Best Ever Astronaut Selfies

Some intentional, some not

By Elizabeth Howell/ Universe Today
October 3, 2013

"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.

This article was republished with permission from Universe Today.

Clay Anderson’s shadow
Clay Anderson's shadow during a spacewalk he took in July 2007, while he was part of Expedition 15. NASAClay Anderson
JAXA astronaut Aki Hoshide
JAXA 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 Hoshide
Pete Conrad
Apollo 12′s Pete Conrad is visible in the helmet of crewmate Al Bean during their moon landing in November 1969. NASAPete Conrad
NASA astronaut Clay Anderson
Expedition 15 crewmember and NASA astronaut Clay Anderson nabbed this self-portrait during a spacewalk in August 2007. NASAClay Anderson
Self-portrait of Expedition 36/37 European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano
Self-portrait of Expedition 36/37 European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano during a July 2013 spacewalk. NASALuca Parmitano
Al Shepard raises the American flag during Apollo 14
Al Shepard raises the American flag during Apollo 14 in February 1971. Below is the shadow of his crewmate, Ed Mitchell. NASAEd Mitchell
NASA astronaut Mike Fossum
NASA astronaut Mike Fossum grabbed this self-portrait in July 2011, with space shuttle Atlantis visible in the background. NASAMike Fossum
Joe Tanner grabs a helmet shot
NASA astronaut Joe Tanner grabs a helmet shot during a spacewalk on STS-115 in September 2006. NASAJoe Tanner
Mike Fossum visor reflection
Mike 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 Fossum
NASA astronaut Scott Parazynski takes a self-portrait
NASA astronaut Scott Parazynski takes a self-portrait during STS-120, which ran from October to November 2007. NASAScott Parazynski
Gemini 12 astronaut Buzz Aldrin
Gemini 12 astronaut Buzz Aldrin snaps a picture of himself during a spacewalk in November 1966. NASABuzz Aldrin
Don Pettit takes a portrait
Expedition 6′s Don Pettit takes a portrait in January 2003. Also visible in the picture (upper right) is his crewmate, Ken Bowersox. NASADon Pettit
Buzz Aldrin
A teensy-tiny Neil Armstrong is visible in the helmet of Buzz Aldrin during the Apollo 11 landing in July 1969. NASANeil Armstrong

Latest

These spiky frog skulls look more like dinosaur fossils
Will it be safe to hold the Olympics in 2021?
Bidets for a cleaner and greener bathroom routine
Fight viruses in your home without making bacteria stronger
Apple fixed one thing to make the MacBook Air one of the best laptops around
Save money and protect the environment by repurposing your old outdoor gear
Hands-on with the Polaroid Now instant film camera
See when COVID-19 could hit your state hardest
COVID-19 has exposed serious food-security issues in the US. Technology can help.