Astronauts and cosmonauts

Astronauts are space travelers and so are cosmonauts. Why are they referred to with different titles? Reason in nationality. Space travelers from today’s Russia and erstwhile Soviet Union were called while space travelers from other parts of the world are called astronauts. So, astronauts and cosmonauts are no different. When Yuri Gagarin became first human to reach outer space then a space race started between Soviet Union and United States. This was the reason why all initial astronauts and cosmonauts were from these two countries only. Some of the most celebrated space travelers are following.

Yuri Gagarin

Soviets sent first human to space in 1961. This human was none other than Yuri Gagarin. He was selected for first manned mission way back in 1955 by Soviets and the reason behind his selection was his impeccable record as a fighter pilot. Gagarin died seven years after his space travel in a plane crash during routine training.

Neil Armstrong

Neil Armstrong was first human to walk on the surface of the moon. He stepped on the moon in 1969, about nine years after US president Kennedy resolved to put a man on the surface of the moon in 1960s. Armstrong stay put on the surface of the moon for 21 hours. He died in 2012 after leading a quiet life post his return from the moon.

Buzz Aldrin

Buzz Aldrin stepped on the moon 20 minutes after Neil Armstrong did that. Aldrin spent more time in space and was part of more NASA missions compared to Armstrong but still he was far less famous compared to Armstrong.

John Glenn

John Glenn was predecessor of fellow Americans Armstrong and Aldrin in space and had become first American to orbit the earth in 1962. He is renowned also for being the first person to travel at supersonic speeds across the American continent. He became the first astronaut to become a member of senate.

Valentina Tereshkova  

In 1963 Tereshkova became the first woman space traveler breaking the male domination in the field, although male domination in the field of space travel still carries on. Tereshkova orbited the earth 48 times. After completing her first and only space trip Tereshkova didn’t quit space field and worked as a cosmonaut engineer.

Sally Ride

Russians put a woman in space in 1963 but Americans could do that only in 1983. Sally Ride was the first American woman to reach outer space. She travelled to space two times aboard Challenger space shuttle. She worked as physics professor after retiring from NASA.