Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez

Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez (born January 29, 1942) is a Cuban military officer, legislator, and former cosmonaut. He was the first person of African heritage in space.

Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez
Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez in Berlin, July 2018
Born	(1942-01-29) 29 January 1942 Guantánamo, Cuba
Status	Retired
Nationality	Cuban
Occupation	Pilot
Awards	Hero of the Republic of Cuba Hero of the Soviet Union
Space career
Intercosmos Research Cosmonaut
Rank	Brigadier General
Time in space	7d 20h 43m
Selection	1978 Intercosmos Group
Missions	Soyuz 38
Mission insignia

As a member of the crew of Soyuz 38, he became the first Cuban citizen, the first Latin American, and the first person from a country in the Western Hemisphere other than the United States to travel into Earth orbit.

Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez Media

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  Arnaldo Tamayo's Sokol space suit, on display at Museo de la Revolución, Havana, Cuba, 2002

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  Soviet postage stamp commemorating the Soyuz 38 mission.