The first African-American traveler set foot on ISS

For the first time in aerospace history, an African-American astronaut will work at the International Space Station (ISS).

In a statement Wednesday, Chris Cassidy, head of the Astronaut's Office at the Johnson Space Center of the US Aerospace Agency (NASA), said the agency is preparing steps to take female astronaut Jeanette Epps , as well as a physical expert, went to ISS in 2018 with another longtime astronaut, Andrew Feustel.

Epps also worked at the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Female astronaut Jeanette Epps.(Source: AFP / NASA).

According to Cassidy, there have been many African-American astronauts on mission, but this is the first time an African-American will be on ISS.

With a total investment of about 100 billion USD, ISS has a maximum living space of 6 people.

Moving according to Earth's orbit 400km at a speed of about 28,000km / hour, ISS takes 90 minutes to complete a cycle around the Earth.

Although launched in orbit in 1998, it was not until November 2, 2000, that ISS received the first three astronauts of the First Expeditionary Team, including NASA's Bill Shepard, human astronaut. Russia Yuri Gidzenko and Sergei Krikalev on a 136-day working trip.

During nearly 20 years of operation, ISS has welcomed 226 people from 15 countries around the world.

Experts conducted more than 180 walks in space, about 1,760 research investigations and published more than 1,200 scientific studies.

The control agency hopes to maintain the operation of ISS until 2024 after all countries join the cooperation, except for the European Union (EU), agreed to continue financial support for the project. at least until that point.