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Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez (born January 29, 1942) was
the first Cuban cosmonaut and the first person
from a country in the Western Hemisphere other
than the U.S. to travel to outer space|space. He
was also the first black man in space.

Born in Guantánamo, Tamayo graduated from the
Cuban Air Force Academy|Air Force Academy and
became a pilot in the Cuban Air Defence Force. He
was selected as part of the seventh international
programme for Intercosmos on March 1, 1978. His
backup cosmonaut was fellow Cuban José López
Falcón.

Tamayo, along with Soviet Union|Soviet cosmonaut
Yuri Romanenko, was launched into space as part of
the Soyuz 38 from Baikonur Cosmodrome on September
18, 1980, at 19:11 UTC).
After docking with Salyut 6, Tamayo and Romanenko
conducted experiments in an attempt to find what
caused space sickness, and perhaps even find a
cure.
After 124 orbits and 7 days, 20 hours and 43
minutes, Tamayo and Romanenko landed 180 km from
Dzheskasgan. The landing was risky, as it was in
darkness.

Following his career as a cosmonaut, Tamayo was
made director of the Comités de Defensa de la
Revolución.

Tamayo is married to Maria Lobaina and has two
sons, Orlando Tamayo Méndez|Orlando (born 1968)
and Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez II|Arnaldo (born 1970).
As of 2004|To date  he has not been honoured with
induction into the International Space Hall of
Fame.