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 on January 29, 1942) is a famous Cuban military officer and lawmaker. He is also a former cosmonaut, which is a person trained to travel in space. He made history as the first person of African heritage to journey into space. In 1980, he became the first Cuban citizen, the first Latin American, and the first person of African descent to orbit Earth. He was also the first person from a country in the Western Hemisphere (other than the United States) to travel into Earth orbit. He achieved this as a member of the crew of the Soyuz 38 mission.
Contents
Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez: A Pioneer in Space
Early Life and Journey to the Skies
Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez was born on January 29, 1942, in Baracoa, Guantánamo province, Cuba. He came from an Afro-Cuban family. When he was very young, he lost his parents and was adopted by Rafael Tamayo and Esperanza Méndez at age one. He started working at 13, shining shoes and selling vegetables. Later, he worked as a carpenter's helper.
During a time of big changes in Cuba, known as the Cuban Revolution, he joined groups that wanted to improve the country. After the revolution, he studied at the Technical Institute "Rebel Army." There, he completed a course to become an aviation technician in December 1960. He dreamed of becoming a fighter pilot and joined the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces.
Between 1961 and 1962, Tamayo trained in the Soviet Union. He learned to fly MiG-15 fighter jets and became a certified combat pilot at 19. Later that year, during a tense time for Cuba called the Cuban Missile Crisis, he flew 20 important reconnaissance missions. These flights helped gather information for the Cuban Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Force.
In 1967, Tamayo joined the Communist Party of Cuba, a political party. For the next two years, he served with Cuban forces in the Vietnam War. He returned in 1969 to continue his studies at the Maximo Gomez Basic College 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 for the Intercosmos program. This special program allowed people from other countries to train as cosmonauts with the Soviet Union. He moved to Star City, Russia to begin his training.
Training for Space: The Intercosmos Program
Arnaldo Tamayo was chosen for the Soviet Union's seventh Intercosmos program on March 1, 1978. Another Cuban, José López Falcón, was his backup for the mission. Tamayo spent two and a half years preparing for his space journey.
Historic Mission Aboard Soyuz 38
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On September 18, 1980, at 7:11 PM UTC, Tamayo launched into space. He was aboard the Soyuz 38 spacecraft with Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Romanenko. They lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, a famous launch site in the Soviet Union.
After their spacecraft connected with the Salyut 6 space station, Tamayo and Romanenko began their work. They performed experiments to understand what causes space adaptation syndrome (SAS). This is a feeling of sickness some astronauts get in space. They also studied how sugar crystals form in space, which was important for Cuba's sugar industry. One experiment involved wearing special shoes for six hours a day to put pressure on their feet.
After orbiting Earth 124 times, their mission lasted 7 days, 20 hours, and 43 minutes. Tamayo and Romanenko landed safely about 180 kilometers from Dzhezkazgan. Their landing was challenging because it happened at night.
Upon his return, Tamayo was honored with the Hero of the Republic of Cuba medal. He was the first person ever to receive this award. In Moscow, he also received the Order of Lenin and was named a Hero of the Soviet Union.
Life After Space: A Continuing Legacy
After his historic space flight, Tamayo continued to serve his country. He became the Director of a society focused on military education, known as Sociedad de Educación Patriótico-Militar "SEPMI". Later, he was promoted to brigadier general, a high-ranking military officer. He then became the Director of International Affairs for the Cuban armed forces.
Since 1980, he has been a Deputy in the Cuban National Assembly. This is Cuba's main law-making body. He represents his home region of Guantánamo Province.
The Cuban Government has honored him many times for his achievements. He is celebrated for being the first Cuban, the first person from the Caribbean, and the first Latin American to go into orbit. He also received the title of Hero of the Republic of Cuba and the Order of Playa Girón. He was also given the Hero of the Soviet Union award.
Arnaldo Tamayo is married and has two daughters and a son. His space suit is kept 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
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