Interesting Facts of Space Travel

• The first manmade satellite to be successfully launched into orbit was sputnik 1 in 1957 by the soviets. The first USA satallite, the explorer was launched in 1958. 
• Yuri Gararin from the USSR made the first successful manned space flight in 1961. The first manned space flight by American was made by Scot Glen in 1962. 
• Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov, holds the record for most days spent in space. He achieved 438 days aboard the Mir space station. 
• Valentina Tereshkova USSR was launched into space on 16 June 1963 to become the first woman in space. American woman didn't get into space until Sally Ride blasted off in 1983. 
• On 20 July 1969 Neil Armstrong is the first person to walk on the moon as he does so he uttered those famous words "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. The first meal consumed on the moon was turkey from foil packets. Only twelve people in total (all men) have walked on the surface of the moon. 
• There have been 18 fatalities during spaceflight. 13 Americans 1 Israeli and 4 USSR cosmonauts. 
• Gene Roddenberry the creator of Star Trek was one of the first to be have a space burial. His ashes were sent into orbit in 1997. 
• Dennis Tito, aged 60, became the first space tourist after he reportedly paid the Russians $20 million for the privilege. 
• The first animals sent into space were fruit flies aboard a V2 rocket launched by the Americans in 1947