Lieutenant First Class Ellen Ripley from 1979’s Alien

When you think about space travel, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Is it the dangers of deep space? The epic loneliness? The fact that we’re all just tiny specks in an infinite universe? Well, if you’re like me, you were thinking something else entirely: Ellen Ripley. This woman was more than just a badass—she was a legend. She stood up for herself when no one else would, she protected the lives of her crewmates at all costs, and most importantly, she cared for humanity as a whole. Now that’s what I call a hero! H/T>