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Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez

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Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez
Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez in Berlin, July 2018
Born (1942-01-29) 29 January 1942 (age 82)
StatusRetired
NationalityCuban
OccupationPilot
AwardsHero of the Republic of Cuba
Hero of the Soviet Union
Space career

Intercosmos Research Cosmonaut
RankBrigadier General
Time in space
7d 20h 43m
Selection1978 Intercosmos Group
MissionsSoyuz 38
Mission insignia

Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez (born January 29, 1942) is a Cuban military officer, legislator, and former cosmonaut. He was the first person of African heritage in space.[1]

As a member of the crew of Soyuz 38, he became the first Cuban citizen, the first Latin American, and the first person from a country in the Western Hemisphere other than the United States to travel into Earth orbit.

References

[change | change source]
  1. "Soviets Launch World's First Black Cosmonaut". Jet. 59 (4): 8. 9 October 1980. ISSN 0021-5996.