World Space Week: Which countries have sent people to space?
Summary
World Space Week marks important moments in space history, such as the launch of the first satellite and human spaceflights. Over 50 countries have sent people to space, with the United States and Russia leading in the number of astronauts. Women have represented about 15% of all space travelers.Key Facts
- Sputnik 1, the first satellite, was launched by the Soviet Union 69 years ago, starting the Space Age.
- The Outer Space Treaty, effective from 1967, says space must be used peacefully and cannot be claimed by any country.
- Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet astronaut, was the first human in space in 1961.
- Neil Armstrong was the first person to walk on the moon on July 20, 1969, during the US Apollo 11 mission.
- The Karman line, at about 100 km above Earth, is often used to mark where space begins.
- At least 746 people from 52 countries have traveled to space, including astronauts and tourists.
- The US has sent 369 people, Russia (and the former Soviet Union) 138, and China 29.
- Only about 15% of space travelers have been women, with the first woman in space being Soviet astronaut Valentina Tereshkova in 1963.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
