Only 100 years ago, a person could not even dream that he could travel through the air, overcoming vast distances at high speed. Moreover, the idea of man in space seemed to be something fantastic. At the present time, the fact of half-year stays of people in orbit is already commonplace. Often from TV screens they talk about people conquering space. But sometimes they are called astronauts, and sometimes - astronauts. What is the difference?
Where did the word begin
In order to understand how an astronaut differs from an astronaut, you need to understand the origin of the words.
The world was the first to recognize the word "astronaut." It is believed that it debuted on the pages of the fantastic novel by the English writer P. Greg in 1880. But it did not gain much popularity. In 1929, this word was used as a scientific definition in an article by the British Astronomical Association.
The word "astronaut" in 1935 was proposed by the scientist involved in calculating the flight paths of rockets, the popularizer of space science - A. Sternfeld. But the scientific environment did not immediately accept this innovation. Some pundits categorically rejected the new term, classifying it as unnecessary neologisms. Nevertheless, the term "astronaut" after the middle of the 20th century first replenished scientific vocabulary, and then the vocabulary of a simple person.
Both words have Greek roots. "Cosmonaut" from the language of Pythagoras literally translates as "universal navigator", and "astronaut" - "star navigator".
If we consider the exact definitions of each word, then the difference between the astronaut and the astronaut can not be found. After all, both terms denote a person engaged in scientific research in outer space. True, in different countries of the world these concepts are shared, speaking of people of the same profession. So, let's clarify how the astronaut differs from the astronaut, what is the difference?
Cold war
In differentiating terms, the main role was played by the politician. She determined how the astronaut differs from the astronaut. After the end of World War II, the Soviet Union and America were bogged down for several decades in an arms race and scientific discoveries that allowed them to overtake the enemy’s country. Or, as they say more often, in the Cold War.
In the postwar period, the active development of programs related to space exploration began. Tests began to launch manned spacecraft into Earth orbit. It was decided to call people sent outside the Earth in the USSR astronauts, and in America astronauts. And although, in fact, these concepts are synonymous, the warring countries deliberately focused on the difference between the astronaut and the astronaut.
Until now, the media and scientific literature of different countries, talking about people plowing the vastness of the universe, use different terms. It turns out that the main difference in how the astronaut differs from the astronaut is his nationality. If a Russian pilot flies to the stars, then they say "astronaut" about him, if an American, Japanese, European - "astronaut".
First in space
Of course, we are aware that it does not matter how the astronaut differs from the astronaut, because all these people are real heroes.
The first person who appeared in outer space was a Soviet test pilot, and part-time - an astronaut, Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin. This happened in April 1961 . The flight lasted a little over 100 minutes. Now on this day in our country celebrate Cosmonautics Day.
The second man to rocket to low Earth orbit was astronaut German Stepanovich Titov. In space, he spent more than a day.
In America, astronaut John Herschel Glenn Jr. became the first person and the third person in the world to fly in the orbit of the Earth in a spaceship. During his stay in space, he flew around the planet three times.
And the first female astronaut to conquer space was Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova (1963).
Who is in orbit now?
According to the Mission Control Center, on June 2, 2017, the crew of three people is on the international space station :
- Test cosmonaut 1st class, commander of the ISS-52 - Yurchikhin Fedor Nikolaevich (Russia).
- NASA astronaut, flight engineer - Peggy Winston (USA).
- NASA astronaut, flight engineer - Jack Fisher (USA).
For these people, it does not matter how the astronaut differs from the astronaut. The main thing is scientific and research work, which will allow earthlings to approach the secrets of the universe. Perhaps it is thanks to such selfless people that we can travel among the stars and other planets.