“Talk about a selfie!” wrote former astronaut Clay Anderson on Twitter Oct. 1. He posted that comment along with a favorite photo from Expedition 15, when he was standing in restraints on the robotic Canadarm2. Off in the distance, he saw his shadow against the solar array panels of a Soyuz spacecraft.
That got us thinking — what are the best astronaut selfies? Below are some of our favorites (some intentional, some not) from over the years.
Clay Anderson’s shadow during a spacewalk he took in July 2007, while he was part of Expedition 15. NASAClay AndersonJAXA astronaut Aki Hoshide takes a self-portrait during Expedition 32 in September 2012. “Visible in this outworldly assemblage is the Sun, the Earth, two portions of a robotic arm, an astronaut’s spacesuit, the deep darkness of space, and the unusual cam. NASAAki HoshideApollo 12′s Pete Conrad is visible in the helmet of crewmate Al Bean during their moon landing in November 1969. NASAPete ConradExpedition 15 crewmember and NASA astronaut Clay Anderson nabbed this self-portrait during a spacewalk in August 2007. NASAClay AndersonSelf-portrait of Expedition 36/37 European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano during a July 2013 spacewalk. NASALuca ParmitanoAl Shepard raises the American flag during Apollo 14 in February 1971. Below is the shadow of his crewmate, Ed Mitchell. NASAEd MitchellNASA astronaut Mike Fossum grabbed this self-portrait in July 2011, with space shuttle Atlantis visible in the background. NASAMike FossumNASA astronaut Joe Tanner grabs a helmet shot during a spacewalk on STS-115 in September 2006. NASAJoe TannerMike Fossum, a mission specialist on STS-121, took this shot in July 2006. In the visor you can see space shuttle Discovery, part of the International Space Station and fellow crewmate Piers J. Sellers. NASAMike FossumNASA astronaut Scott Parazynski takes a self-portrait during STS-120, which ran from October to November 2007. NASAScott ParazynskiGemini 12 astronaut Buzz Aldrin snaps a picture of himself during a spacewalk in November 1966. NASABuzz AldrinExpedition 6′s Don Pettit takes a portrait in January 2003. Also visible in the picture (upper right) is his crewmate, Ken Bowersox. NASADon PettitA teensy-tiny Neil Armstrong is visible in the helmet of Buzz Aldrin during the Apollo 11 landing in July 1969. NASANeil Armstrong
