First (and only?) Vietnamese cosmonaut - interesting bio

Check this out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pham_Tuan

On the night of December 27, 1972, he shot down a United States B-52 bomber circling over the Hanoi, becoming the first person ever to do so.

Pham, along with Soviet cosmonaut Viktor Gorbatko, was launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome on July 23, 1980, on board Soyuz 37. In the traditional Vietnamese lunar calendar, this was the 12th day of the 6th month, Year of the Monkey [Canh Than]. They were to service the Salyut 6 station.
During his time in orbit, Pham performed experiments on the melting of mineral samples in microgravity. He also carried out plant experiments on azolla. Pham Tuan also photographed Vietnam from orbit for mapping purposes.
Pham was in space for 7 days, 20 hours and 42 minutes. He completed 142 orbits, and was recovered on July 31, 1980.
 
Back
Top