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 29 January 1942) is a famous Cuban cosmonaut and a former military officer. He made history in 1980 when he became the first person of African heritage to travel into Earth orbit. He was also the first Cuban, the first Latin American, and the first person from a country in the Western Hemisphere (besides the United States) to go to space. He flew aboard the Soyuz 38 spacecraft.
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Early Life and Becoming a Pilot
Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez was born on January 29, 1942, in Baracoa, Guantánamo province, Cuba. He was from an Afro-Cuban family. When he was very young, he became an orphan and was adopted by Rafael Tamayo and Esperanza Méndez.
He started working at age 13, shining shoes and selling vegetables. Later, he worked as a carpenter's helper. During the Cuban Revolution, he joined groups that protested against the government at that time.
After the revolution, he studied at the Technical Institute "Rebel Army." In 1960, he finished a course to become an aviation technician. He really wanted to be a fighter pilot, so he joined the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces.
Pilot Training and Early Missions
From 1961 to 1962, Tamayo trained in the Soviet Union. He learned how to fly MiG-15 fighter jets. He became a certified combat pilot at just 19 years old.
Later in 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, he flew 20 special flights. These were reconnaissance missions, meaning he flew to gather information. He was part of the Playa Girón Brigade.
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 at a military 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 meant he would train to become a cosmonaut in Star City, Russia.
Journey to Space: The Intercosmos Program
Arnaldo Tamayo was chosen for the Soviet Union's Intercosmos program on March 1, 1978. This program allowed people from other countries to fly on Soviet space missions. Another Cuban, José López Falcón, was his backup for the mission. Tamayo spent two and a half years training very hard for his space flight.
The Soyuz 38 Mission
On September 18, 1980, Tamayo launched into space with Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Romanenko. They took off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome aboard the Soyuz 38 spacecraft.
After reaching space, their spacecraft connected with the Salyut 6 space station. Tamayo and Romanenko then performed several experiments. One experiment tried to understand why some astronauts feel sick in space, a condition called space adaptation syndrome (SAS). They even tried to find a way to help prevent it. This involved wearing special shoes that put pressure on their feet for several hours each day.
Another experiment looked at how sucrose (sugar) forms crystals in microgravity. This research was important for Cuba's sugar industry.
After orbiting Earth 124 times, which took 7 days, 20 hours, and 43 minutes, Tamayo and Romanenko returned to Earth. They landed safely near Dzhezkazgan.
Awards and Recognition
When he returned to Earth, Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez received many honors. He was the first person ever to be awarded 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 historic space flight, Tamayo continued to serve his country. He became the Director of the Military Patriotic Educational Society in Cuba.
He was later promoted to brigadier general. He then became the Director of International Affairs for the Cuban armed forces.
Since 1980, he has also been a Deputy in the Cuban National Assembly. This means he helps make laws for his home region of Guantánamo Province.
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
