While Neil Armstrong is known for being the first man to walk on the Moon, was he the first person in space as well? Who were Charles Conrad and Alan Bean , and what is their significance in the world of space exploration? In this article, you will learn X facts about astronauts.
Major Yuri Gagarin
The first person in space was a Russian by the name of Major Yuri Gagarin, who for his accomplishments was given medals that spanned around the world. As a pioneer reaching outer space, he became a hero to the Soviet Union.
3 Facts About Major Yuri Gagarin
1) Gagarin was born in a village called Klushino (now known as Smolensk Oblast, Russia) in 1934. Interestingly, the town located adjacent to his native village was renamed Gagarin to honor him in 1968. His parents (Alexey Ivanovich Gagarin and Anna Timofeyevna Gagarina) worked on a collective farm. His mother read a lot of books and his father was skilled in the art of carpentry. Gagarin had three siblings, including an older sister that looked after the younger kids while the parents worked.
2) The total amount of time that he spent in space was 1 hour and 48 minutes.
3) Yuri Gagarin died on March 27th 1968. He was 34 years old at the time of his death, which was caused when he lost control of his plane during what was thought to have been a bout of turbulence. An investigation was conducted into his death, where no distinct clues surfaced.
Moon Walkers
Spending the first day on the moon was a feat that Charles Conrad and Alan Bean accomplished when they became part of the Apollo 12 mission.
3 Facts About Charles “Pete” Conrad Jr
1) Conrad became the third person to walk on the Moon. He also enjoyed telling people that he was the first man to dance on the Moon.
2) In 1996, Conrad was part of a crew that set an around-the-world flight record in a Learjet, which happened to be owned by cable television pioneer, Bill Daniels. The flight continued on for 49 hours, 26 minutes and 8 seconds. All of this took place on Valentine’s Day.
3) During his career as an astronaut, he served on Gemini 5, Apollo 12, and Skylab 2 missions. It is believed that he was slated to engage in the Apollo 20 mission, but it was cancelled.
3 Facts About Alan Bean
1) Bean was 37 years old when he became the 4th person to walk on the moon on in November of 1969.
2) When bean retired from the Navy in October of 1975, he was a Captain. He decided to continue on as the head of the Astronaut Candidate Operations and Training Group within the Astronaut Office under the status of a civilian.
3) In June of 1981, Bean resigned from NASA so that he could pour all of his energy into painting. A great deal of his creations decorates the walls of astronomy lovers.