The people who flew to space
Going to space takes extraordinary courage, and this puzzle gathers many of the astronauts who did it. You'll be finding the first man on the Moon, ARMSTRONG, with his crewmates ALDRIN and COLLINS, the first human in space, GAGARIN, and the first woman in space, TERESHKOVA.
Because every new puzzle reshuffles the roll call, no two astronauts word searches are the same. One round a backwards TERESHKOVA hides in a corner; the next a diagonal ARMSTRONG stretches across the grid.
Pioneers of the space age
From the earliest flights to the space station, the words are here. There's GLENN and SHEPARD of the first American missions, the Apollo crews LOVELL, CERNAN, BEAN and WORDEN, the first American woman in space, RIDE, and the first African-American woman in space, JEMISON. We use surnames to keep most words short and Easy mode playable, though a few like TERESHKOVA run longer — a nice challenge for older students who already know the name.
It's a great fit for a space topic or a STEM display. Tracking down J-E-M-I-S-O-N turns spelling practice into a launch sequence.
How to play
Drag across a word, or click its first and last letter — both work. Each name you find locks in with its own highlight and ticks off the list, so you always know who's left to find.
Want a bigger challenge? Switch to Medium or Hard for a larger grid with diagonal and reverse words. Stuck on one? Tap Hint for a nudge, or Solve to reveal them all.
Print an astronauts word search pack
Tap Download for a printable PDF of fresh astronauts puzzles, with optional answer keys. Choose how many you want and how many per page — perfect for a space topic, a STEM display, or a quiet afternoon.
Add a name-and-date line and you've got ready-to-print worksheets in seconds, free and account-free.
Frequently asked questions
Which astronauts are in the word search?
Space pioneers across the decades — Armstrong, Aldrin, Collins, Gagarin, Tereshkova, Glenn, Ride, Jemison and more. Each puzzle uses a fresh selection of surnames.
Is the astronauts word search free to print?
Yes. Play free online or download a printable PDF pack with optional answer keys — great for space and STEM lessons, no sign-up required.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes. We use surnames to keep words short, and Easy mode uses a small grid with no diagonals or reverse words.