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Astronauts and Cosmonauts

Marcos Pontes

International Partner and Guest Astronauts

Marcos Pontes is a Brazilian Air Force pilot, engineer and astronaut of the Brazilian Space Agency. Born in Bauru, in the state of São Paulo, in 1963, he became one of the most experienced jet pilots in the Brazilian Air Force. In June 1998 the Brazilian Space Agency selected him to train in the NASA space program, and he qualified as a Space Shuttle mission specialist in December 2000. After the shuttle program ran into difficulties he switched to training in Russia. On 30 March 2006 he docked with the International Space Station aboard Soyuz TMA-8, becoming the first South American and the first Portuguese-speaking person in space. He later served as Brazil's Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation and was elected a federal senator in 2022.

Facts
Birth Year
1963 1
Number of Flights
1 2
Firsts
First From Their Country 1
Classification
Astronaut Role
Mission Specialist 1
Dating
Selection Year
1998 1
Connections

Operated By

Brazilian Space Agency, Space Agencies and Companies
Source Marcos Pontes (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases

Nationality

Brazil

Also in Geography Atlas: the nationality of this subject.

Source Marcos Pontes (Wikipedia)Lead section [nationality]
Quote, Lead section [nationality]
is a Brazilian Air Force pilot, engineer, AEB astronaut
Sources
1. Marcos Pontes (Wikipedia)
  • Lead section
    born 11 March 1963
  • Career section
    In June 1998, he was selected by the Brazilian Space Agency to train in the NASA space program
  • Career section [astronaut-role]
    qualified as Space Shuttle Mission Specialist in December 2000
  • Lead section [nationality]
    is a Brazilian Air Force pilot, engineer, AEB astronaut
  • Lead section, firsts
    He became the first South American and the first Lusophone to go into space when he docked onto the International Space Station aboard Soyuz TMA-8 on 30 March 2006.
  • Operated By: Brazilian Space Agency, Lead and career sections
    In June 1998, he was selected by the Brazilian Space Agency to train in the NASA space program
  • In Group: Astronauts of Other National Programs, Lead
    Marcos Cesar Pontes (born 11 March 1963) is a Brazilian Air Force pilot, engineer, AEB astronaut, politician and author.
View the Source
2. The Space Devs Launch Library 2: Launch Library 2 astronaut list, records 201 to 300
The Space Devs Launch Library 2Astronaut record 225, Marcos Pontes
Quote, Astronaut record 225, Marcos Pontes
"name": "Marcos Pontes" ... "flights_count": 1
View the Source
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