Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez
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Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez in Moscow, 2022
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| Born | 29 January 1942 |
| Status | Retired |
| Occupation | Pilot |
| Awards | Hero of the Republic of Cuba Hero of the Soviet Union |
| Space career | |
 Intercosmos Research Cosmonaut |
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| Rank | Brigadier General |
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Time in space
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7d 20h 43m |
| Selection | 1978 Intercosmos Group |
| Missions | Soyuz 38 |
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Mission insignia
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Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez (born January 29, 1942) is a Cuban military officer, a legislator (someone who makes laws), and a former cosmonaut. He made history as the first person of African heritage to travel into space. In 1980, he flew aboard the Soyuz 38 spacecraft. This made him the first Cuban, the first person from Latin America, and the first person of African descent to orbit Earth. He was also the first person from a country in the Western Hemisphere, besides the United States, to go to space.
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Early Life and Military Career
Tamayo was born on January 29, 1942, in Baracoa, Guantánamo province, Cuba. He grew up in an Afro-Cuban family. When he was very young, he became an orphan. Rafael Tamayo and Esperanza Méndez adopted him when he was one year old.
He started working at age 13 to help his family. He shined shoes and sold vegetables. Later, he worked as an assistant to a carpenter.
During the Cuban Revolution, he joined a group called the Association of Young Rebels. This group protested against the government at the time. After the revolution, he studied at the "Rebel Army" Technical Institute. He finished a course to become an aviation technician in 1960.
Tamayo wanted to be a fighter pilot. He joined the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces. From 1961 to 1962, he trained in the Soviet Union. He learned to fly MiG-15 fighter jets. At 19, he became a certified combat pilot. Later that year, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, he flew 20 important reconnaissance missions. These flights helped gather information for the Cuban Air Force.
In 1967, Tamayo joined the Communist Party of Cuba. For the next two years, he served with Cuban forces during the Vietnam War. He returned in 1969 to continue his studies. He attended the Maximo Gomez Basic College of the Revolutionary Forces until 1971.
In 1975, he became the Chief of Staff for the Santa Clara Aviation Brigade. The next year, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. In 1978, he was chosen to join the Intercosmos program. He then moved to Star City, Russia, to begin his cosmonaut training.
Journey to Space: The Intercosmos Program
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Arnaldo Tamayo was chosen for the Soviet Union's seventh Intercosmos program on March 1, 1978. The Intercosmos program allowed people from other countries to fly on Soviet space missions. His backup for the mission was another Cuban, José López Falcón. Tamayo spent two and a half years training very hard for his space flight.
On September 18, 1980, Tamayo launched into space. He was with Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Romanenko. Their spacecraft, Soyuz 38, lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 7:11 PM UTC.
After reaching space, Soyuz 38 connected with the Salyut 6 space station. Tamayo and Romanenko then performed several experiments. One experiment tried to understand what causes "space adaptation syndrome" (SAS). This is like motion sickness that astronauts can get in space. They hoped to find a way to prevent or cure it.
Another experiment looked at how sugar crystals form in space. This was important for Cuba's sugar industry. For the SAS experiment, Tamayo wore special shoes. These shoes put pressure on his feet for six hours a day.
After orbiting Earth 124 times, Tamayo and Romanenko returned. Their mission lasted 7 days, 20 hours, and 43 minutes. They landed safely about 180 kilometers from Dzhezkazgan. The landing was a bit tricky because it happened at night.
When he returned to Earth, Tamayo received many honors. He was the first person to be given the Hero of the Republic of Cuba medal. In Moscow, he received the Order of Lenin and was also named a Hero of the Soviet Union.
Life After Space
After his space mission, Tamayo continued his important work. He became the Director of the Military Patriotic Educational Society, known as "SEPMI." This group helps educate people about military and patriotic values.
After being promoted to brigadier general, he took on another role. He became the Director of International Affairs for the Cuban armed forces. This meant he handled military relations with other countries.
Since 1980, he has also served as a Deputy in the Cuban National Assembly. This is like being a member of parliament or congress. He represents his home region of Guantánamo Province.
The Cuban Government has honored him greatly. He is celebrated for being the first Cuban, the first person from the Caribbean, and the first Latin American to orbit Earth. Besides the Hero of the Republic of Cuba, he also received the Order of Playa Girón. He is also a recipient of the Hero of the Soviet Union award from Russia.
Arnaldo Tamayo is married and has two daughters and one son. His space suit is kept safe at the Museum of the Revolution in Havana.
See also
In Spanish: Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez para niños
- List of African-American astronauts
- List of Hispanic astronauts
