What is Astronauts? | Types, Definition, Structure, Function & Facts
What is an Astronaut?
An astronaut is someone specially trained to travel in space. Astronauts aboard spacecraft may have different responsibilities. Generally, there is a commanding officer directing the mission and a pilot. Other possible positions include flight engineer, payload commander, mission specialist, and science pilot.
Spacesuits
Astronauts have special gear called a spacesuit that they use when they must leave the safety of their spacecraft. These spacesuits provide them with air, protect them from the extreme temperatures of space, and protect them from the radiation of the Sun. Sometimes the spacesuits are tethered to the spacecraft so the astronaut won’t float away. Other times the spacesuit is equipped with small rocket thrusters to allow the astronaut to navigate around the spacecraft.
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Famous Astronauts
Buzz Aldrin (1930) – Buzz Aldrin was the second person to walk on the Moon. He was the Apollo 11 lunar module pilot.
Neil Armstrong (1930 – 2012) – Neil Armstrong was the first man to set foot on the Moon. When he set foot on the Moon, he famously said “It’s one small step for man, one giant jump for human”. Neil was also part of the Gemini VIII mission, which was the first time the two vehicles had successfully docked in space.
Guion Bluford (1942) – Guion Bluford was the first African-American in space. Guion has flown four different space shuttle missions beginning as a mission specialist aboard the Challenger in 1983. He is also a pilot in the United States Air Force, where he has flown 144 missions. service in the Vietnam War.
Yuri Gagarin (1934 – 1968) – Yuri Gagarin was a Russian cosmonaut. He was the first person to travel in space and orbit the Earth. He was aboard the Vostok spacecraft when it successfully orbited Earth in 1961.
Gus Grissom (1926 – 1967) – Gus Grissom was the second American to travel in space aboard the Liberty Bell 7. He was also the commander of Gemini II, which made three orbits around the Earth. Gus died in a fire during pre-flight testing for the Apollo 1 mission.
John Glenn (1921 – 2016) – John Glenn became the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth in 1962. He was the third American to go into space. In 1998, Glenn traveled into space again aboard the space shuttle Discovery. At the age of 77, he is the oldest person to fly into space.
Mae Jemison (1956) – Mae Jemison became the first black female astronaut to travel to space in 1992 aboard the space shuttle Endeavor.
Sally Ride (1951 – 2012) – Sally Ride was the first American woman to fly into space. She is also the youngest American astronaut to go into space.
Alan Shepard (1923 – 1998) – In 1961, Alan Shepard became the second and first American to travel in space aboard Freedom 7. A few years later, he was commander of Apollo 14. He landed on the Sun. moon and became the fifth person to walk on the Moon.
Interesting facts about astronauts
The word “astronaut” comes from the Greek word “astron nautes”, which means “star sailor”.
An estimated 600 million people watched Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk on the moon on television.
Astronaut John Glenn became a United States Senator from Ohio, where he served from 1974 to 1999.
Alan Shepard became famous for hitting a golf ball on the Moon.