Yi So-yeon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Yi So-yeon
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Yi in 2008
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| Born | June 2, 1978 Gwangju, South Korea
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| Occupation | Researcher |
| Space career | |
| KAP astronaut | |
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Time in space
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10 days, 21 hours, 13 minutes |
| Selection | 2006 South Korean program |
| Missions | Soyuz TMA-12/TMA-11 |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul |
이소연
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| Hanja |
李素妍
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| RR | I Soyeon |
| MR | I Soyŏn |
Yi So-yeon (Korean: 이소연, born June 2, 1978) is a brave South Korean astronaut and biotechnologist. She made history as the first person from South Korea to travel into space.
Yi So-yeon grew up in Gwangju, South Korea. She earned advanced degrees in engineering and biotech systems. In 2006, she was chosen for the Korean Astronaut Program. This program aimed to send the first Koreans into space. After special training, she launched into space on April 8, 2008. She spent about eleven days orbiting Earth before returning safely on April 19.
After her space journey, Yi So-yeon continued her work as a researcher. She also pursued further education and became a teacher. She has inspired many young people with her amazing achievements.
Contents
Meet Yi So-yeon: South Korea's First Astronaut
Yi So-yeon's parents are Yi Gil-soo and Jeong Geum-soon. She was raised in the city of Gwangju, South Korea. From a young age, she showed a strong interest in science and learning.
Early Life and Education
Yi So-yeon attended Gwangju Science High School. She then studied at KAIST in Daejeon, a top science university. There, she earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering. Later, she completed her doctorate in biotech systems in 2008. This impressive academic background prepared her for an extraordinary career.
Becoming an Astronaut
Yi So-yeon's journey to space began with a special program. She was one of many talented individuals who dreamed of reaching the stars.
The Korean Astronaut Program
In 2006, Yi So-yeon was selected as one of two finalists for the Korean Astronaut Program. This was a big national effort to send a South Korean into space for the first time. Both finalists went through intense training in Russia.
A change was made in March 2008, and Yi So-yeon was chosen to be the main astronaut for the mission. This was a huge moment for her and for South Korea. On April 8, 2008, she launched into space aboard the Soyuz TMA-12 spacecraft. She traveled with two Russian cosmonauts. South Korea paid about $20 million for this historic flight. Yi So-yeon became the third woman to be the first person from her country to go to space. The others were Helen Sharman from the United Kingdom and Anousheh Ansari from Iran and America.
Training for Space
Becoming an astronaut requires very strict training. Yi So-yeon spent many months preparing in Russia. She learned how to live and work in space. This included understanding the spacecraft and how to perform experiments. She also trained for emergencies and how to handle the challenges of space travel.
Her Space Mission
Yi So-yeon spent nearly eleven days in space. She lived and worked on the International Space Station (ISS). This orbiting laboratory is a home for astronauts from different countries.
Life on the International Space Station
While on the ISS, Yi So-yeon experienced what it's like to live in microgravity. This means she floated around inside the station. She had to adapt to eating, sleeping, and working in a weightless environment. She also had the incredible chance to look down at Earth from space.
Science Experiments in Space
Yi So-yeon performed eighteen different science experiments for the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI). These experiments helped scientists learn more about how space affects living things and objects.
- One experiment involved 1,000 fruit flies. She watched how gravity changes affected their behavior and genes.
- Other studies looked at how plants grow in space.
- She also monitored her own heart's behavior.
- She studied how gravity changes affected the pressure in her eyes and the shape of her face. She took daily photos of her face with a special 3D camera.
- She observed Earth, tracking dust storms moving from China to Korea.
- She measured the noise levels inside the International Space Station.
South Korean scientists even created a special low-calorie and vitamin-rich version of kimchi for her to enjoy in space!
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The Journey Home
On April 19, 2008, Yi So-yeon returned to Earth. She traveled with ISS crew members Peggy Whitson and Yuri Malenchenko. Their spacecraft, Soyuz TMA-11, had a technical issue during re-entry.
The craft followed a special path called a ballistic re-entry. This caused the crew to experience very strong forces, up to ten times the normal Earth gravity. The spacecraft landed about 260 miles (420 km) off its target in Kazakhstan. All three astronauts were safe but needed medical checks. Yi So-yeon was hospitalized briefly in Korea due to severe back pains after her return.
After Her Spaceflight
After her historic flight, Yi So-yeon continued to work as a researcher at KARI. She also became an ambassador for space exploration in Korea. She shared her experiences to inspire others.
In 2009, she attended the International Space University (ISU) Space Studies Program. Later, she decided to pursue an MBA at the University of California, Berkeley Haas School of Business. She then moved to Washington, United States.
Since 2016, Yi So-yeon has taught physics at Everett Community College. She has also lectured at the University of Washington. In 2021, she was recognized as a Karman Project Fellow for her important work in space. Her career shows a dedication to both science and education.
See also
In Spanish: Yi So-yeon para niños
- Timeline of space travel by nationality
- ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station)
