Home Space The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
Space By Trista -

Going into space is an accomplishment in and of itself, but the training process of becoming an astronaut is quite grueling. Many kids grow up wanting to be astronauts, but not many know what it takes to seek it out as a career. Instead of wondering, here’s all you need to know about training to become an astronaut. Training does involve long days at work and going on lots of travel, all with no guarantee that they’ll ever make it to space. Keep reading to learn more about the rigorous training astronauts have to go through for their unique professions. You can also read about all of the first people in space, including the first man, woman, animal, and more.

Specific Requirements for Astronauts

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
Astronauts in space. Photo Credit: Pixabay

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As NASA continues to expand its exploration of our solar system, it needs to recruit the best and brightest astronauts. There are many rigorous requirements on who can become an astronaut. First, a candidate must have at least a bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, mathematics, or physical or biological science, combined with at least three years of professional experience, or a minimum of one thousand hours of piloting a jet aircraft. It takes brains to be an astronaut! You have to fix anything that may stop working on the spaceship, and that takes specialized knowledge.

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
Astronaut in outer space against the backdrop of the planet Earth. Photo Credit: Andrei Armiagov/Shutterstock

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Once those requirements are met, then a physical examination is conducted. This demand is because being an astronaut requires you to be in peak physical condition, as there are challenging and technical jobs to perform in a spacecraft. When astronauts were first selected in 1959, they had to be shorter than 5’11” to fit into the Mercury spacecraft! Now, the requirements allow an astronaut to be as tall as 6’2″. Of course, applicants should be free from disease or drug dependencies, have a clear vision, and have a maximum blood pressure of 140/90 measured in a sitting position.

Bonus Requirements: Padding Out the Resume

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
Astronaut Training and Mars Base 1 at KSC. Photo Credit: NASA/American Space

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NASA considers other skills and experiences, such as SCUBA diving, knowing other languages, and experience in leadership. Being as versatile as possible may help your chances of getting on the roster. One of the most highly prized skills, believe it or not, is a medical degree, since astronauts on the stations can conduct space-based biomedical research to understand better how living in space impacts the human body. They can even perform innovative cancer research in the station’s laboratory. Microgravity, or feeble gravity, is very useful to gain insight into human health and diseases that affect humanity.

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
NASA astronaut training at NBL. Photo Credit: Wikipedia

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Another great skill is being multilingual. One of the critical languages to help you get in would be Russian, as all astronauts must speak it in today’s age. Because astronauts ride on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft through a Russian territory in Kazakhstan, it might be a good idea to start taking classes before you apply. Experts are even toying with the idea of an international space language, especially with the International Space Station running out of funding. With China potentially partnering with Europe in the future and multiple countries attempting to land on Mars, perhaps an international space language isn’t as foreign as it sounds.

Preparing for Astronaut Class

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
NASA astronaut Scott Tingle completes spacewalk training. Photo Credit: NASA

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Since the first group of astronauts in 1959, there have been at least 22 different astronaut classes, each notably different. So although you may not end up in space, being in the program itself is a step in the right direction. The first class of astronauts included seven members chosen for the Mercury program, though NASA has changed since then. It initially recruited mainly from the military, but it began to diversify its recruiting pool as it evolved. That is why you see more engineers and doctors as astronauts than only military pilots today.

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman checks his spacesuit in preparation for the first Expedition 41 spacewalk. Photo Credit: NASA

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For example, the 4th class of astronauts is known as “The Scientists.” That class included the only geologist to ever walk on the moon. The eighth class, from 1978, included women, African Americans, and Asian-Americans. The 16th class was the largest class, with 44 members, and the first class to ever have a fifty-fifty split was in 2013: the 21st class and they only had eight members. Each class has had their own job to perform to keep everything operating smoothly. Work still is required in terms of diversity. However, we can be sure that each astronaut is hired for their merits. We should applaud this notion.

The Basics of Basic Training

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
STS-129 Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory Training. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

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Basic training for astronauts can take as long as two years, if not more. It is a very intense process that weeds out the group to only those who are fit for the task at hand. During their training, they’ll learn how to spacewalk, how to control robotics arms, how to fly airplanes (if they don’t already), and how to operate the machinery on the International Space Station. It’s an intense version of space boot camp! Spacewalks are taught in a 60-foot pool, and piloting experience is gained by flying T-38s. Trainees go through simulations using the robotic arm, and they get basic training for the operations that take place on the ISS.

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
Astronaut on lunar moon landing mission Apollo 11. Photo Credit: Digital Images Studio/Shutterstock

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Though it may not seem exciting initially, astronauts also have to take classes, as they must be well-versed in anything and everything that happens on the space station. Remember those languages we talked about? Language classes will come in handy here. Chosen astronauts will also learn about medical procedures and even have to take public speaking courses! Since space is one of the most extreme environments ever, they’ll take survival training too. Prepping for outer space also involves readying themselves for microgravity, and they can do that in the KC-135. Astronauts fondly (or maybe not so fondly) call this the Weightless Wonder or the Vomit Comet. It provides about 20 – 25 seconds of zero gravity to acclimate them to the feeling, and even experienced astronauts can get sick in it.

Training in Launching and Landing

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
Two members of the Apollo 11 lunar landing mission participate in a simulation of deploying and using lunar tools. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

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The process of traversing the Earth’s atmosphere and gravitational pull has profound effects on an astronaut’s body. The most common side effects are space motion sickness, cardiovascular conditions, and orthostatic intolerance (affecting the circulatory system). Training helps the body minimize these conditions’ effects or prepare the trainees for what’s to come once they’re in space. 60% to 80% of astronauts experience motion sickness symptoms, which are usually gone within two days. As the crew flight programs have become more sophisticated over time, the training processes have become more rigorous to meet the Space Shuttle’s needs.

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
Space Shuttle Atlantis launches from KSC on STS-132 side view. Photo Credit: Wikipedia

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Astronaut training is held under the organization of the JSC’s Mission Operations Directorate. As their training progresses, their individual learning experience is honed through a “single systems trainer,” or SST, which contains computer databases with software that allows them to interact with controls like those of the shuttle. Other primary operations training facilities include the Computer Aided Instructional Trainer or CAIT. CAIT combines the textbook lessons and the simulators to provide a hands-on experience of software capabilities and on-orbit duties, orbiter workstations, and remote manipulator systems. Most of these systems aren’t just for new students, though; members of the astronaut corps regularly use them to help them maintain their fluency in their specialized areas!

Training for On-Orbit Operations

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
Astronaut in outer space against the backdrop of the planet Earth. Photo Credit: Andrei Armiagov/Shutterstock

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The next events that astronauts are prepared for are the conditions of launch and the harsh space environment. The training prepares their bodies for the harsh environments of space and how to operate the spacecraft’s many functions once they’re in outer space. They’re taken through the different engineering systems so that they know how to make it all work. They’re provided additional training in astronomy and Earth observation, which are useful skills to have once they’re on the ISS. Astronauts are also put through scenarios that expose them to space hazards, such as what to do if life support starts to fail.

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
Space camp multi-axis training. Photo Credit: NASA

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After a year of basic training, new astronauts undergo advanced training. It includes sixteen different courses, which cover all necessary shuttle-related crew training. This advanced training can be split into two categories: system-related and phase-related training. System-related training is mainly carried out by low- and medium-fidelity trainers and computer-aided instructional software. It provides one-on-one training with simulators by essentially creating intentional problems and making the students solve them. The phase-related practice focuses on the skills the astronauts will need in space during the mission, from liftoff to landing. About three months before an actual launch, the team starts the “flight-specific integrated simulations” to ensure a smooth launch and flight.

Learning How to Conduct Science Experiments

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
At the Astronaut Training Experience at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, you can try out the microgravity simulator. Photo Credit: NASA/Kennedy Space Center

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Experimentations have long been an essential part of spaceflight and are the primary focus when arriving at the ISS. Receiving training on conducting these experiments will ensure that the results are sound, furthering scientific research on the subject. On arriving at the ISS, astronauts will be limited in their communication with the ground team, and they must adhere to strict schedules each day to ensure that tasks are completed. Getting the job done without assistance from the ground team is essential. Spacelab is a reusable laboratory used on certain spaceflights in conjunction with the Space Shuttle. Thus far, it has flown on a total of about 32 space missions!

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
Crew helping astronaut to get ready for training. Photo Credit: NASA

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Before the Space Shuttle and the Spacelab came together, many research experiments in space were done via robots and automated instruments on rockets or satellites. As you can imagine, this was a significant hindrance for scientists on Earth, as there were many limitations with these uncrewed vehicles. Skylab, the first orbital laboratory, was launched in 1973, and it was a pioneer in space research. From Skylab, scientists and astronauts learned how to create a better variation, which is why we now have Spacelab. Among the advantages of having a Spacelab, we can accumulate data, evaluate it, perform joint experiments with separate but complementary instruments, and test out new equipment and research techniques!

Surpassing the Selection Process

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
JAXA astronaut Aki Hoshide taking a space selfie during a spacewalk on September 5, 2012. Photo Credit: NASA/Wikipedia

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So how does an astronaut ensure that they’re going to get selected? That’s quite difficult to tell, as NASA receives over 18,000 applicants for each job offer, despite all the caveats. The human resources personnel complete the first round of selection. They review each application to see if it meets the necessary qualifications. The second round involves examining the Astronaut Rating Panel application, and they were able to bring the candidate pool down to about 120 people. This panel consists of about 50 people, and once they’ve selected who best fits the criteria, perform reference checks on each applicant.

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
Astronaut Selection Program. Photo Credit: NASA

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They call this smaller group to go through a battery of tests to check their physical fitness. The top 50 candidates then undergo a second interview and even more medical testing. Final candidates tend to be selected in their 30s and 40s, as it takes time to build up the resume you need to be an astronaut! Most astronauts even leave prestigious careers behind for the chance to be an astronaut. Once you’re selected, you may not even make it to space; you’ll still have to undergo mental and physical testing, plus a few years of training, as we’ve already discussed.

Notification of Selection: You’re Going to Space, Baby!

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
Soyuz TMA-7 spacecraft. Photo Credit: Wikipedia

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From the application deadline to the start of training, the entire recruiting timeline can take up to two years! Applications are due around March. The first cycle of application review starts relatively quickly but can happen through July since it can take a long time to sort through that many applications! Around August, they check references. Then, they perform a second application review cycle for highly qualified applicants in the fall. The most exciting part for applications happens next: round 1 interviews happen between February and April of the following year. We’re already a year into the process! Between June and July, round two interviews will occur for additional interviews and testing. In September, some lucky applicants will even qualify for round three interviews. In October or November of that year, the news we’re all waiting for is ready. They say who is in the Astronaut Candidate Class.

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
ESA Astronaut Alexander Gerst takes a selfie during a spacewalk on Oct. 7, 2014. Photo Credit: ESA

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After the grueling process of weeding out candidates, they notify the lucky few. Get ready for a phone call from Flight Operations’ head at the Johnson Space Center. They’ll also receive a call from the chief of the Astronaut Office. Chosen candidates are told only to share the news with their immediate family until NASA makes an official announcement to the rest of the world during a news conference. During this news conference, they invite journalists to chat with the members of the astronaut class. After that, training automatically begins.

Taking Up the Call

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
NASA Astronaut Reid Wiseman and Barry “Butch” E. Wilmore. Photo Credit: NASA

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After all of the formalities are taken care of, astronaut classes begin, and each candidate is sworn into civil service. The candidates are moved to Houston to begin training, and their current employment most likely comes to an end. However, this isn’t always the case. Working as an astronaut can help some people improve their employment status, primarily if they previously worked in the military. Another alternative is that a candidate chooses to work in a closely related field to their previous job. Some astronauts have even run for the House of Representatives!

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
Astronaut Bruce McCandless II, STS 41-B mission specialist, participates in the first use of a nitrogen-propelled, hand-controlled device called the Manned Maneuvering Unit. Photo Credit: NASA

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For example, military astronauts can have joint assignments at NASA while maintaining their other positions. That allows them to continue to gain rank while performing military duties and astronaut duties at the same time. Astronauts that are not active duty military when they retire from NASA usually move on to executive positions within the aerospace industry. In other cases, those in academia can choose places or missions relevant to their past experiences. It would allow them to publish scientific journals within the academic world and continue their advancement within NASA’s field.

Learning about Space Vehicles

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
Research team members evaluate the performance of the Biosleeve Gesture Control Interface for Telerobotics on a March 2017 parabolic flight. Photo Credit: NASA

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Astronauts can look forward to training as the number of vehicles they’ll have to learn to use. The first-ever human to make spaceflight went into space aboard the USSR’s Vostok capsule in 1961. Astronauts are still currently using Russian spacecraft to get the job done. However, hopefully, they can start using the Orion spacecraft for exploration into deep space with time. They’ll also look forward to launching from American soil, which they haven’t done since 2011. The first commercial vehicle to reach outer space was SpaceShipOne in 2004.

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
Astronaut James Irwin gives salute beside U.S. flag during EVA. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

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Since the Vostok, we’ve had the Mercury, the Voskhod, the Gemini, the Soyuz, the Apollo Lunar Module, the Space Shuttle, the Shenzhou, and the Crew Dragon. Though new vehicles have been less frequently introduced in recent years, other suborbital and orbital vehicles are being developed. Blue Origin is testing what it plans to build as a tourist vehicle, titled the “New Shepard.” Amazon’s founder, Jeff Bezos, started the company. There are even lunar outposts to establish a permanent human presence on the moon and serve as a base for continuous lunar exploration.

Definitely Not Tourist Destinations

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
NASA sounding rocket launched from Wallops Island. Photo Credit: Pixabay

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The majority of new astronauts will head to the ISS, but there are chances that they could be flying further than that. It all depends on what space programs are being developed and how successful they’re likely to be. One such destination is past the moon, which a human-crewed vehicle has never done before. Towards the end of this year, NASA intends to send an uncrewed spacecraft to see how well it will do on its own. NASA has its eyes (and craft) set on Mars now! On July 30, 2020, the Perseverance rover launched to Mars.

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
The first all-female spacewalk. Photo Credit: NASA

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The Perseverance launched on an Atlas V-541 rocket from Cape Canaveral in Florida. The Atlas V is one of the largest interplanetary flight rockets. It’s the same kind of rocket used for the InSight and Curiosity launches to Mars and is currently in its “cruise” phase, which begins after the spacecraft separates from the rocket after launch. The cruise phase lasts around seven months, and the engineers will have several opportunities to tweak the flight path to ensure that it is on the correct route to land in the Jezero Crater on Mars.

The Majority of an Astronaut’s Life

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
Astronauts spacesuit. Photo Credit: NASA

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In actuality, an astronaut will spend very little time in actual space. The majority of their careers are spent in training and providing support to other missions. Once selected, an astronaut endures at least two entire years of basic training. If they’re successful throughout these two years, they’ll graduate and be assigned a space mission or technical roles without the Astronaut Office in Houston. These roles can include anything from providing support to the astronauts in space or developing spacecraft in the future.

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
NASA Space Shuttle astronaut training at Kennedy Space Center. Photo Credit: NaughtyNut/Shutterstock

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For some perspective, Charles Camarda was an astronaut who joined NASA in 1974. He launched into space on the first shuttle mission after Columbia in 2003. His mission was a two-week-long stay in outer space, and it was approximately 5.8 million miles round-trip! For the dozens of types of training, he went through, that’s all the time he spent in space. In his own words, “Training, training, training: survival (water, land, winter, you name it), shuttle systems, space station systems, Russian segment systems, expedition, rendezvous and docking, extra-vehicular activity (spacewalk), robotic arm, etc.” So keep that in mind when you think of the glory of being an astronaut – in reality, you’re just signing up to be a student for life!

Future Methods of Training

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
Astronaut walking on an unexplored planet. Photo Credit: Sergey Nivens/Shutterstock

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Being an astronaut is much different than it was back when the first Moon landing took place. There are more commercial means and developments of spaceflight, such as Virgin Atlantic and Xcor Aerospace. Companies like these are more interested in renting out their spacecraft for NASA astronauts to use and developing a shuttle with the latest technology. So many of us grow up with a sense of wonder about the universe we live in, so it’s only fitting that we can eventually all experience it – though it will cost a pretty penny! Commercial spaceflight is a step in the right direction, even if it is mostly about money.

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
Scientists adjusting anti-gravity bands on astronauts’ spacesuit for a low gravity test. Photo Credit: Frame Stock Footage/Shutterstock

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The Commercial Spaceflight Federation was founded in 2006 and has been the leading voice for commercial spaceflight (as the name may tell you). Its main goal is to promote technological innovation in the aeronautical industry and develop new commercial spaceflight methods. SpaceX, a company owned and founded by Tesla’s Elon Musk, has already begun promoting and selling commercial flights to Earth and Lunar orbit! They tout a “highly customized flight path” where you can fly over your hometown, famous landmarks, and other meaningful places. If any of that sounds attractive to you, you’d better start saving up. Why? Because it’ll cost you anywhere from $50 million – $90 million to fly into space privately!

The Evolution of Commercial Astronauts

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
Astronaut exploring a new planet. Photo Credit: oneinchpunch/Shutterstock

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The problem with commercial spaceflight is that it sets new standards that don’t exist in writing. It is evolving so quickly that the measures may not have even been developed yet! Flight participants don’t have a set system of choosing applicants, except for those who can afford it. That puts them at risk if medical screenings are improperly done, and there’s no consistent method of selection between agencies. Therefore, the process of taking on astronauts by NASA may be thrown out the window altogether. Since they’re not looking for the highest performing individuals, agencies may only have bare minimum medical standards for who can go on these flights.

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
Cargo Carrier Rocket Launch. Photo Credit: 3Dsculptor/Shutterstock

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The very definition of “astronaut” varies across different agencies, and there are even other words used for someone with the same set of tasks. Astronaut means “star sailor,” while cosmonaut means “sailor of the cosmos.” In 2003, when China sent out their own men into space, the debate over its own words rippled through the industry. Would they use the outlandish “Chinanaut?” Of course not. They mostly stuck to yuhangyuan, meaning “space navigator,” though taikonaut, which merged the Chinese word for space (taikong) with the Greek word for sailor (naus), seems to be more prevalent.

Missions to the Moon and Mars

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
Astronaut John W. Young, Apollo 16 commander on the moon. Photo Credit: NASA

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The focus of these commercial missions is also to put long-term spaceflight to the test. The majority of these missions aim to take ordinary people to the moon or possibly beyond Mars. The crew on these missions would likely have to be quite diverse in skills and are most likely to include engineers, scientists, doctors, geologists, pilots, and technicians. Such trips could also provide additional insight into the psychological aspect of space travel since the crew will be isolated most of the time. There have been multiple missions to the moon from several nations.

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
Man on Mars, a space astronaut suit standing on a red planet. Photo Credit: Binary Studio/Shutterstock

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Of the moon landings, the “Luna 2” spacecraft from the Soviet Union was the first to reach the moon’s surface successfully on September 13, 1959, and other countries have followed: the United States, Japan, the European Space Agency, China, India, Luxembourg, and Israel. There are currently 49 spacecraft missions to explore Mars, with the first dating back to the 1960s! Also, there have been missions dedicated to the observations of Mars’ moons. There have been three unsuccessful missions and multiple proposals. The most recent launch, as we discussed, is the rover “Perseverance,” which launched on July 30, 2020. It is expected to land in February in the Jezero Crater.

Robots in Space Exploration

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
Man and Machine. Photo Credit: NASA

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Historically, robots have been essential in space exploration because of the harsh, uninhabitable conditions beyond the Earth’s orbit. Nowadays, robots are used as personal assistants on space missions, helping with tasks that ordinary humans couldn’t do on their own. However, there have been suggestions that should further foster this relationship to create a more harmonious relationship between humans and robots. The proposition is that robots could be environment explorers to minimize the risk to human health. This idea is quite vital for long-range missions to hostile environments or just dealing with the ship’s maintenance during the long journey.

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
Humanoid space robots. Photo Credit: NASA

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Before robots went to space, scientists sent trained animals like dogs or monkeys to complete essential tasks and carry out experiments. As our robotic capabilities have improved, these tasks have been relegated to robots instead of living animals, thankfully. The first robot sent to space was Sputnik 1, launched on October 4, 1957. Its main task was mainly to orbit the Earth. Dextre, the Canadian space robot arm, was most recently designed to install and replace small equipment on the Space Station. It is the most advanced space robot so far. The ground control team manages it from NASA and the Canadian Space Association.

The First Man in Space

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space. Photo Credit: Wikipedia

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Yuri Gagarin was the first man to ever go into space, so of course, he is worthy of mention on any list addressing astronaut training. He was born in Klushino in 1934 and drafted into the Soviet Air Force in 1955, where he was trained in the use of jet fighters. Just five years later, in 1960, he was one of twenty pilots selected to join the brand-new Soviet Space Program. The United States and the Soviet Union were just two of multiple countries in a space race. Yuri then qualified for further selection into the “Sochi Six,” the elite cosmonauts that would form the Vostok Program base in the Soviet Union.

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
Yuri Gagarin orbited Earth in 1961. Photo Credit: NASA

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Due to Yuri’s training, optimal physical size, and general personality, he was eventually chosen as the first human to be sent into space. They had already sent dogs into outer space – we’ll talk about Laika in a bit! On April 12, 1961, the Vostok 1 craft carried Yuri into outer space while he reportedly whistled a tune called “The Motherland Hears, The Motherland Knows.” Yuri came back to Earth and became quite the celebrity, rightly so! Unfortunately, cosmonaut Gagarin died during a routine training exercise in 1968 due to another pilot’s error, though the details were not released many years later.

The First Animal to Orbit the Earth

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
Laika, the first living being in space. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

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Laika’s story is not one with a happy ending. Nevertheless, you should know her story. Poor Laika spent her puppy years as a stray on the streets of Moscow. It made her an ideal candidate for the space mission because stray pups were considered “scrappy.” Laika especially stood out to the scientists due to her calm nature and small size. She wasn’t the first dog traveling sub-orbitally, nor was she the only dog trained for this mission. However, they did introduce this pooch as the primary dog for this launch. During training, she and the two other dogs, Mushka and Albina, were enclosed in progressively smaller cages to prepare them for the spacecraft’s small size. They trained Laika to eat a unique, nutritious gel. Training included machines that simulated the noise, acceleration and motion she would experience during the launch as well.

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
Laika, the first space dog. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

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They built this craft, especially for Laika. The craft had an oxygen generator, a fan, and enough of the weird gel-goop to keep her alive. However, the supplies would last for seven days. Unfortunately, none of the scientists was under the impression that Laika would safely make it home. Specialists had not yet developed the technology to de-orbit. Thus, it was impossible to bring her back home. On October 31, 1957, they sent Laika into space, though there were immediate issues with the launch. Her heart rate jumped much higher than it had in simulations. Also, her respiration was almost four times faster. The spaceship itself had issues as well, which led to the temperature inside the craft. After about six hours, Laika was dead from overheating. On April 11, 2008, Russian officials unveiled a monument in Laika’s honor. She also appears on the Monument to the Conquerors of Space.

The First Steps on the Moon

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
The famous Buzz Aldrin’s lunar footprint. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

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Even people who aren’t the least bit familiar with space exploration know the names Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin and have heard the phrase, “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” They are most likely the most famous astronauts and possibly among the most famous men in the world! Neil Armstrong was the commander of the historic Apollo 11 mission and the first man to ever walk on the moon. Think about that – he’s the first person to ever walk on land that wasn’t Earth! Before Armstrong was the legendary astronaut we all know him to be, this astronaut graduated from Purdue University. He served on the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics High-Speed Flight Station. Armstrong trained as a military member, a naval aviator, and a jet aircraft pilot. All of these were incredibly useful to his eventual career as an astronaut.

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
Buzz Aldrin standing in front of U.S. flag. Photo Credit: Wikipedia

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Though “Second Man on the moon” may not have as fancy a ring to it, it’s still a pretty darn prestigious title. Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin was not only an astronaut; he also made a career as an engineer, an author, and an actor! Born to a military family, he knew he was destined for the military himself from a young age. As such, this astronaut turned down an MIT scholarship and enrolled in West Point instead – no biggie. He served in the US Air Force as a jet fighter pilot. Then, they promoted him to an aerial gunnery instructor, and then a flight commander. These all served him well as an astronaut as well. Do we see a theme yet? His first words on the moon were: “Beautiful view. Magnificent desolation.” Buzz was also the first man to hold a religious ceremony on the moon.

The First Woman in Space

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Valentina Tereshkova, pilot-cosmonaut, first female cosmonaut, Hero of the USSR. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

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After achieving the historic milestone of the “first man in space,” with Yuri Gagarin, the Soviet Union also hoped to be the first country to put a woman in space as well. They selected Valentina Tereshkova among hundreds to go into outer space. On June 16, 1963, that’s exactly what she did. Her extensive experience in parachuting, her “working-class” background, and her connection to her father (who was a Russo-Finnish hero) led to her selection. Her mission was to orbit the Earth, and she did that 48 times over three days!

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to fly to space. Photo Credit: NASA

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She kept a thorough flight log and took photographs, which proved very useful for atmospheric studies. After her return home, Valentina went on to be a cosmonaut engineer and became involved in politics. She married another cosmonaut (aww!), and they had a daughter together. Unfortunately, after her flight on the Vostok 6, they disbanded the women’s corps. It would be almost twenty years before another woman would go into space. Valentina was only 26 years old at the time of her space trip. We bet we’re all feeling a bit old now, right? They also named a Hero of the Soviet Union and awarded her the Order of Lenin twice.

The First Chimp in Space

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Chimpanzee “Ham” in space suit. Photo Credit: Wikipedia

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So, we’ve had humans, and we’ve had doggos sent out to space. You know there have been other animals too, of course. NASA and others have sent all kinds of life forms sent out to space – toads and cats and plants, oh my! On January 31, 1961, Ham became the first chimp in space. His name is an acronym for the Holloman Aeromedical Laboratory (Holloman Aero Med). The original flight plan called for a 115-mile altitude flight with speeds ranging up to 4400 mph, though technical issues led to poor Ham experiencing 157 miles of altitude and going as fast as 5857 miles per hour.

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
Chimpanzee Ham with bio-sensors attached to his body is readied by handlers for his trip in the Mercury Redstone 2. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

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These technical issues also meant he landed about 422 miles farther than planned, but thankfully there were no severe issues beyond a bruised nose, some fatigue, and slight dehydration. Ham experienced 6.5 minutes of weightlessness during his 16.5-minute flight. After all the excitement of being an astrochimp, he got to live out the rest of his life in the North Carolina Zoological Park until he died in 1983. Most of his remains are buried in front of the International Space Hall of Fame in Alamogordo, New Mexico. However, the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology has kept his skeleton for ongoing examination.

The Oldest Person in Space

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STS-95 Payload Specialist Glenn wearing the orange partial-pressure launch and entry suit. Photo Credit: NASA

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Ok, so maybe you didn’t make it to space by the time you were 26. No big deal – it’s never too late. John Glenn is perfect proof of that! It wasn’t enough for Mr. Glenn to be the first American to orbit the Earth – no. He needed another big title under his belt. Maybe more. On October 29, 1998, nearly forty years after he became the oldest human to travel in space – and he was a senator while doing it! He was seventy-seven years old at the time. His age served a purpose in the mission; he was serving as part of a NASA study on health problems associated with aging. They wanted to see how aging was impacted in space. Who better to help you figure that out than a tried-and-true astronaut?

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
Astronaut John H. Glenn Jr., wearing a Mercury pressure suit. Photo Credit: NASA

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After his world-renowned Earth orbit, NASA grounded John as a protective measure. They couldn’t risk this beloved astronaut’s life! John turned to politics, where he eventually won a seat in the Senate and won reelection three times. But it seems you can take the man out of the astronaut suit, but you can’t take the astronaut out of the man, because in 1998, John returned to space and retired from the Senate the following year – not before making a record of four consecutive terms in his state of Ohio. John Glenn died on December 8, 2016, at the age of 95.

The First African American in Space

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
Guion S. Bluford. Bluford, a member of Astronaut Class 8 and the United States Air Force. Photo Credit: Wikipedia

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Guion Bluford knew of his interest in space early on and earned an undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering. He trained as a fighter pilot in the US Air Force and went on to earn a doctorate in aerospace engineering with a minor in Laser Physics. In 1978, Bluford was one of 35 (out of 10,000 applicants) in NASA’s first competition to become a space shuttle astronaut! On August 30, 1983, he orbited the Earth on the Challenger and returned to Earth within a week. His next mission took him into the Spacelab with five other astronauts, where they performed over seventy experiments.

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
Guion Bluford, The First African American in Space. Photo Credit: NASA

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He was the first African American and the second person of African descent to go into space, after Cuban cosmonaut Arnoldo Mendez. Before his first trip into space, Guion trained for a year at NASA. His various assignments included working on the Space Station, the Remote Manipulator System, the Spacelab systems, the Space Shuttle system, payload safety, and flight software within the avionics laboratory. He conducted experiments to understand the biophysics of space travel, fluid physics, life sciences, ultraviolet radiation, and navigation on space flights. All total, he has logged over 688 hours in space!

The First Asian American in Space

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Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

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Ellison Shoji Onizuka was the first Asian American and the first person of Japanese ancestry to reach space. He received an undergraduate and graduate degree in aerospace engineering in quick succession and then entered the US Air Force. There, he served as a flight test engineer and test pilot and attended the US Air Force Test Pilot School. He eventually became the squadron flight test engineer and became manager for engineering support. Within eight years of his entering the school, he was selected for the astronaut program and completed a year of evaluation and training by August 1979.

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
Ellison Onizuka, the first Asian American in space. Photo Credit: NASA

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In 1985, Ellison took his first space mission aboard the Discovery shuttle. Upon his return, they assigned him to the ill-fated Challenger. It launched on January 28, 1986. Sadly, a flame jet leaking from a solid rocket booster destroyed the hydrogen fuel tank. Just moments after the launch, the rocket exploded. The blast killed all seven crew members, Ellison among them. They buried him at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu. NASA posthumously promoted him to colonel. He is survived by his two daughters, Janelle Onizuka-Gillilan and Darien Lei Shizue Onizuka-Morgan, and their families.

The First Indian-American in Space

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Kalpana Chawla, the First American Indian astronaut. Photo Credit: Wikipedia

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Unfortunately, space travel is a dangerous endeavor, and many lives continue to be lost as we push on with our exploration. Kalpana Chawla, the first woman of Indian origin to go to space, was one of the seven crew members who died in the Columbia disaster when the spacecraft broke apart during re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere. They posthumously awarded Chawla the Congressional Space Medal of Honor. The country regards her as a national hero in her native country of India. NASA Ames Research Center named the Columbia supercomputer in honor of the crew lost in the disaster. They dedicated the first part of the system to Kalpana. She worked at the Ames Research Center before joining the Space Shuttle program.

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Kalpana Chawla, STS-107 mission specialist, looks over a procedures checklist. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

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Kalpana was born in India and was fascinated with planes and flying even as a child. She obtained an undergraduate degree in Aeronautical Engineering and then moved to the US to pursue a graduate degree in Aerospace Engineering. One degree wasn’t enough, though; she earned a second Master’s, then a Ph.D., also in Aerospace Engineering! In 1988, she started working at NASA Ames Research Center. By 1997, they selected her to be in her first space mission. She was the first Indian woman to go into space, and her first words there were, “You are just your intelligence.”

The First Native American in Space

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Astronaut John B. Herrington, mission specialist. Photo Credit: Wikipedia

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John Bennett Herrington became the first Native American to fly into space in 2002. He earned a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics before receiving his US Navy commission in 1984. John is a member of the Chickasaw tribe. To honor his heritage, he carried the Chickasaw flag up to space during his 13-day trip. Before his voyage into space, John had quite the piloting experience. They designated him as a Naval Aviator, a Fleet Replacement Squadron Instructor Pilot, and a project test pilot for the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System. Herrington even earned an MS in aeronautical engineering. They soon assigned Herrington as a special projects officer to the Bureau of Naval Personnel Sea Deputy Component. There, they picked him for the astronaut program.

The Rigorous Training Astronauts Have to Go Through
John Bennett Herrington, the First Native American in space. Photo Credit: NASA

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Once selected for the program in 1996, he reported to the Space Center, where he would complete two years of training and evaluation. They initially assigned Herrington to the Flight Support Branch of the Astronaut Office. On November 23, 2002, they launched him to the International Space Station from Kennedy Space Center. Herrington even got to perform three spacewalks during his 13-day stay. If you come across a 2019 Sacagawea dollar coin, you’ll see his spacewalk commemorated on one face of the coin! In September 2005, John resigned from NASA, though he indicated that he would continue doing public speaking engagements and work with the Chickasaw Nation.

Home Archaeology DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
Archaeology By Trista -

The ancient people referred to as the Philistines have long been an enigma. Not much is known about them beyond biblical stories. However, archaeogeneticist Michal Feldman and her colleagues were able to discover something never before known about the infamous people. New DNA evidence is emerging that is helping scientists and historians trace their origins and find out who exactly these people were.

In fact, 10 skeletons were buried at the ancient Philistine port city called Ashkelon, which is located in Israel. Three of skeletons were identified to be from the Late Bronze Age, which was around 3,600 years ago. Four of the remains were from infants of the Iron Age as well as the other three from a later period during the Iron Age. Keep reading to learn how this connection links the modern populations of the eastern Mediterranean to their ancient roots.

40. The Philistines are rarely mentioned outside the Bible.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
An ancient Philistine engraving that has been studied for decades. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

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In the Old Testament of the Bible, the Philistines are frequently referenced as enemies of the nation of Israel. They occupied parts of Canaan, the land that became known as Israel after the Israelites conquered it. Outside of the Bible, however, very little is mentioned about them.

Although the dry, hot region of the Middle East is not ideal for preserving DNA, the skilled team could recover nuclear DNA, which comes from both parents. There is some archaeological evidence attributed to them, which scientists are now mining to learn more about them. Combined with DNA evidence, the archaeological evidence is telling a compelling story about a fascinating ancient people.

39. There may be some references to the Philistines in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
Artwork on Pharaoh Rameses III’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings along the Nile River. Photo Credit: Linda Harms/Shutterstock

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Well into the nineteenth century, pretty much all that scientists and historians knew about the Philistines came from the Bible. Even if the Philistines’ biblical record is accurate, it is, at best, incomplete and undoubtedly biased (understandable, given that most of the Bible were written by Jews, who were enemies of the Philistines).

In 1821, a researcher named Jean Francois Champollion decoded the Egyptian hieroglyphics for the war reliefs of Pharaoh Rameses III. The reliefs told of the “sea peoples,” among whom was the past. The mysterious past may have actually been the Philistines.

38. Goliath was possibly the most notorious Philistine.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
An artist’s depiction of Goliath from the Old Testament, who fell at the hands of David. Photo Credit: Pinterest

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When the Philistines attempted to conquer Israel while it was under the rule of King Saul, they sent out their greatest warrior, a giant named Goliath. Goliath was said to be eight feet tall, with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot.

You may know how the story goes – he was slain when the little shepherd boy David put a stone in his slingshot and knocked the giant unconscious. He then took Goliath’s sword and cut off his head, and the Israelites were delivered from being conquered. Based on this Bible story, the evil Goliath, who was a Philistine, was stopped by the brave Israelite. Nevertheless, why was Goliath so massive? Where his parents giants, too? DNA would be able to reveal the truth.

37. Delilah was also a Philistine.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
Artist’s depiction of Samson, who was brought down by Delilah. Photo Credit: Wikipedia

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The Old Testament also tells Samson’s story, an Israelite whose parents pledged him to be under the Nazarene vow. As part of the Nazarene vow, he could not cut his hair, from which he derived superhuman strength. He insisted on taking a wife from the Philistines and chose a beautiful seductress, Delilah. She convinced him to tell her the secret of his power. When she learned that the secret was in his hair, she informed the Philistine army and then lulled him to sleep so they could cut his hair.

Like David and Goliath, the story of Samson and Delilah are well-known stories of right and wrong, good and evil. However, the ancestors and origins of the ancient Philistines were still mostly unknown until now.

36. Archaeology in Palestine has uncovered more of the story of the Philistines.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
Map of ancient Canaan, with Philistine cities highlighted. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

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Interestingly, the Arabic word for Palestine is Filistiin, seemingly a tribute to the Philistines who once lived there. The ancient Romans referred to the descendants of the Philistines as Palastinoi, from which we get the term Palestine.

In the twentieth century, archaeologists working in Palestine began uncovering Philistine cities, such as the most significant, Ashdod. These findings help tell the story of the Philistines on their own terms, in a way that complements (rather than negating) what the biblical writers said about them.

35. Some Philistines may have settled in Egypt.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
The oldest skeleton was discovered in Africa, which is the continent Egypt is a part of. Photo Credit: givaga/Shutterstock

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According to the hieroglyphics of Rameses III, the sea peoples invaded Egypt during his reign. His forces thoroughly defeated them, but he allowed them to settle in parts of Canaan — the land is also known as Palestine, which, at the time, was very much under Egyptian influence.

Some of the sea peoples may have settled in Egypt itself. They would have eventually intermarried and assimilated into the culture so much that both their DNA and culture became part of the tapestry of ancient Egypt. So are modern-day Egyptians part Philistine? Possibly. After all, ancient peoples didn’t die out; they got assimilated.

34. Egyptian art depicts the sea peoples very distinctively.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
A cropped image of an ancient mural scene featuring Egyptian hieroglyph. Photo Credit: tan_tan/Shutterstock

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Ancient art tends to represent people from different cultures by exaggerating certain features in a way that might seem caricaturist and even offensive by today’s standards. However, these same caricatures offer valuable insights to scientists and historians studying ancient peoples.

Depictions of battle scenes at Medinet Habu, where the war reliefs of Rameses III were found, seem to show the sea peoples-including their dress, their military tactics, their weaponry, and even their naval and chariot forces. The Egyptians seemed to think the sea peoples truly were a force to be reckoned with.

33. Think of them as ancient Vikings.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
An engraving from 1660 featuring the destruction of Dragon. Photo Credit: Everett Collection/Shutterstock

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The Vikings hailed from Scandinavia, where the harsh climate and rugged terrain made agriculture a challenge. With a growing population that the land could not support, at least not with primitive farming techniques, raiders set off in their infamous longboats to conquer new lands. They became feared far and wide for their ruthless marauding but eventually settled down somewhat peacefully in lands they had invaded, ultimately assimilating.

The Philistines and other sea peoples may have been similar, originating far away and invading lands on their journeys. Like the Vikings, they settled down in different places and assimilated.

32. According to the Bible, the Philistines were polytheists.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
Polytheist means you worship multiple gods, unlike the Nazirite Samson. Photo Credit: Jennifer Wallace/Shutterstock

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Polytheism refers to the worship of many gods. After the Philistines captured Samson, they chained him to the pillars of the temple of Dagon, one of their gods.

Humiliated at being paraded before them as a prize, Samson prayed that his strength would return one last time. It did, and he knocked down the pillars to which he was chained. The entire temple collapsed, killing Samson and everyone inside. This story suggests that the Philistines were religious people and that their religion was polytheistic.

31. The Philistines built several temples to honor Dagon.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
An ancient fortress was built in Ashdod. Photo Credit: Michael Stein/Shutterstock

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In the ancient Near East, cities were often constructed around a temple that honored the city’s chief deity. While the city’s inhabitants often recognized more than one deity, they had a patron god or goddess who they believed protected them, as long as they worshipped and made offerings appropriately.

With Dagon as the head of the Philistine pantheon, several Philistine cities had a temple to honor him. Those cities included Ashdod and Gata, and possibly also Beth Shean. The biblical story of Samson suggests that he destroyed the temple of Dagon in Gaza.

30. Many ancient peoples worshipped Dagon.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
A temple of Dagon in Myanmar. Photo Credit: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

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Ancient pantheons did not arise in isolation among disparate people groups. Instead, when different cultures encountered each other, they often exchanged gods, adding each other’s deities to their own pantheons. Consider that the Roman and Greek gods are almost exactly the same, only with different names.

Given that the Philistines were seafarers, one should not be surprised that their chief deity was quite ubiquitous in the ancient Near East. Ancient Sumerian (modern Iraq) sources speak of him, as well as Ugaritic sources from other parts of the Near East. Belief in him may have traveled along trade routes.

29. Dagon was the mythical father of Baal.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
An artist created a picture of people offering human sacrifices to Baal. Photo Credit: Massimo Todaro/Shutterstock

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Bible readers may be more familiar with the Canaanite god Baal, whose temple, Baalbek, in Lebanon can still be seen today. Like Dagon, Baal was worshipped across many different cultures in the ancient Near East. While Baal was known as a fertility god, Dagon was also a fertility god who invented the plow according to myth.

Dagon was also the god of vegetation, but many of his features came to be associated with Baal. We know much less about Dagon than we do about his Egyptian and Greek / Roman counterparts, one reason being the scarcity of written sources.

28. Philistine religion may have originated in the Aegean.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
A view of the Aegean Sea from Santorini, Greece. Photo Credit: Thea Gallino/Shutterstock

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The Aegean Sea surrounds Greece, as well as Crete, and has been home to thriving generations for millennia. Some scientists and historians believe that the Philistines and other sea peoples originated in this region before traveling to other lands. Many religious objects from the Philistine city of Ashdod resemble those found in Mycenaean Greece. They may have brought an early version of the Greek pantheon with them, and it assimilated into other pantheons in the region.

While this hypothesis is certainly plausible, we just don’t know much about the Philistine religion. More archaeological evidence is needed to piece together the story of who the Philistines were and where they came from.

27. Other evidence also suggests a Greek origin of the Philistines.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
A picture of the ruins where Israel’s first King Saul was defeated by the Philistines. Photo Credit: Danita Delimont/Shutterstock

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Greek culture was flourishing in the ancient world when the Bible was written, and apparently, so was Philistine culture. Furthermore, Greece was experiencing political upheaval at about the same time that the Philistines entered the biblical narrative, around the thirteenth century BCE.

A Greek origin does not mean that the Philistines remained Greek. Their pantheon, pottery, and even DNA developed over the centuries to resemble aspects of Canaanite, Ugaritic, Sumerian, Egyptian, and other Near Eastern cultures. They became distinct people, separate from the Greeks and similar to, yet also specific from, the surrounding cultures.

26. “Philistine” insultingly refers to someone as uncultured and uneducated.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
A depiction of Dagon, a Philistine god. Photo Photo Credit: Eroshka/Shutterstock

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Based on the biblical record of the Philistines, many people have quite an unfavorable view of them. They are seen as ferocious warmongers, who are the enemies of God and His people. Furthermore, people thought they would have their own distinct, flourishing culture that seems to run against everything that some believed about these ancient people. In fact, a common insult, particularly during the Victorian Age, was to refer to someone as a Philistine.

Yet much of how we understand the biblical narrative involves reading modern-day prejudices into the biblical text. While the Bible does not view the Philistines favorably, it does not depict them as dolts or as ruthless savages (at least not any more brutal than other ancient peoples may have been).

25. Philistine strongholds included Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gaza, Gath, and Ekron.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
Goliath came from the city of Gath. Photo Credit: Wikipedia

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According to the Old Testament, these cities – which were located along the Mediterranean coast – in Canaan were part of Philistia, the dominion of the Philistines. There is an archaeological trail that implies this fact to be true. In the nineteenth century, archaeologists began excavating these sites and found remains and artifacts that suggested a people distinct from the Israelites lived there.

They had their own religion, culture, traditions, pottery, architecture, and everything necessary to distinguish them from the neighboring Israelites. Still, virtually all that we knew about them was what had been recorded in the Old Testament.

24. Their pottery resembled that of Mycenaean Greece.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
Philistine pottery was beautiful and practical. Photo Credit: Mariia Kozina/Shutterstock

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Seeing as these people settled along the coastline of Canaan, we should not be surprised that there would be some similarities between the artwork on their pottery and other Mediterranean peoples’ artwork. Still, the resemblance between Philistine pottery and Mycenaean Greek pottery is striking; Philistine pottery appears to be a direct descendant of Mycenaean Greek pottery.

Some scholars used this evidence to suggest that the Philistines of the Old Testament were actually the descendants of seafaring people from the Aegean who settled down along the coastal plain in Canaan. What new evidence is revealing is that this theory may be correct.

23. They may have come from Crete.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
Archaeologists exploring a Philistine site and discovering artifacts. Photo Credit: Religion News

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The Old Testament mentions the Philistines as originating in Caphtor, an area that has been identified as the Aegean island of Crete. Crete was home to distinctive Mycenean Greek culture, but about the twelfth century BCE, the civilization began to collapse. This timeframe corresponds with the archaeological record of when the Philistines started to appear in Canaan.

Furthermore, the ancient Egyptians referred to the Philistines as one of the sea peoples, thereby strengthening the likelihood that they were a Mycenean Greek people who settled down in Canaan’s coastal plains.

22. DNA suggests the earliest Philistines were from Southern Europe.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
A Philistine burial site with skeleton remains. Photo Credit: Religion News

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A series of skeletons uncovered at a Philistine cemetery was recently sequenced for DNA. Some of the individuals lived during the Bronze Age, when the migration from Crete and other parts of the Mediterranean would have begun, while others lived later, during the Iron Age.

Intriguingly, the DNA from the Bronze Age had the telltale genetic markers of Southern European people. The earliest Philistines probably did come from places like Greece, which, at the time, was undergoing a social collapse. They may have taken to the seas to try to escape political turmoil and perhaps large-scale persecution, not unlike refugees today.

21. Their early burial practices are distinct from local cultures.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
Archaeologists working on a Philistine skeleton in order to preserve it. Photo Credit: Newser

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One way that archaeologists can distinguish between cultures is by looking at how individuals are buried. For example, if you go to a Jewish cemetery and then a Christian cemetery, you will find that the burial practices between the two are very different, even if those cemeteries are in the same city.

Now imagine that a community of immigrants from another continent built their own cemetery in their new country. It would probably look very different from the surrounding cemeteries. The burial practices from the earliest Philistine graves had telltale markers that were very different from those of the Canaanites, Egyptians, and other neighboring peoples. For example, some deceased Philistines were buried with perfume jars under their heads.

20. Philistines soon intermarried with neighboring people in the Levant and the Middle East.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
A map of ancient Canaan. Photo Credit: I. Pilon/Shutterstock

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Perhaps even more interesting is that the DNA from Iron Age skeletons had few to none of the Southern European ancestry markers. One longstanding theory about the origin of the Philistines is that they descended from local tribes that may have migrated from places like Turkey and Syria.

This theory may also be correct – the seafarers who settled down along Canaan’s coastal plain soon began intermarrying with other peoples who were already in the area. They were quickly no longer Greek people but rather Levantine people who resembled other people groups.

19. Philistine cities were well-planned and organized.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
Ruins of a Philistine city. Photo Credit: Wikipedia

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Philistine cities were remarkably well-developed. They had industrial centers on the outskirts of town, possibly so that waste products would not interfere with city life. Living quarters were separate from the downtown area, which was a thriving, bustling market.

The cities had administrative buildings, temples, and everything that might be expected of a well-organized, functioning society. They were hardly uncultured; for a while, they may have had one of the most vibrant, thriving cultures in the entire Levant (the Middle East region that includes Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, and Jordan).

18. Philistine artwork was exquisite.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
Philistine jewelry featured in a museum. Photo Credit: Reddit

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Some Israeli historians suggest that the most breathtaking art from ancient Canaan came not from the Israelites but rather from the Philistines. Their pottery was heavily influenced by the famous artwork of Mycenean Greece, from whence they came, coupled with designs from places like Syria and Egypt.

They had sculptures, especially of their gods and goddesses, jewelry, some of which were made from gold, silver, precious stones, and other craftwork containing exquisite, intriguing patterns. The archaeology suggests that the Philistines were very skilled people who traded throughout the Mediterranean and the Middle East.

17. There are some other ancient sources about the Philistines.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
A Philistine necklace. Photo Credit: Flickr

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Pharaoh Ramses III ruled Egypt from approximately 1184 until 1153 BCE, a timeframe that corresponds with the Philistines’ arrival into Canaan. As such, there is some likelihood that he may have encountered them. A text attributed to his claims that he engaged them in battle and pulverized them.

However, this text may be an exaggeration, especially since the Philistines frequently appear in Old Testament texts much later than the twelfth century BCE. Nevertheless, there is little doubt that the Philistines did exist in the Middle East during the twelfth century.

16. Assyrian chronicles also mention the Philistines.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
Archaeologists exploring Philistine ruins. Photo Credit: Wikipedia

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Assyria was an empire that conquered much of the ancient Levant and Near East during the seventh and eighth centuries BCE. The Assyrian leaders Esarhaddon and Tiglath Pileser III mention the Philistines and particularly the city of Ashkelon.

The Assyrians saw the Philistines as unruly people, possibly because they didn’t take too kindly to being conquered by an outside army. Many of the Philistines were probably deported as part of the empire’s strategy of keeping its subjects from becoming too powerful.

15. The Philistines are still mysterious despite years of archeological studies.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
A Philistine skull was uncovered during a dig. Photo Credit: University of Harvard

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That several ancient sources attest to the existence of the Philistines doesn’t solve the mystery of who they were. We know that the earliest Philistine DNA is traced to Southern Europe, while later Philistine DNA contains hardly any markers of European ancestry.

This people group became so embedded in the Levantine culture that, though distinct, their DNA and parts of their culture were indistinguishable from those of the people around them. Still, questions remain about who they were and what their religion may have consisted of.

14. They could be “Atlanteans.”

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
Have you ever heard of the lost city of Atlantis? Photo Credit: Fer Gregory/Shutterstock

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The Bible mentions the Philistines as being from Caphtor, a place now identified as Crete. This identification is consistent with modern DNA research, which places the earliest Philistines as being from Southern Europe, likely the Aegean.

Some theories about the lost continent of Atlantis put it as Crete or another Aegean civilization destroyed when the Santorini volcano blew its lid. If this idea about Atlantis is accurate and the Philistines actually are from the “island of Atlantis,” then the people mentioned so frequently in the Old Testament as Israel’s enemy could be descendants of Atlanteans! Perhaps future research will prove conclusive in this regard.

13. Philistines may have initially arrived in Egypt.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
The Philistines were probably sea people who arrived from the Aegean. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

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While looking for a new place to make their home, the people that came to be known as the Philistines may have crossed the Mediterranean and gone to Egypt. Some archaeological evidence, including a temple in Thebes and some ancient Egyptian inscriptions, indicates that these seafaring people may have arrived there. They were then driven out of Egypt into the land of Canaan, where they were able to settle down on the coastal plains.

12. There is evidence that they conquered Canaan in the twelfth century.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
Philistine pottery, which reflects a bird or duck. Photo Credit: Wikipedia

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Philistine cities, such as Ekron, were already settlements long before they arrived about the twelfth century. Excavations in the town of Ekron show a massive fire around the twelfth century, indicating that the Philistines may have destroyed it as part of a military campaign before taking it for themselves.

Immediately following the massive fire is evidence of a Philistine settlement. Somebody set fire to the city of Ekron, and if that somebody wasn’t the Philistines, then archaeologists don’t know who would have.

11. However, there may have already been Philistines in the area.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
A depiction of Philistine soldiers. Photo Credit: Pinterest

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The patriarch Abraham lived several hundred years before the twelfth century, and the biblical narrative attests that he and his sons had contact with the Philistines.

There are several possible explanations for this discrepancy. One is that another people group was known as the Philistines, and the migrants from the Aegean who arrived in the twelfth century took on its moniker and called themselves Philistines. Another possible explanation is that there was a steady flow of migrants from the Aegean, all of whom were related and called themselves Philistines.

10. Nebuchadnezzar conquered them.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
A Philistine engraving featuring Nebuchadnezzar. Photo Credit: EQRoy/Shutterstock

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Nebuchadnezzar was the king of Babylon, an empire centered in what is now Iraq. The Babylonian military conquered much of the Middle East, including the Assyrians’ territory. If you are familiar with the Old Testament, you may know that the Babylonians conquered Judah’s southern kingdom.

During that military campaign, they also defeated the Philistines and destroyed Philistine cities, including Ashkelon. This event probably happened around 597 BCE, give or take a few years, as with ancient history, we can’t be precise about dates.

9. After the sixth century BCE, the Philistines disappeared from the record.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
The Philistines were probably sea people who arrived from the Aegean. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

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Following the conquest by Nebuchadnezzar, we don’t hear about the Philistines again. This notion is probably mostly because they were conquered by an empire and then re-conquered by another kingdom, which led to people groups becoming homogenized and losing their distinct cultures, including their languages and religions.

The process is not unlike when immigrant families come to the United States and have adapted so much to American culture as to be indistinguishable after a couple of generations. After the Babylonian conquest, the Philistines were probably deported to different parts of the empire, where they would have eventually assimilated into the local cultures.

8. The Greek historian Herodotus labeled the land of Canaan as Philistia.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
A depiction of David with Goliath’s head. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

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Around the fifth century BCE, after the Babylonian exile, a historian named Herodotus decided that the land previously known as Canaan, Israel, and Judah should become known as Philistia, after the Philistines.

When the Romans came in a couple of centuries later, they referred to Palestine, as a Romanized version of Philistia. The area was known as Palestine until 1948, when the United Nations recognized the new State of Israel. Many still refer to the land as Palestine.

7. There is a renewed interest in understanding the Philistines.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
People increasingly want to understand the Philistines, even Millennials. Photo Credit: Reddit

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Over the past century or so, scholars interested in understanding the Old Testament events have begun looking more to the nations that surrounded Israel. They started trying to uncover the Hittite Empire, the Babylonians, and the Assyrians.

Now, there is a renewed interest in understanding who the Philistines were and how we should understand them, both within and outside of the Old Testament narrative. This people group should be understood on their own terms, not only in terms of how they are described in the Bible.

6. Understanding the Philistines is essential because of the Palestine-Israel conflict.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
A map of ancient Canaan before the Israelite conquest. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

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As previously mentioned, the name Palestine is directly related to the word Philistine. In fact, the Arabic word for Palestine is “Filistiin,” or Philistine. Some Zionists take this linguistic coincidence as evidence that Israel and Palestine’s current conflict is directly connected to animosity in the Old Testament.

However, nothing could be further from the truth. The people known as the Philistines completely assimilated into neighboring cultures during the Babylonian exile. The people known as the Palestinians have a completely different heritage and identity from the ancient Philistines.

5. The Biblical conflict was not about territory.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
More ancient Philistine artwork was discovered over the centuries. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

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The Old Testament depicts the Philistines and Israelites, with some exceptions, as not being on friendly terms. Given how some people like to transplant the current Palestine-Israel conflict onto the Old Testament narrative between the Philistines and Israelites, we need to reconsider why these two ancient nations were at odds with each other.

The question was not about whom had the right to live in the land, as there were plenty of resources to go around. The problem was about dominance, particularly in terms of religion. Specifically, the Israelites were not to follow the faith of the people around them.

4. The Philistine religion was very different from the Israelite religion.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
A depiction of the Philistine god Dagon and the Israelite Ark of the Covenant. Photo Credit: Pinterest

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The Israelite religion was monotheistic (though there were many exceptions, as the Israelite people frequently drifted into polytheism or the worship of many gods). The Philistine religion was polytheistic, with many gods that represented different things. God commanded the Israelites to not follow after the gods of the Philistines, Egyptians, Canaanites, or other nations.

When Israelites like Samson married people from different countries (remember that he married a Philistine), they tended to assimilate into polytheistic religion. They neglected the worship of the One True God, hence the animosity between Israel and the surrounding nations.

3. Modern Palestinians are very different from ancient Philistines.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
Palestinians, from the desert, and the Philistines, from the sea, are two entirely different peoples. Photo Credit: Alex_Vinci/Shutterstock

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Ancient Philistines were polytheistic. Nearly 100% of modern Palestinians are monotheistic, professing either Islam or Christianity. The ancient Philistines descended from the ancient Greeks, coupled with intermarriage from Levantine tribes.

Modern Palestinians descended from Arab Bedouin. Any claim suggesting that the contemporary conflict between Israel and Palestine is connected to the war in the Old Testament is not grounded in history or science.

2. Uncovering ancient Philistine DNA is helping us discover our human heritage.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
Do you agree with uncovering remains like this Philistine skeleton? Photo Credit: University of Baylor

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Learning more about ancient peoples, where they came from, and the cultures and nations they built helps us better understand why the world is the way it is today. Given that place names in the Middle East often resemble those of ancient peoples (the city of Amman is named after the ancient Ammonites, and as mentioned, the word “Palestine” is directly related to “Philistine”), we need to better understand who those ancient peoples were and how they assimilated into the surrounding cultures.

We are learning more about our heritage as human beings who inhabit the same planet as these ancient people that we previously knew so little about. We are learning about factors that shaped the ancient Middle East, thereby realizing more about the world we all share.

1. We are learning more about who we are.

DNA Reveals the Origins of the Ancient Philistines
Archaeology will continue revealing new truths about our past and present. Photo Credit: Smithsonian Magazine

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Who we are, in terms of DNA, is based on the people from whom we descended. The ancient Philistines, through the Babylonian deportation, became dispersed throughout the entire Middle East. Realizing that heritage helps us piece together the DNA of the modern world.

Understanding who we are as human beings requires us to take a closer look at ancient cultures and peoples that we previously ignored or even vilified. When we learn to understand them on their own terms, rather than just through the writings that other people made about them, we ultimately come to know ourselves and the human race better.

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