Our veterans lead the way. 👨‍🚀 Our journey back to the Moon and onto Mars starts at home, and NASA’s veterans are a big part of accomplishing that mission. Many of the most iconic figures at the agency—our astronauts—have a strong veteran tie. In fact, all astronauts were military pilots until 1965. Of the 385 total NASA Astronauts, 223 are veterans! Veterans continue to have a sweeping impact on NASA, in every corner of our workforce. Thanks to all the men and women who have served in our armed forces. Have a safe and happy #VeteransDay. Image Description: NASA Astronaut Raja Chari holds an unfurled Department of Veterans Affairs flag in the cupola of the International Space Station. Raja, an Air Force colonel, wears a tucked-in navy blue polo shirt and slacks. The flag features an american eagle, wings extended, clasping two American flags. The eagle is encircled by a gold ring and text reading “Department of Veterans Affairs, United States of America”. The background of the flag is navy blue. Within the cupola exposed metallic surfaces make up the majority of the background with large windows peering down toward Earth. Credit: NASA #NASA #Space #ISS #SpaceStation #Veterans #ArmedServices #VeteransDay2022