Astronaut

An astronaut, cosmonaut, spationaut or taikonaut (yuhangyuan) is a person who travels into space, or who makes a career of doing so. The criteria for determining who has achieved human spaceflight vary (see edge of space). In the United States, people who travel above an altitude of 50 miles (approximately 80 kilometers) are designated as astronauts. The FAI defines spaceflight as over 100 km (approximately 62 miles). As of October, 2005, a total of 446 humans have reached space according to the U.S. definition (440 people qualify under the FAI definition, while 436 people have reached Earth orbit or beyond). These individuals have spent over 28,000 crew-days (or a cumulative total of 76.7 years) in space including over 100 crew-days of spacewalks. A person who has traveled in space is said to hold astronaut wings. Astronauts from at least 34 countries have gone into space.

Space milestones

The first cosmonaut was Yuri Gagarin, who was launched into space on April 12 1961 aboard Vostok 1. The first woman cosmonaut was Valentina Tereshkova, launched into space in June 1963 aboard Vostok 6. Alan Shepard became the first American in space in May 1961. Vladimir Remek became the first non-Soviet European in space in 1978 on a Russian Soyuz rocket. On July 23 1980 Pham Tuan of Vietnam became the first Asian in space when he flew aboard Soyuz 37. In June 1985 Shannon Lucid became the first Chinese born person in space. On October 15 2003 Yang Liwei became China's first astronaut on the Shenzhou 5 spacecraft. The first mission to orbit the moon was Apollo 8 which included William Anders - who was born in Hong Kong making him the first Asian-born astronaut in 1968.

Related Topics:
Yuri Gagarin - April 12 - 1961 - Vostok 1 - Valentina Tereshkova - 1963 - Vostok 6 - Alan Shepard - Vladimir Remek - 1978 - Soyuz - July 23 - 1980 - Pham Tuan - Asian - Soyuz 37 - 1985 - Shannon Lucid - October 15 - 2003 - Yang Liwei - Shenzhou 5 - Apollo 8 - William Anders - 1968

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The youngest person to fly in space is Gherman Titov, who was roughly 26 years old when he flew Vostok 2, and the oldest is John Glenn who was 77 when he flew on STS-95. The longest stay in space was 438 days by Valeri Polyakov. As of 2005, the most spaceflights by an individual astronaut was seven, a record held by both Jerry L. Ross and Franklin Chang-Diaz. The furthest distance from Earth an astronaut has traveled was 401,056 km (during the Apollo 13 emergency).

Related Topics:
Gherman Titov - Vostok 2 - John Glenn - STS-95 - Valeri Polyakov - As of 2005 - Jerry L. Ross - Franklin Chang-Diaz - Apollo 13

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The first non-governmental astronaut was Christa McAuliffe, who was killed during the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster on January 28, 1986. The first astronaut to fly a privately-funded mission was Mike Melvill, on SpaceShipOne flight 15P. This should be contrasted with the various millionaire space tourists, who have flown as passengers, or minor crew members, on publicly funded flights (generally Russian resupply flights to the ISS). The first space tourist was Dennis Tito on April 28, 2001.

Related Topics:
Christa McAuliffe - Space Shuttle Challenger disaster - January 28 - 1986 - Mike Melvill - SpaceShipOne flight 15P - Space tourist - Dennis Tito - April 28 - 2001

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In the United States, persons selected as astronaut candidates receive silver Astronaut wings. Once they have flown in space they receive gold Astronaut wings. The United States Air Force also presents Astronaut wings to its pilots who exceed 50 miles in altitude.

Related Topics:
Astronaut wings - United States Air Force

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