Space often feels distant and abstract, but personal stories can bridge that gap. For instance, my father-in-law’s encounter with John Glenn—an astronaut revered as a real-life superhero—reflects how tangible these experiences can be.
Recently, I learned about retired astronaut John Herrington’s visit to Montana. This prompted me to discover the astronauts with ties to the state, and the answers were impressive: four astronauts with connections to Montana.
1. Loren Acton: A Native of Lewistown
Loren Acton is Montana’s sole native astronaut, having been born in Lewistown. He flew on the Space Shuttle Challenger during the STS-51-F mission in 1985, conducting vital scientific research through Spacelab 2.
2. John Herrington: Residing in Montana
Originally from Oklahoma, John Herrington is now a resident of Kalispell, Montana. He made history as the first enrolled member of a federally recognized Native American tribe to travel to space, flying on Space Shuttle Endeavour in 2002.
3. Frank Borman: An Apollo Legend
Frank Borman, who commanded the Apollo 8 mission—the first to orbit the Moon—later made his home in Montana. He passed away in Billings in November 2023, leaving behind a monumental legacy.
4. Christina Koch: A Livingston Connection
Christina Koch lived in Livingston before joining NASA. She set the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman, spending 328 days in space, and became the first woman to travel around the Moon.
Montana’s ties to space exploration may seem small, with just four astronauts, but each story is remarkable. It’s incredible to know that people who have ventured into the cosmos share a connection to this state, making space feel a bit closer to home.
