Krikalev Sergey Konstantinovich: biography, photo. Prisoner of space - the last citizen of the USSR Sergei Krikalev How Sergei Krikalev made the flight

Full member of the Russian Academy of Cosmonautics named after Konstantin Tsiolkovsky.

Sergei Krikalev was born on August 27, 1958 in St. Petersburg. In 1975 he graduated from ten classes high school No. 77. Since 1977, he has been involved in airplane sports at the local flying club. Four years later he graduated with honors from the Baltic State Technical University majoring in “Design and production of aircraft”.

Since September 14, 1981, Krikalev worked as an engineer in the 111th department of the Main Design Bureau of the Scientific and Production Association "Energy". He was involved in the development of instructions for astronauts. A year later he became an engineer, and from June 1, 1985, senior engineer of the 191st department of the Main Design Bureau of NPO Energia.

By decision of the state interdepartmental commission on September 2, 1985, Krikalev was selected into the cosmonaut corps of NPO Energia. Over the next year, he underwent general space training. At the end of November 1986, he was awarded the qualification “test cosmonaut”. Then, he underwent training under the Buran program for two years.

On March 22, 1988, Sergei Krikalev replaced Kaleri, who was removed from training for health reasons, in the main crew of the Soyuz TM-7 spacecraft. Until November 11, 1988, he was trained as a flight engineer for the main crew of the Soyuz TM-7 spacecraft under the Aragats program at the Mir orbital complex, together with Volkov and Jean-Loup Chrétien. He also underwent training as the first tester of a cosmonaut's vehicle and was preparing to work with the Kvant-2 module, but the flight program was changed.

Krikalev made his first space flight from November 26, 1988 to April 27, 1989 as a flight engineer of the Soyuz TM-7 spacecraft and the Mir orbital complex under the program of the fourth main expedition and the Soviet-French Aragats program. He launched together with the ship's commander Volkov and cosmonaut explorer and citizen of the French Republic Jean-Loup Chrétien. Having completed the flight program, we prepared the station for operation in unmanned mode and landed on April 27, 1989. The duration of the space flight was 151 days 11 hours 08 minutes 24 seconds.

By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated April 27, 1989, Sergei Konstantinovich Krikalev was awarded the title of Hero for the successful implementation of a space flight on the Mir orbital research complex and for his courage and heroism. Soviet Union with the presentation of the Order of Lenin and medal " Golden Star».

In 1990, Krikalev was preparing for his second flight as a member of the backup crew for the eighth long-term expedition to the Mir station. In December 1990, Krikalev began preparing to participate in the ninth expedition to the Mir station. Soyuz TM-12 was launched on May 18, 1991, with commander Anatoly Pavlovich Artsebarsky, flight engineer Krikalev and British female astronaut Helen Sharman. A week later, Sharman returned to Earth with the previous crew, while Krikalev and Artsebarsky remained on Mir. Over the summer we made six trips to open space, while conducting numerous scientific experiments, as well as station maintenance work.

According to the plan, Krikalev's return was supposed to occur in five months, but in July 1991 Krikalev agreed to remain at the Mir station as a flight engineer with another crew, which was scheduled to arrive in October. This flight is interesting because the cosmonauts flew away from the USSR and returned to Russia: during their flight, the Soviet Union ceased to exist. The flight duration was 311 days 20 hours 00 minutes 34 seconds.

By Presidential Decree Russian Federation No. 387 of April 11, 1992 for courage and heroism shown during a long space flight on orbital station“Mir”, USSR pilot-cosmonaut Sergei Konstantinovich Krikalev was awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation with the presentation of the special distinction of the “Gold Star” medal No. 1.

In October 1992, NASA management announced that a Russian cosmonaut with experience in space flights would fly on the American reusable spacecraft. Krikalev was one of two candidates, the other, Vladimir Titov, sent by the Russian Space Agency to train with the STS-60 crew. In April 1993, Krikalev was announced as the main candidate.

Krikalev made his third space flight from February 3 to February 11, 1994 as a specialist as part of the crew on board the reusable transport spacecraft STS-60 Discovery. This was the first American-Russian joint flight on a reusable spacecraft in the history of manned space exploration. The flight duration was 8 days 7 hours 10 minutes 13 seconds.

Krikalev made his fourth space flight from December 4 to 16, 1998 as part of the STS-88 mission as a flight specialist-4. Together with shuttle commander Robert Cabana, Sergei Krikalev opened the hatch to the International Space Station for the first time. The flight duration was 11 days 19 hours 18 minutes 47 seconds.

Krikalev made his fifth space flight from October 31, 2000 to March 21, 2001 as a flight engineer of the Soyuz TM-31 spacecraft and the ISS under the program of the first main expedition of the ISS. Landed on Space Shuttle Discovery STS-102 as a flight specialist. The flight duration was 140 days 23 hours 40 minutes 19 seconds.

In his sixth space flight, Krikalev led the prime crew of the first expedition to the International Space Station, launching into space on April 15, 2005 on the Soyuz TM6 spacecraft with crew members: NASA astronaut John Phillips and European Space Agency astronaut Roberto Vittori. During the flight, Krikalev made one spacewalk: August 18, 2005, lasting 4 hours 57 minutes. Together with NASA astronaut John Phillips and space tourist, US citizen Gregory Olsen, he returned to Earth on October 11, 2005 on the Soyuz TMA-6 spacecraft. The flight duration was 179 days 0 hours 22 minutes 35 seconds.

Sergei Krikalev holds the record for the total time spent in space. Over six flights it amounted to 803 days 09 hours 41 minutes 12 seconds. Performed eight spacewalks, the total duration of work in open space was 41 hours 26 minutes.

At the end of March 2009, Krikalev was relieved of his post as a first-class “test cosmonaut instructor.” By order of the head of Roscosmos dated March 27, 2009, he was appointed head of the federal state budgetary institution"Research Testing Center for Cosmonaut Training named after Yuri Gagarin." At the end of March 2014 he left this position.

Since March 2014, Krikalev has been appointed first deputy general director of the Central Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering for manned programs, as well as executive director of the Roscosmos state corporation for manned space programs. Since April 2014, representative of the city of Sevastopol in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Since August 2014, he took the position of First Deputy General Director of the Central Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering.

At a meeting of the Board of Directors of PJSC Rocket and Space Complex Energia on January 24, 2019, it was decided to appoint Sergei Konstantinovich Krikalev as Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of PJSC Rocket and Space Complex Energia.

Sergei Konstantinovich, in addition to space achievements, also has sporting achievements. For a long time was involved in airplane sports. He competed at the USSR Championship for the team of the Central Aero Club and was a candidate for the USSR national aircraft sports team. In this sport he became the champion of the USSR, the European champion and the world champion in the team competition.

At the First World Air Games in Turkey, he was a member of the Russian glider aerobatics team. He took first place in the team competition, and also became a silver medalist in the individual competition. At the Second World Air Games in Spain he was the head coach of the Russian team. Krikalev was awarded the title “Honored Master of Sports of the Russian Federation.”

Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe November 7, 2019 awarded Sergei Krikalev one of the most high awards countries: Order of the Rising Sun on a neck ribbon with a star. The award ceremony took place at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

Awards of Sergei Krikalev

Hero of the Russian Federation (April 11, 1992) - for courage and heroism shown during a long space flight at the Mir orbital station (Gold Star medal No. 1).

Order of Merit for the Fatherland, IV degree (April 5, 2002) - for courage and high professionalism shown during a long-term space flight on the International Space Station.

Order of Honor (April 15, 1998) - for successful participation and achievement of high sports results in the First World Air Games.

Order of Friendship of Peoples (March 25, 1992) - for the successful implementation of a space flight at the Mir orbital station and the courage and heroism displayed.

Order of Lenin (1989).

Order of the Rising Sun, II degree (7.11.2019).

Medal “For Merit in Space Exploration” (April 12, 2011) - for great achievements in the field of research, development and use of outer space, many years of conscientious work, and active social activities.

Medal “In memory of the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg” (2005).

Honorary title “Pilot-Cosmonaut of the USSR” (1989).

Officer of the Legion of Honor (France, 1989).

Three NASA medals “For space flight” (1996, 1998, 2001).

NASA Medal for Distinguished Public Service (2003).

Honorary citizen of St. Petersburg (2007).

Honored Master of Sports of Russia.

Lifetime Honorary Member of the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain.

Laureate of the national award “Golden Eye of Russia”.

Winner of the national award “Russian of the Year” (2011).

Recognition of merit

Bust on the Alley of Heroes of Moscow Victory Park (St. Petersburg)

Heroes of Russia

Krikalev Sergei Konstantinovich

Sergei Konstantinovich Krikalev was born on August 27, 1958 in the city of Leningrad, USSR. Soviet and Russian cosmonaut, Earth record holder for the total time spent in space. Hero of the Soviet Union and Hero of Russia (one of 4 people awarded both titles).

In 1981 he graduated from the Leningrad Mechanical Institute, receiving the qualification of a mechanical engineer.

After graduating from the institute, he worked at NPO Energia. He tested equipment used in space flights, developed methods of working in space and participated in the work of ground control services. In 1985, when malfunctions arose at the Salyut-7 station, he worked in the recovery group, developing methods for docking with an uncontrolled station and repairing its on-board systems.

Krikalev S.K. was selected for training for space flights in 1985, completed the basic training course the following year and was temporarily assigned to the group for the Buran reusable spacecraft program.

Space training

He passed a medical examination at the Institute of Medical and Biological Problems (IMBP) and on June 7, 1983 received admission to special training. On September 2, 1985, by decision of the State Medical and Military Commission, he was selected into the cosmonaut corps of NPO Energia. From November 1985 to October 1986 he underwent general space training. On November 28, 1986, by decision of the International Commission for Space and Space Commission, he was awarded the qualification “test cosmonaut”.

From 1986 to March 1988, he underwent training under the Buran program as part of a group and in a conditional crew with Alexander Shchukin.

On March 22, 1988, he replaced A. Kaleri in the main crew of the Soyuz TM-7 spacecraft, who was removed from training for health reasons. Until November 11, 1988, he was trained as a flight engineer for the main crew of the Soyuz TM-7 spacecraft under the EO-4/Aragats program at the Mir space station, together with Alexander Volkov and Jean-Loup Chrétien (France). He was trained as the first tester of a cosmonaut's vehicle (SPK) and was preparing to work with the Kvant-2 module, but the flight program was changed.

First flight

From November 26, 1988 to April 27, 1989 as a flight engineer of the Soyuz TM-7 and Mir spacecraft under the 4th main expedition (EO-4) program and the Soviet-French Aragats program. Launched together with Alexander Volkov and Jean-Loup Chrétien (France), landed together with Alexander Volkov and Valery Polyakov). Call sign: “Donbas-2”.

The flight duration was 151 days 11 hours 08 minutes 24 seconds.

From June to November 17, 1990, he was trained as a flight engineer for the backup crew of the Soyuz TM-11 spacecraft under the EO-8 program (and under the Soviet-Japanese program) at the Mir space station, together with Anatoly Artsebarsky and R. Kikuchi (Japan ).

From December 5, 1990 to April 19, 1991, he was trained as a flight engineer for the main crew of the Soyuz TM-12 spacecraft under the EO-9 program (and the Soviet-British Juno program) at the Mir space station, together with Anatoly Artsebarsky and Helen Sharman (Great Britain).

Second flight

From May 18, 1991 to March 25, 1992 as a flight engineer on the Soyuz TM-12 spacecraft (launch), the Soyuz TM-13 spacecraft (landing), and the Mir spacecraft under the EO-9 program (9th main expedition) together with Anatoly Artsebarsky and EO-10 (10th main expedition) together with Alexander Volkov. The decision to extend Krikalev’s work on EO-10 was made already during his flight.

During the flight he made seven spacewalks. The flight duration was 311 days 20 hours 00 minutes 54 seconds. On September 29, 1992, he was selected for the first flight of a Russian cosmonaut on the American shuttle. From November 5, 1992 to January 1994, he underwent training at the Center named after. Johnson as a Mission Specialist for the crew of the shuttle Discovery under the STS-60 program. He received a certificate for working with the shuttle manipulator and was trained to fly the T-38 aircraft as a co-pilot.

Third flight

The flight duration was 8 days 7 hours 10 minutes 13 seconds.

From April 1994 to January 1995 he underwent training at the Center. L. Johnson as backup to V. Titov, assigned Flight-4 specialist to the crew of the shuttle Discovery under the STS-63 program. He was trained to work in an escape suit for the ISS assembly program. During the flight of STS-63, as well as flights of STS-71, STS-74 and STS-76, he was the head of the 1st advisory group of experts of the Moscow Mission Control Center in Houston, and helped to establish interaction between the Russian and American Mission Control Centers.

Since May 1995, he served as deputy director of the Mir flight. After the depressurization of the Spektr module, he was part of the emergency commission.

On January 30, 1996, he was appointed flight engineer of the main crew of the first expedition to the International space station(ISS-1). The start of the first expedition was originally scheduled for May 1998. Since October 1996, he was trained as a flight engineer for the main crew of ISS-1, together with Yu. Gidzenko and William Shepherd (USA).

Expedition flights to the ISS were delayed, and on July 30, 1998, by agreement between RSA and NASA, he was assigned to the crew of the shuttle Endeavor under the STS-88 program (the first station assembly flight, ISS-01-2A). In September - November 1998, he underwent training at the Center. Johnson as part of the STS-88 crew.

In 1981 he graduated from the Leningrad Mechanical Institute, receiving the qualification of a mechanical engineer.

Development Engineer

Krikalev was selected for space flight training in 1985, completed the basic training course the following year and was temporarily assigned to the group for the Buran reusable spacecraft program.

At the beginning of 1988, he began preparations for his first long-term flight to the Mir station. The training included preparation for spacewalks, dockings with new modules, the first tests of the installation for moving an astronaut, and work on the second Soviet-French scientific expedition.

Space flights

Soyuz TM-7 was launched on November 26, 1988, the crew consisted of commander Alexander Aleksandrovich Volkov, flight engineer Krikalev and French astronaut Jean-Loup Chrétien. The previous crew remained on the Mir station for another twenty-six days, thereby establishing the longest stay on the station by a six-person crew. After the previous crew returned to Earth, Krikalev, Polyakov and Volkov continued to perform experiments on board the station. Due to the fact that the arrival of the next crew was delayed, they prepared the station for an unmanned flight and returned to Earth on April 27, 1989. For this flight, Krikalev was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

In 1990, Krikalev was preparing for his second flight as a member of the backup crew for the eighth long-term expedition to the Mir station.

In December 1990, Krikalev began preparing to participate in the ninth expedition to the Mir station. Soyuz TM-12 was launched on May 19, 1991 with commander Anatoly Pavlovich Artsebarsky, flight engineer Krikalev and British astronaut Helen Sharman. A week later, Sharman returned to Earth with the previous crew, while Krikalev and Artsebarsky remained on Mir. Over the summer, they carried out six spacewalks, while conducting numerous scientific experiments, as well as station maintenance work.

According to the plan, Krikalev's return was supposed to take place after five months, but in July 1991 Krikalev agreed to remain on the Mir station as a flight engineer with another crew (who were supposed to arrive in October), since the next two flights were combined into one. On October 2, 1991, the flight engineer's seat on the Soyuz TM-13 spacecraft was filled by Toktar Aubakirov, an astronaut from Kazakhstan who was not prepared for a long flight. He and Franz Viebeck, Austria's first astronaut, returned to Earth with Artsebarsky on October 10, while commander Alexander Volkov remained with Krikalev. After changing the crew in October, Volkov and Krikalev continued experiments on Mir, performed another spacewalk and returned to Earth on March 25, 1992. This flight is interesting because the cosmonauts flew away from the USSR and returned to Russia - during their flight the Soviet Union ceased to exist. For this flight, Krikalev was awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation (star of the Hero of the Russian Federation No. 1).

During his first two flights, Krikalev spent more than a year and three months in space and made seven spacewalks.

In October 1992, NASA management announced that a Russian cosmonaut with space flight experience would fly on an American reusable spacecraft. Krikalev was one of two candidates sent by the Russian Space Agency to train with the STS-60 crew. In April 1993, he was announced as the leading candidate.

Krikalev took part in the flight STS-60 - the first joint American-Russian flight on a reusable spacecraft (the Discovery shuttle). The STS-60 flight, which began on February 3, 1994, was the second flight with the Spacehab (Space Habitation Module) module and the first flight with the WSF (Wake Shield Facility) device. Over the course of eight days, the Discovery crew performed many different scientific experiments in the field of materials science, both in the WSF device and in the Spacehab module, biological experiments and observations of the Earth's surface. Krikalev performed a significant part of the work with a remote manipulator. Having completed 130 orbits and flown 5,486,215 kilometers, on February 11, 1994, the Discovery spacecraft landed at the Kennedy Space Center (Florida). Thus, Krikalev became the first Russian cosmonaut to fly on the American shuttle.

After the STS-60 flight, Krikalev returned to his work in Russia. He made occasional trips to the Johnson Space Center in Houston to work in the Mission Control Center with Search and Rescue during joint US-Russian missions. In particular, he participated in ground support for flights STS-63, STS-71, STS-74, STS-76.

Krikalev was appointed to the first crew of the International Space Station and was the first to go on a short-term mission to the ISS on the shuttle Endeavor in December 1998.

In October 2000, as part of the first crew of a long-term expedition, Sergei Krikalev, together with Yuri Gidzenko and William Shepherd, began permanent manned flights to the ISS. On this flight, the astronauts welcomed the 21st century into orbit.

On October 11, 2005, Sergei Krikalev completed his sixth flight, returning to Earth from the ISS in the Soyuz TMA-6 lander after six months in orbit.

Working in airless space

Work at enterprises and institutions of the space industry

Since February 2007 - Vice President of RSC Energia for manned flights (while maintaining flight status in the cosmonaut corps). Subsequently - Deputy General designer.
March 27, 2009 - with a transfer to another job, he was relieved of his position as an instructor-test cosmonaut 1st class at RSC Energia named after. S.P. Koroleva.”
Since March 30, 2009 - Head of the Federal State Budgetary Institution “Research Testing Center for Cosmonaut Training named after. Yu. A. Gagarin."

Hobbies

Aerobatics, swimming, scuba diving, alpine skiing, windsurfing, tennis, amateur radio (Х75М1К). Candidate for Master of Sports in all-around. Master of Sports of the USSR in aerobatics. Participant in the USSR, European and world aerobatics championships. USSR champion in team competition (1986). European champion in team competition (1996). World champion in team competition (1997).

Amateur radio call sign - U5MIR.

Awards and titles

Hero of the Soviet Union (April 27, 1989)
Order of Lenin (1989)
Hero of the Russian Federation (April 11, 1992) - for courage and heroism shown during a long space flight at the Mir orbital station (Gold Star medal No. 1)
Order of Merit for the Fatherland, IV degree (April 5, 2002) - for courage and high professionalism shown during a long-term space flight on the International Space Station
Order of Honor (April 15, 1998) - for successful participation and achievement of high sports results in the First World Air Games
Order of Friendship of Peoples (March 25, 1992) - for the successful implementation of a space flight at the Mir orbital station and the courage and heroism shown during this
Medal “For Merit in Space Exploration” (April 12, 2011) - for great achievements in the field of research, development and use of outer space, many years of conscientious work, active social activities
Medal "In memory of the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg" (2005)
Officer of the Legion of Honor (France, 1989)
Honorary title “Pilot-Cosmonaut of the USSR” (1989)
Three NASA medals “For space flight” (1996, 1998, 2001)
NASA Medal for Distinguished Public Service (2003)
Honorable Sir St. Petersburg (2007)
Honored Master of Sports of Russia

Lifetime Honorary Member of the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain
Laureate of the National Award "Golden Eye of Russia"

Sergey Konstantinovich Krikalev(born August 27, 1958 in Leningrad, USSR) - Soviet and Russian aviation athlete and cosmonaut, from October 2005 to June 2015 - Earth record holder for total time spent in space (803 days over six launches - as of October 11, 2005 year; the new record belongs to Gennady Padalka). Hero of the Soviet Union and the first Hero of the Russian Federation (one of four people awarded both titles).

First Deputy Director of the Central Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering for manned programs (since March 2014). Full member (academician) Russian Academy Cosmonautics named after K. E. Tsiolkovsky (2011). Head of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Research Institute Cosmonaut Training Center named after Yu. A. Gagarin" (2009 - 2014). Candidate of Psychological Sciences (2008). World champion in glider aerobatics. President of the International Environmental Fund “Clean Seas” (from 2009 to present).

Biography

In 1981 he graduated from the Leningrad Mechanical Institute, receiving the qualification of a mechanical engineer.

Development Engineer

Krikalev was selected for space flight training in 1985, completed the basic training course the following year and was temporarily assigned to the group for the Buran reusable spacecraft program.

First flight

Soyuz TM-7 was launched on November 26, 1988, the crew consisted of commander Alexander Aleksandrovich Volkov, flight engineer Krikalev and French cosmonaut Jean-Loup Chrétien. The previous crew remained on the Mir station for another twenty-six days, thereby establishing the longest stay on the station by a six-person crew. After the previous crew returned to Earth, Krikalev, Polyakov and Volkov continued to perform experiments on board the station. Due to the fact that the arrival of the next crew was delayed, they prepared the station for an unmanned flight and returned to Earth on April 27, 1989. For this flight, Krikalev was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union (star No. 11595). The flight duration was 151 days. 11 hours 08 minutes 24 seconds.

In 1990, Krikalev was preparing for his second flight as a member of the backup crew for the eighth long-term expedition to the Mir station.

Second flight

In December 1990, Krikalev began preparing to participate in the ninth expedition to the Mir station. Soyuz TM-12 was launched on May 18, 1991 with commander Anatoly Pavlovich Artsebarsky, flight engineer Krikalev and British female cosmonaut Helen Sharman. A week later, Sharman returned to Earth with the previous crew, while Krikalev and Artsebarsky remained on Mir. Over the summer, they carried out six spacewalks, while conducting numerous scientific experiments, as well as station maintenance work.

According to the plan, Krikalev's return was supposed to take place after five months, but in July 1991 Krikalev agreed to remain on the Mir station as a flight engineer with another crew (who were supposed to arrive in October), since the next two flights were combined into one. On October 2, 1991, the flight engineer's seat on the Soyuz TM-13 spacecraft was filled by Toktar Aubakirov, an astronaut from Kazakhstan who was not prepared for a long flight. He and Franz Viebeck, Austria's first cosmonaut, returned to Earth with Artsebarsky on October 10, while commander Alexander Volkov remained with Krikalev. After changing the crew in October, Volkov and Krikalev continued experiments on Mir, performed another spacewalk and returned to Earth on March 25, 1992. This flight is interesting because the cosmonauts flew away from the USSR and returned to Russia - during their flight the Soviet Union ceased to exist. For this flight, Krikalev was awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation (star of the Hero of the Russian Federation No. 1). The flight duration was 311 days. 20 h 00 min 34 s.

Before his second flight in May 1991, Sergei Krikalev could not even think that events on Earth would make him a “cosmic centenarian.” On May 19, 1991, as part of the Soyuz TM-12 crew, he launched to the Mir orbital station. The crew of the space expedition successfully completed all flight missions and was about to return home. But the events of August 1991 made adjustments. The collapse of the Soviet Union led to a chain of changes that were destructive for our country. Budgets have been significantly reduced space programs, but obligations to other countries remained. According to the international cooperation program, cosmonauts from Austria and Kazakhstan were supposed to go into space. It was planned that they would be part of different crews. But at that moment there was no money to create two spaceships. It was decided to combine the flights, and one spacecraft went into orbit, in which there was not enough space for everyone to return to Earth.

Krikalev had to stay at the Mir orbital station until the arrival of the next spacecraft. Instead of the planned 5 months of work in space, he had to work in space orbit for almost another six months (about a year in total). In general, our famous cosmonaut remained in space because the rapidly disintegrating country could not provide the new Robinson with the opportunity to return. Krikalev started from the USSR, and returned in March 1992 to another country - Russia. For this flight, Hero of the Soviet Union S.K. Krikalev was the first cosmonaut to receive the title of Hero of Russia with the presentation of the Gold Star medal No. 1.

In October 1992, NASA management announced that a Russian cosmonaut with experience in space flights would fly on the American reusable spacecraft. Krikalev was one of two candidates sent by the Russian Space Agency to train with the STS-60 crew. Krikalev took part in flight STS-60, the first joint US-Russian flight on a reusable spacecraft (discovery shuttle). The STS-60 flight, which began on February 3, 1994, was the second with the Spacehab (Space Habitation Module) module and the first flight with the WSF (Wake Shield Facility) device.

After making 130 orbits and flying 5,486,215 kilometers, Discovery landed on February 11, 1994 at the Kennedy Space Center (Florida). Krikalev became the first Russian cosmonaut to fly on the American shuttle.

Sergei Krikalev working on the ISS, May 2005

While flying with an American spaceship an emergency occurred - the life support electronics and the air duct failed. Despite the objections of the American side and the proposal to wait for a backup ship from Earth, our cosmonaut managed to restore and restart the shuttle instruments. This caused delight and extreme surprise on both the American and Russian sides.

After the STS-60 flight, Krikalev returned to his work in Russia. He made periodic assignments to the Johnson Space Center in Houston to work in the Mission Control Center with Search and Rescue on joint U.S.-Russian missions. In particular, he participated in ground support for flights STS-63, STS-71, STS-74, STS-76.

Krikalev was appointed to the first crew of the International Space Station and was the first to fly on a short-term mission to the ISS on the shuttle Endeavor in December 1998.

Krikalev is known and admired all over the world (in some countries there are entire museum stands dedicated to our cosmonaut). American director Michael Bay made the film “Armageddon” in 1998, where the Russian cosmonaut Colonel Lev Andropov was shown in caricature form, living alone on a space station (mad, unshaven, drunk, in a hat with earflaps and a padded jacket, hitting the instruments, opens the fuel supply valve with a crowbar, blows up the Mir space station) - however, in the end it is he who, through his actions, saves all the American astronauts by hitting the computer of the “non-starting” shuttle with an adjustable wrench. It is not at all necessary that Krikalev was taken as the basis for the character, of course, but there are too many coincidences.

Today, Sergei Krikalev works as the first deputy general director of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise "Central Scientific Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering" for manned programs and is the most famous cosmonaut in the world, after Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin.