When John Glenn started his work as an astronaut, he was almost too old for the job. He was almost too tall, too. (He even stacked books on his head to make himself shorter!) But Mr. Glenn had flown planes in World War II and the Korean War. He was one of the best pilots in America. In 1962, Mr. Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth. In December of last year, Mr. Glenn died. He was 95 years old. The next month, Eugene Cernan, 82, also died. Mr. Cernan was the last person to walk on the moon.

Did you know that several other famous astronauts from Mr. Glenn’s time are still alive? All these men traveled to space during “the golden age of astronauts.” You don’t remember that time. Your parents might not remember it either. You can read about it in history books. But some people alive don’t have to. They remember it. They were there!

Living Space History

You might recognize the name Buzz Aldrin. Mr. Aldrin was the second person to walk on the moon. He also performed the first successful spacewalk—and took the first “selfie” in space—in 1966. Now 86, Mr. Aldrin hopes people will soon travel to Mars.

Astronaut James Lovell commanded the Apollo 13 mission in 1970. As Apollo13 headed for the moon, an oxygen tank exploded. The rocket never reached the moon. But the astronauts onboard did return safely to Earth. Mr. Lovell is 88 now.

Eugene Cernan became the last person to walk on the moon in 1972. But he didn't want to be the last moon-walker ever. Mr. Cernan tried to get NASA to send astronauts back to the moon.

Frank Borman is 88 years old now. He circled the moon in Apollo 8. People remember Apollo 8 astronauts for the broadcast they sent out on Christmas Eve of 1968. The astronauts read the first 10 verses of Genesis.