Arnaldo Tamayo: The First Person of African Descent In Space

Born on January 29, 1942, in Baracoa, Cuba, Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez is a trailblazing military officer and former cosmonaut. He made history as the first Cuban, the first Latin American, and the first person of African descent to travel into space.

Early Life and Military Career

Tamayo’s early life was marked by significant hardship. Orphaned as an infant, he was raised by foster parents, Rafael Tamayo and Esperanza Méndez. By age 13, he was working as a shoeshine and vegetable vendor to help support his family.

His journey to the stars began with the Cuban Revolution. He joined the Association of Young Rebels to protest the Batista regime and later enrolled in the Rebel Army’s Technical Institute. His aptitude led him to the Soviet Union, where he trained at the Yeisk Higher Air Force School to fly MiG-15 fighter jets. Upon returning to Cuba, he flew reconnaissance missions during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis and later served with Cuban forces during the Vietnam War.

Journey to Space: The Intercosmos Program

Tamayo’s path to space was paved by the Intercosmos program, a Soviet initiative designed to allow cosmonauts from allied nations to participate in space missions. In 1978, after a rigorous selection process involving over 600 candidates, Tamayo and José Armando López Falcón were chosen as the final two Cuban representatives.

Tamayo moved to "Star City" (Zvezdny Gorodok) in Russia, where he underwent two and a half years of intensive training. On September 18, 1980, he launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome aboard the Soyuz 38 spacecraft, commanded by Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Romanenko

Mission Accomplishments

During his eight-day mission, Tamayo docked with the Salyut 6 space station. He spent seven days, 20 hours, and 43 minutes in orbit, completing 124 revolutions around the Earth. His work in space was primarily scientific and medical:

• Space Adaptation Syndrome (SAS): He conducted experiments to understand why astronauts suffer from motion sickness in microgravity.

• Economic Research: He performed experiments on the crystallization of sucrose, aimed at benefiting Cuba’s vital sugar industry.

• Joint Science: In total, he participated in 27 joint Soviet-Cuban experiments developed by the Cuban Academy of Sciences.

Legacy and Post-Flight Career

Upon his return, Tamayo was hailed as a national hero. He was the first person to receive the title Hero of the Republic of Cuba and was also named a Hero of the Soviet Union.

Following his spaceflight, Tamayo transitioned into leadership and political roles:

• Military Leadership: He rose to the rank of Brigadier General and directed the Military Patriotic Educational Society (SEPMI).

• Politics: Since 1980, he has served as a Deputy in the National Assembly of People's Power, representing his home region of Guantánamo.

• Cultural Icon: His space suit is preserved at the Museum of the Revolution in Havana, serving as a permanent symbol of international cooperation and Cuban achievement.

Sources:

• BlackPast.org: Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez (1942-)

• Encyclopedia Britannica: Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez

• History Hit: Cuba's Forgotten Cosmonaut

• Wikipedia: Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez