Top 100 Fictional Space Travelers of All Time: 60-41 [List]

Meet the greatest space travelers ever. They’re soldiers, construction workers, scientists and children. Here is the third in a five part series counting down the 100 greatest space travelers of all-time.

Everyone has dreamed of going into space. While most of us will never get there hundreds of movies, television shows and books show people traveling into space. We compiled a list of the ones we consider the top 100 space travelers of all-time. You can read the criteria we used here.

Previous: #100-81 #80-61 

The List

60. Travis Mayweather (Anthony Montgomery)

Star Trek: Enterprise

Ensign Mayweather is a human, but a “boomer” meaning he was born and raised in space. That meant he had more space training than even the captain. But, he was humble and kept his rank as ensign without complaint. On the television show Voyager he stood out since he was injured, incapacitated, and even “killed” more times than anyone else on the show. He kept on going and he kept on fighting.

59. Charles Farmer (Billy Bob Thornton)

The Astronaut Farmer (2007)

When a passionate astronaut is kicked out of NASA, he decides to literally start his own space program in his barn. The idea of someone achieving what armies of engineers and scientists couldn’t do is highly implausible, but it’s still a cool idea. Farmer captures all our frustrations at being locked out of space by layers of red tape, and wishing we could fly on our own.

58. Col. John Jameson

Amazing Spider-Man (1964-Present)

The son of Spider-Man’s arch-enemy, J. Jonah Jameson, John Jameson was a world famous astronaut until he encountered a mystical gem on the moon that turned him into a werewolf. Then he discovered the gem gave him the powers of a god. Makes John Glenn look like a lightweight.

57. Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton)

Star Trek: The Next Generation

The engineer of the Enterprise, Geordi stood out by being blind. He wore a special visor that allowed him to see in multiple forms, including ultraviolet and the electromagnetic spectrum. Although it seems kind of odd to still have blind people in the future, Geordi made a strong statement about the capabilities of the disabled. He was also a great engineer.

56. Major Don West (Mark Goddard)

Lost in Space (1965)

As the pilot of the “Jupiter 2” in Lost in Space, Major Don West was the brains to the professor’s brawn. With his military training and quick temper, West was always first into a fight. He’s a warrior and an astronaut, all in one.

55. Chris Kelvin (George Clooney)

Solaris (2002)

In Solaris, Kelvin is a psychologist aboard a space station where dreams come to life. He and the other crew members struggle with the desire to bring their loved ones back to life, while at the same time knowing they are illusions. Kelvin isn’t a scientist or a military hero, which makes his struggle all the more compelling.

54. Jerry O’Neill (Donald Sutherland)

Space Cowboys (2000)

A former NASA scientist and confident structural engineer. He left designing supersonic stealth planes for roller coasters only to have his dream of space flight be fulfilled after he retired. Womanizing even in his 70s he has girlfriends young enough to be his grand-daughters. He manages to memorize an eye test so he can pass even though he needs Coke bottles to see. While the elderly rarely make it into space this guy breaks all the rules.

53. Frank Poole (Gary Lockwood)

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Poole is traveling aboard the “Discovery One” on the first manned mission to Jupiter. The trip is long and they wander around, exercise and play chess. Seems like a simple life. Since he and Bowman are the only crew members not in suspended animation they investigate a monolith. Unfortunately for Poole, the ship’s computer HAL 9000 decides to murder them all to protect himself. Or is it because he can’t stand losing at chess? Either way, he dies after the ship sends him floating in space.

52. Dr. Zachary Smith (Jonathan Harris)

Lost in Space (1965)

Conniving, egotistical, cowardly, and annoying, Dr. Smith still managed to capture a place in the hearts of sci-fi fans. Maybe it’s because the Robinsons were so darn perfect that Smith was a breath of fresh air. There’s certainly never be a less heroic space traveler than Dr. Smith.

51. Zefram Cochrane (James Cromwell)

Star Trek: First Contact (1996)

Often, major discoveries are made not by scientists in sterile labs, but people with little resources and a dream. Proof of this comes in the fact that the first human to achieve warp speed is a drunken, disorganized scientist named Cochrane. Not only did he break the light barrier, but he signaled the Vulcans to bring first contact with Earth. Not bad for a guy out in the woods.

50. Dr. Edward Morbius (Walter Pidgeon)

Forbidden Planet (1956)

After discovering how to translate the alien language of an ancient and powerful race, Morbius is able to use the dead technology to create new wonders. In the process, Morbius also created a horrific monster that destroys an entire colony. Morbius is the classic mad scientist with the twist that he’s not technically a scientist – he’s a linguist by trade.

49. Al Calavicci (Dean Stockwell)

Quantum Leap (1989)

When Sam Beckett began jumping or “leaping” in time he had one friend: a hologram of Albert. Al wears loud suits, carouses with women and generally kept things interesting. But, he was also an ex-astronaut and helped Sam fly a plane. We can only imagine what kind of missions he flew on, but you can bet he did them with style.

48. Corporal Dwayne Hicks (Michael Biehn)

Aliens (1986)

Aliens take over a colony and they send in the space marines for a “bughunt.” Hicks takes over when the unseasoned Sergeant freezes. Thanks to his quick leadership what’s left of the team is saved. Biehn’s natural leadership qualities make him more than a dumb space grunt. He does an especially good job trying to calm down the freaked out Hudson.

47. Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell)

Moon (2009) 

Hired to work alone for three years harvesting Helium-9 on the Moon, Sam Bell is knocked unconscious and awakens to a horrifying discovery. In the process, he comes to question himself and his mission. Bell really captured a sense of loss and loneliness that might very well be what real deep space astronauts experience.

46. Capt. Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew)

Star Trek: Voyager

Janeway was the commander of the Voyager when it was transported to the other end of the Galaxy, and forced to make its way home. Janeway was the first female Starfleet captain headlining a show, inspiring a generation of women to pursue science. Janeway also stood on her own as a tough but compassionate leader who took her crew from the edge of space all the way home.

45. Arthur Philip Dent (Simon Jones)

Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

Arthur Dent is an average loser until he becomes the last survivor of Earth when its demolished to make way for a hyperspace bypass. Traveling the galaxy with his friend Ford Prefect he managed to keep reasonably cool while meeting the most bizarre creatures in the universe. While most astronauts used protective suits, Arthur did it all in his dressing gown looking for a cup of tea.

44. Oren Monash (Ron Eldard)

Deep Impact (1998)

 Former golden gloves boxer Ron Eldard gives life to a role that could have just been a throw-away. A crew of NASA astronauts are sent to blow up a comet on a path to destroy Earth. Brave and brash, Mission Commander Monash laughs at the old man “Fish” until he’s critically injured in an accident on the comet’s surface. Then he realizes how valuable the whole team is. It’s his tearful goodbye to his wife and baby that makes him so memorable.

43. Dr. Daniel Jackson (James Spader)

Stargate (1994)

Dr. Jackson took his trip into space not through a ship, but an enormous teleportation gate. He was not an astronaut, but an expert in ancient Egyptian culture. It’s hard to find a more unlikely space traveler. Once he got to an alien world he was fearless trying their food and exploring the local animals. On the show based on the movie his character was recast with Michael Shanks as the title role. He then took on the additional title of “hunk.”

42. River Tam (Summer Glau)

Firefly (2002)

The sister of Dr. Simon Tam the child prodigy River Tam seemed catatonic when she boards the ship Firefly. Slowly, but surely we get to know more about her until it’s revealed that she was the victim of a government experiment to unlock her unique abilities. Summer Glau played her with grace and compassion her emotionally troubled, and often psychotic outbursts helped to hide a keen mind and deadly skills. She can kill you with her brain

41. Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen)

Doctor Who (1973)

One of the greatest of Doctor Who’s companions. The companion of “The Doctor” in the long-running British science-fiction series Doctor Who Sarah Jane Smith, played by Sladen, traveled along side him for decades and we loved every minute of it. The character had her own series called The Sarah Jane Chronicles until Sladen’s death at 63. Fierce, brave, and an ardent feminist, she embodied everything we wanted to be if we could travel through all time and space in a police box.

Come back tomorrow for numbers 40-21 as we count down the top 100 space travelers of all time!

Check out the whole list: #100-81 #80-61 #40-21

How do you feel about the list so far? Who do you hope is on the list?