China Daily website news: Looking back on the history of human spaceflight, artificial satellites, rockets, spacecrafts, space shuttles, etc. with different functions have all played an important role in human exploration of space. However, looking back on the past, the most important thing is What people will never forget are the heroes who took spacecraft to explore space.

These space warriors have written their mark in the vast space.

Today, although some of them have returned to their hometowns in glory, some are stained with blood in the sky, and some are still "fighting against the sky", their great wisdom and courage will always remain in people's memory and inspire them. Human beings continue to make progress and struggle to overcome difficulties one after another on the way forward.

Now, with the launch of "Shenzhou 6" soon, partners from China will be added to the ranks of space heroes. Let us use those space predecessors who will forever be remembered in history and their touching stories to bid farewell to our young Chinese heroes.

***The first person to travel in space: Yuri Gagarin

On April 12, 1961, former Soviet astronaut Yuri Gagarin piloted the Vostok 1 The "Vostok 1" spacecraft flew around the Earth in 108 minutes and returned safely to the ground, becoming the first person in the world to enter space. The "Vostok 1" spacecraft he piloted also became the first manned spacecraft to enter outer space. spacecraft. Gagarin's name, together with his charming smile, spread to every corner of the world.

Unfortunately, Gagarin was killed in a plane crash during an ordinary flight training in 1968. He was only 34 years old. To commemorate him, the former Soviet Union renamed his birthplace Gagarin City, the International Aeronautical Federation established the Gagarin Gold Medal, and a crater on the back of the moon was named after him. Gagarin has become a symbol of the space age.

***The first man to land on the moon: Neil Armstrong

On July 20, 1969, the American "Apollo 11" spacecraft successfully landed on the Earth Satellite - On the moon, American astronaut Neil Armstrong took the lead in setting foot on the desolate and silent land of the moon and became the first human being to land on the moon. What he said at the time was "This is one small step for an individual. But it is a giant step forward for mankind." It has become a famous saying that has been quoted on countless occasions.

During this lunar landing, Armstrong and another astronaut Aldrin left a commemorative plaque on the moon on behalf of mankind, which read: "Humans from the Earth arrived in 1969 AD. We landed on the moon for the first time in July 2018. We are here for the peace of all mankind."

***The first heroine in space: Valentina Tereshkova

The former Soviet Union not only produced Gagarin, the world’s first man in space, but also produced Tereshkova, the first heroine to ascend to heaven. On June 16, 1963, she took off on the Vostok 6 spacecraft and returned to the ground three days later. She pioneered women's spaceflight, broke the dominance of male astronauts, and set a shining example for women to conquer space.

Tereshkova completed the biomedical and scientific research plan during the flight and proved that women can also live and work normally in space. Two months later, she married Nikolayev, the pilot of the Vostok 3 spacecraft, and formed the world's first astronaut family.

***The first person to walk in space: Alexei Leonov

On March 18, 1965, former Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leon When Novov was traveling in space on the Voskhod 2 spacecraft, he flew 5 meters away from the spacecraft while wearing a safety belt and floated in space for 12 minutes, creating the first space walk miracle.

After leaving the cabin, Leonov not only floated in space, but also somersaulted, removed a camera from outside the cabin, and moved several extravehicular objects. However, Leonov ran into trouble when he was about to return to the cockpit. Because his space suit was severely inflated, he almost couldn't return to the transition cabin. Fortunately, he had an idea and deflated the space suit to a dangerously low pressure, and finally finally Wearing a deflated spacesuit, he entered the hatch alive. After completing his spacewalk mission, Leonov also took part in the docking and joint flight with the American Apollo spacecraft on the Soyuz 19 spacecraft from July 15 to 20, 1975, making important contributions in the history of human space. contribute.

***The first person to enter Earth orbit: John Glenn

On February 20, 1962, the American "Mercury 6" spacecraft entered space and orbited the Earth for the first time. Astronaut John Glenn on board the spacecraft became the first person to fly into Earth orbit and took the first photos of the Earth from space. Humans finally saw that the Earth is a mostly blue sphere.

Glenn has conducted three space journeys in his life, the last time he was 77 years old. That time, he completed a nine-day space journey on the space shuttle Discovery and became the oldest astronaut.

***The first Chinese to enter space: Yang Liwei

On October 15, 2003, China’s self-developed "Shenzhou" 5 manned spacecraft carried astronauts Yang Liwei ascended into space, and the Chinese nation's millennium "flying dream" finally came true, and the world now has another manned spaceflight country.

As the first Chinese astronaut to enter space, Yang Liwei also became famous in one fell swoop and became a national hero in the hearts of Chinese people.

***The first American astronaut: Alan Shepard

On April 12, 1961, after the Soviet Union's "Vostok 1" manned spacecraft was successfully launched, the United States Not to be outdone, three weeks later, American astronaut Alan Shepard carried out a 15-minute suborbital flight on the Mercury 3 spacecraft, becoming the first American to enter space, opening the door for American manned spaceflight. The beginning of a great cause.

***The person who has worked continuously in space for the longest time: B. Polyakov

On March 22, 1995, Russian astronaut Polyakov created He set a world record - he worked continuously on the Mir space station for 437 days, 17 hours, 58 minutes and 17 seconds. In other words, he "lived" in space for more than a year - 14 and a half months, setting a record in human history. The record for the longest flight in space. Polyakov flew around the earth more than 7,000 times, covering a distance of 290 million kilometers.

***Died before fulfilling his ambition: Grissom and 22 others

The road to space is full of dangers. Humanity has experienced many joys of great success in the field of aerospace. It has also suffered many unbearable heavy blows. So far, 22 astronauts who are determined to reach the stars and reach the moon have paid their lives for this.

However, for space heroes, it is worthwhile to sacrifice everything in the process of exploring space. The American astronaut Grissom who died during the experimental stage of the "Apollo" spacecraft program died before his death. He said something through the microphone that is still deeply touching and unforgettable. He said: "If we die, please don't make a fuss and just treat it as an ordinary thing, because we are engaged in an adventurous business. We hope not to affect the entire plan and process. Conquering the universe is worth risking our lives." These words fully represent the fearless spirit of the astronauts and will always inspire future generations to keep moving forward.

***There are many heroes who have gone on to succeed

In fact, there are many astronauts who have left great achievements in space: On June 7, 1984, the US space shuttle "Challenger" US astronaut Bruce McCandless used a manned maneuvering device to complete the first human spacewalk without safety cables; from 1965 to 1983, American astronaut John Young took the lead in completing 6 space flights; female astronaut Shannon Lucid not only went to space five times, but also holds the world record for women's manned spaceflight for 188 days; Collins is the world's first female space shuttle pilot...