An astronaut is a person who is training to travel in space. NASA is the agency that trains United States men and women to serve as commanders, pilots, and mission specialists aboard spacecraft. Politicians, educators, scientists, and private citizens have flown in space, also. The Soviet Union called their space travelers cosmonauts.
As of October 4, 2007, a total of 463 people from 34 countries have traveled into space. These numbers include 415 men and 48 women.
Yuri Gagarin, cosmonaut from the Soviet Union, was the first person to travel into space. His flight took place on April 12, 196, 1aboard Vostok 1.
Alan Shepherd, astronaut from the United States, was the second person to travel into space. His flight took place on May 5, 1961, aboard Freedom 7.
John Glenn, astronaut from the United States, was the first person to orbit the earth. His flight occurred on February 20, 1962, aboard Friendship 7.
Sally Ride, astronaut from the United States, became the first woman in space in 1983.
Neil Armstrong, astronaut for the United States, became the first person to walk on the moon. His moon walk took place on July 20, 1969. He traveled to the moon aboard Apollo 11.
Sergei Kirkalyov, cosmonaut from the Soviet Union, has spent the most time in space. He was aboard the space station for 2 years and 73 days.
Ham the Chimp was the first living being that traveled into space. He was also called Astrochimp. On January 31, 1961, Ham was secured in a Project Mercury capsule. He had been trained to perform tasks while in the capsule, and he did everything he was asked to do. His flight lasted 16 minutes and 39 seconds. The capsule then splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean.
|
Subject Index 
