In 1983 , Ulf Merbold of West Germany became the first non-US citizen to fly in a US spacecraft .
With the increase of seats on the Space Shuttle , the U.S. began taking international astronauts .
In 1983 , Ulf Merbold of West Germany became the first non-US citizen to fly in a U.S. spacecraft .
With the increase of seats on the Space Shuttle , the U.S. began taking international astronauts .