heptane. n. 1. (Elements & Compounds) an alkane existing in nine isomeric forms, esp the isomer with a straight chain of carbon atoms (n-heptane), which is found in petroleum and used as an anaesthetic. Formula: C7H16. [C19: from hepta- + -ane, so called because it has seven carbon atoms].
technically it's not any of those three... After the Apollo program in the late 1960's ended, the president of the United States, Richard Nixon declared in 1973 that the USA would build the Space Shuttle to continue space exploration in low earth orbit.
The first human spaceflight was launched by the Soviet Union on 12 April 1961 as a part of the Vostok program, with cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin aboard. Humans have been continuously present in space for 17 years and 75 days on the International Space Station.