Who was the first person to travel in space?
Soviet pilot Yuri Gagarin was the first person in space. He launched on the 12th of April 1961, aboard Vostok 1 and orbited Earth in 108 minutes.
Questions about Astronaut
Short answers, pulled from the story.
How many humans have been to space?
As of April 2026, 781 humans from 55 countries have reached an altitude of 100 km or more. Of these, 28 people have traveled beyond low Earth orbit.
What is the difference between an astronaut, cosmonaut, and taikonaut?
All three terms describe professional space travelers. Astronaut is the term used by the United States and most Western agencies. Cosmonaut applies to crew from Russia and the Soviet Union, coined by Mikhail Tikhonravov. Taikonaut is an informal English-language term for Chinese space travelers, traced to early use in May 1998.
Who holds the record for the most time spent in space?
Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko holds the record for the longest cumulative time in space, having spent more than 1,100 days beyond Earth. For the longest single continuous stay, Russian Valeri Polyakov spent 438 consecutive days in space.
What are the health risks of being an astronaut?
Long-duration spaceflight carries risks including bone and muscle loss, radiation injury, vision impairment from increased intracranial pressure, brain structural changes, and gastrointestinal damage. A condition called visual impairment intracranial pressure has been reported in nearly two-thirds of astronauts after extended stays on the International Space Station.
What are the requirements to become a NASA astronaut?
NASA requires candidates to be United States citizens with at least a master's degree in a STEM field and either two years of relevant professional experience or 1,000 hours of pilot-in-command time on jet aircraft. Candidates must also pass a long-duration flight physical and demonstrate leadership, teamwork, and communication skills.