Seventeen U.S. astronauts have died in accidents aboard spaceships.
Despite extensive safety precautions and the expertise of thousands of engineers and scientists from NASA and private contractors, 17 U.S. astronauts have died in accidents aboard the space ship. This is a salute to those men and women, the best and brightest that this country has to offer, who perished during the 144 manned missions as they met the challenge of space with joy and hunger.