The astronaut (or cosmonaut or spaceman) is part of a team of well trained people whose mission is particularly tricky, for, in any case, it has to be completed in space.

In the 50's and 60's, competition was stiff between the USSR and the US. Each country, each government wanted one of their compatriots to be the first one to be sent in space. Eventually, the USSR won the struggle with Yuri Gagarin who was the first man to be sent. This happened in April 1961, that is only one month before the American astronaut Shepard was sent in space as well!

As for women, the first one reached space in 1963! Once again a Russian who marked a turning point in the history! Concerning the US, the first woman was sent in space in 1983.

The US did not completely lose the battle of the “space-rush” since the first man who landed on the moon was Neil Armstrong, in 1969.

Did you know there is an area of international law, named “Space law” which governs men's deeds on planets and in space? Well, there is one, signed in 1967. The “Outer Space Treaty” aims at guaranteeing respect towards celestial bodies and moon in particular, and at keeping them on the “world heritage list”. In other words, no one can claim a part or the entirety of the Moon is their property.

In fact, this agreement was signed so as to avoid , among other things, weapon storage on the moon by any country able to send men and to put satellites into orbit.