This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/08/south-african-man-set-to-be-first-afronaut-killed-in-bike-crash

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
South African man set to be first 'Afronaut' killed in bike crash Bike crash kills South African man set to be first 'Afronaut'
(about 3 hours later)
A South African man who won the chance to be the first black African in space has died in a motorbike crash before turning his dream into reality.A South African man who won the chance to be the first black African in space has died in a motorbike crash before turning his dream into reality.
Mandla Maseko, a part-time DJ and candidate officer with the South African air force, was nicknamed “Afronaut” after landing a coveted seat to fly 103km (64 miles) into space in 2013 in a competition organised by a US-based space academy.Mandla Maseko, a part-time DJ and candidate officer with the South African air force, was nicknamed “Afronaut” after landing a coveted seat to fly 103km (64 miles) into space in 2013 in a competition organised by a US-based space academy.
Contest winner Mandla Maseko set to become first black African in spaceContest winner Mandla Maseko set to become first black African in space
He died in a motorcycle accident on Saturday, according to a family statement cited by local media on Sunday.He died in a motorcycle accident on Saturday, according to a family statement cited by local media on Sunday.
The 30-year-old had beaten a million other entrants from 75 countries to be selected as one of 23 people who would travel on an hour-long sub-orbital trip on the Lynx Mark II spaceship.The 30-year-old had beaten a million other entrants from 75 countries to be selected as one of 23 people who would travel on an hour-long sub-orbital trip on the Lynx Mark II spaceship.
Born to a school cleaner and auto tool maker in Soshanguve township near Pretoria, his win was a source of national pride and had neighbours high-fiving him for putting South Africa’s townships on the “galactic map”.Born to a school cleaner and auto tool maker in Soshanguve township near Pretoria, his win was a source of national pride and had neighbours high-fiving him for putting South Africa’s townships on the “galactic map”.
He spent a week at the Kennedy Space Academy in Florida where he skydived and undertook air combat and G-force training.He spent a week at the Kennedy Space Academy in Florida where he skydived and undertook air combat and G-force training.
Africans urged to back continent’s first moon missionAfricans urged to back continent’s first moon mission
While there he met and posed for pictures with US astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who was the second man ever to set foot on the moon after Neil Armstrong as part of the 1969 Apollo 11 space mission.While there he met and posed for pictures with US astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who was the second man ever to set foot on the moon after Neil Armstrong as part of the 1969 Apollo 11 space mission.
He had been originally scheduled to fly in 2015 but no firm plans for his trip had been made public at the time of his death.He had been originally scheduled to fly in 2015 but no firm plans for his trip had been made public at the time of his death.
South AfricaSouth Africa
SpaceSpace
AfricaAfrica
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content