旅行的十年。在每個區域內,顯示了每個地理區域的太空旅行者人數,並按性別(實色為男性,條紋為女性)進行了細分。

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.

贊恩·沃爾夫

個人宇航員的任務資料

每個圖塊代表一位單獨的太空飛行員。顏色和圖塊符號表示每個人的公民身份地區、性別、任務次數、太空停留時間、飛行型別以及公共或私人身份。白色線條標記了遇到的問題和在太空任務中喪生的宇航員,白色圓圈表示在新聞釋出時(2024年12月)在太空中的宇航員。

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.

贊恩·沃爾夫

克拉拉·莫斯科維茨《大眾科學》的高階編輯,她在那裡負責報道天文學、太空、物理學和數學。她在《大眾科學》工作了十年;此前她曾在Space.com工作。莫斯科維茨曾對火箭發射、太空梭升空和著陸、亞軌道太空飛行訓練、山頂天文臺等進行過現場報道。她擁有衛斯理大學的天文學和物理學學士學位,以及加州大學聖克魯茲分校的科學傳播研究生學位。

更多作者:克拉拉·莫斯科維茨

贊恩·沃爾夫《大眾科學》當前的圖形實習生。她擁有跨學科研究背景,包括動物行為、軟體機器人和天體物理學,目前專注於與科學傳播相關的資料敘事。

更多作者:贊恩·沃爾夫
大眾科學 Magazine Vol 332 Issue 2本文最初以“宇航員俱樂部”為標題發表於《大眾科學》雜誌 第332卷第2期(),第88頁
doi:10.1038/scientificamerican022025-LZ8uxT6kydMF8ej8rDLA4
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