Dennis Tito facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dennis Tito
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| Born | August 8, 1940 Queens, New York City, U.S.
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| Alma mater | New York University (B.S.) Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (M.S.) |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
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| Space tourist | |
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Time in space
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7d 22h 04m |
| Selection | 2000 |
| Missions | ISS EP-1 (Soyuz TM-32 / Soyuz TM-31) |
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Mission insignia
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Dennis Anthony Tito is an American engineer and businessman. He was born on August 8, 1940. In 2001, he made history as the first person to pay for his own trip to space. He spent almost eight days orbiting Earth. This amazing journey was part of a mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
Contents
Early Life and Education
Dennis Tito grew up in Queens, New York. He went to Forest Hills High School in New York City. He loved learning about space and engineering.
Becoming an Engineer
Dennis studied hard in college. He earned a degree in astronautics and aeronautics from New York University in 1962. Later, he got another degree in engineering science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He even worked as a scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). At JPL, he helped figure out how spacecraft travel.
Business Career
In 1972, Dennis Tito started his own company called Wilshire Associates. This company helps people manage their investments. He used his engineering skills to understand money markets. He applied the same methods he used for spacecraft paths to analyze financial risks.
In 2020, Dennis Tito sold his share in Wilshire Associates.
Space Adventures
Even after changing careers, Dennis Tito never lost his interest in space. He dreamed of traveling beyond Earth.
First Space Tourist
Dennis Tito wanted to visit the International Space Station. He worked with a company called Space Adventures. On April 28, 2001, he launched into space aboard the Soyuz TM-32 spacecraft.
Before his flight, some people at NASA were not sure about a "tourist" going to space. But Dennis Tito was determined. He trained hard for his mission. He spent 7 days, 22 hours, and 4 minutes in space. He orbited Earth 128 times! While in orbit, he even did some science experiments.
After his space trip, Dennis Tito shared his experiences. He spoke to government committees about commercial spaceflight. He also gave interviews about his amazing journey.
Future Space Plans
Dennis Tito continues to be involved in space exploration.
Journey to Mars
In 2013, Dennis Tito announced a bold plan. He wanted to send a private mission to Mars by 2018. He believed the technology was ready. However, he later realized that this mission would need a lot of help and funding from NASA.
Moon Trip with SpaceX
In October 2022, SpaceX announced exciting news. Dennis Tito and his wife, Akiko Tito, are planning to fly around the Moon. They will be on the second commercial spaceflight of the SpaceX Starship. Akiko Tito is also an engineer and pilot who loves space.
See also
In Spanish: Dennis Tito para niños
- List of space travelers by name
