Cosmonaut

Cosmonaut - Our AHD defines it as a Russian or Soviet astronaut, derived from the Greek kosmos (universe) and nautes (sailor).

With the cold war on, the Space Race was (beautifully) both a metaphorical and literal struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union as the two nations strove to count coup on the moon. In 1961, the Soviets declared Yuri Gagarin, above, to be the first man to successfully enter space and safely return, raising the stakes for our own space program.

Imagine heading out past the sky - space is dangerous, beautiful, and calling us still.

[image source: techrepublic.com]