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An astronaut, cosmonaut (Russian: космона́вт), spationaut or taikonaut (Chinese: taikongren, 太空人) is a person who travels into space, or who makes a career of doing so. The criteria for determining who has achieved human spaceflight vary (see edge of space). In the United States, people who travel above an altitude of 50 miles (80 km) are designated as astronauts. The FAI defines spaceflight as over 100 km (62 miles). As of July 4, 2006, a total of 452 humans have reached space according to the U.S. definition, 446 people qualify under the FAI definition, while 442 people have reached Earth orbit or beyond. These individuals have spent over 28,000 crew-days (or a cumulative total of over 77 years) in space including over 100 crew-days of spacewalks. A person who has traveled in space is said to hold astronaut wings. Astronauts from at least 35 countries have gone into space.
International variations
By convention, a space traveller employed by the Russian Aviation and Space Agency (or its Soviet predecessor) is called a cosmonaut. The word is an anglicisation of the Russian word космонавт (IPA ), which in turn derives from the Greek words kosmos ("universe") and nautes ("sailor").
In the U.S., a space traveller is called an astronaut. The term derives from the Greek words ástron ("star") and nautes, ("sailor"). For the most part, "cosmonaut" and "astronaut" are synonyms in all languages, and the usage of choice is often dictated by political reasons. However in the United States, the term "astronaut" is typically applied to the individual as soon as training begins, while in Russia, an individual is not labeled a cosmonaut until successful space flight. The first known use of the term "astronaut" was by Neil R. Jones in his short story The Death's Head Meteor in 1930. The word may have been inspired by "aeronaut", an older term for an air traveller first applied (in 1784) to balloonists.
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NASA to Provide Update to Hubble Anomaly Status
Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400
NASA will host a media teleconference at 12:30 p.m. EDT, Tuesday, Oct. 14, to brief reporters about the status of efforts to revive the data handling unit that failed on the Hubble Space Telescope in late-September.
NASA to Provide Mars Science Laboratory Launch Update
Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400
NASA will host a media teleconference at 3 p.m. EDT, Friday, Oct. 10, to brief reporters after a meeting held by the agency's administrator concerning the Mars Science Laboratory, or MSL.
NASA Sets Briefings for Next Shuttle Mission to the Space Station
Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400
PASTE INTRO SENTENCE HERE
NASA Selects ITT for Space Communications Network Services
Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400
NASA has selected ITT Corporation, Advanced Engineering and Sciences of Herndon, Va., to perform telemetry, tracking and command services for near-Earth missions under the Space Communications Network Services contract.
NASA Issues Space Shuttle to Constellation Workforce Transition Report
Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400
NASA is releasing an updated version of the Workforce Transition Strategy Report, which was delivered to Congress on Wednesday.
Spinoff 2008 Highlights NASA Innovations In Everyday Life
Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400
The 2008 edition of NASA's annual Spinoff publication celebrates the agency's 50th anniversary.
Apollo One Memorial Foundation - Dedicated to the remembrance of and in memoriam to the three brave astronauts of Apollo One. They were killed on January 27, 1967 will preparing for the first Apollo manned flight. Gus Grissom, Edward White II, Roger Chaffee, gave their lives for the race to the Moon.
Meta Description: [ Welcome to the Apollo 1 Memorial Foundation website ]
Ask An Astronaut - Get your questions answered by the astronauts; includes biographies and games.
Astronaut Information - Features overview on how to become an astronaut, biographies, living and working in space.
Astronauts - The behind-the-scenes story of the astronauts, their mission and their families in a 90-minute documentary that premiered on PBS on July 16, 1997.
Meta Description: [ This Web site, provided by the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), is home to more than 350 television show companion sites in addition to Web-original sites. PBS Online hosts interactive content for everyone including kids, parents, educators, and the general audience. ]
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Complete Astronaut Biographies - Official NASA biographies of current astronauts, former astronauts, astronaut candidates, and payload specialists.
Dr. Edgar Mitchell, Apollo 14 Lunar Module Pilot - Apollo 14 astronaut and moonwalker presents information about himself and his work. Includes forum where he contributes with answers to questions.
In Memoriam: The Astronaut/Cosmonaut Memorial Web Site - Dedicated to those who lost their lives in the exploration of space. It contains photos and biographies of 25 astronauts and cosmonauts.
Jay Apt - Astronaut and author Jay Apt's personal site, with images from his best-selling book, Orbit: NASA Astronauts Photograph the Earth.
Susan Helms - Biography of NASA astronaut Susan Helms.
Meta Description: [ Astronaut Biography: Susan J. Helms ]
The Apollo Astronauts - Portraits of the men of the moon landing program.
The Official Dick Gordon Web Site - Official site for information on Richard F. Gordon, Jr., Gemini XI Pilot and Apollo XII Comand Module Pilot. Photos, videos, history and autographs.
Meta Description: [ Official Web Site for information on Richard F. Gordon, Jr. Gemini XI Pilot and Apollo XII Comand Module Pilot ]
The Shuttle Astronaut Biographies - Biographies of all NASA astronauts on active duty since 1995.
Meta Description: [ Official NASA Astronaut Biographies prepared by the Astronaut Office of NASA Johnson Space Center. ]
| Pages from an Israeli astronaut's diary, that survived the explosion of the space shuttle Columbia and a 37-mile fall to ... | |
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