The guiding star is shining. Launched from Baikonur, Soyuz delivered to the ISS a crew with a Russian woman-cosmonaut 1 Russian woman who visited the International Space Station

On June 16, 1963, the Vostok-6 spacecraft was launched into Earth's orbit, piloted for the first time in the world by a woman, Valentina Tereshkova. About who else from the Soviet and Russian women flew into space - in our material.

The first in the world

52 years ago, Valentina Tereshkova went on a flight into space on the Vostok-6 spacecraft. She spent almost three days in orbit, completing 48 orbits around the Earth. An interesting detail - on the day of departure, she told her family that she was going to a parachutist competition, and they learned about the flight from the news.

Initially, it was planned to send two female crews into space at once, but then they decided to abandon this idea. In addition to Tereshkova, there were four more applicants for the flight. Despite the fact that she did not have the best performance in training, the then government decided to send Tereshkova into space. Later they did not regret this decision at all.

“Everyone who saw Tereshkova during the preparation of the launch and the launch of the spacecraft into orbit, who listened to her reports on the radio, unanimously declared that she had a better launch than Popovich and Nikolayev. Yes, I am very glad that I was not mistaken in choosing the first woman cosmonaut ", - said Lieutenant General Nikolai Kamanin, who was involved in the selection and training of cosmonauts.

Before the start Tereshkova said the phrase "Hey! Heaven, take off your hat!" ( This is a modified quote from Vladimir Mayakovsky's poem "A Cloud in Pants" - approx. ed.).

169 days in space

Elena Kondakova made two space flights. The first was in October 1994 on board the Soyuz TM-20 spacecraft. She returned to Earth in March 1995, setting the record for the longest flight among women - 169 days, 5 hours and 35 seconds. According to the results of the flight, Kondakova was awarded the title of hero Russian Federation for the displayed courage and heroism during the flight for the peaceful exploration of outer space.

The second flight of Kondakova took place in May 1997 onboard the American reusable spacecraft Atlantis under the program of the sixth orbital docking with the Mir station.

In an interview, Kondakova spoke about warm relations with Tereshkova. “I had a very warm human relationship with Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova. Almost immediately, as soon as I joined the cosmonaut corps. She, one might say, took care of me, shared her experience. to seem unimportant, and then they will make life much easier for you. She accompanied and met me on both flights. Valentina Vladimirovna was the first. She was and remains a symbol of our era - it was not without reason that she became the laureate of the Legend of the Century international prize, "she said.

First in outer space

Svetlana Savitskaya, like Kondakova, flew into space twice. The first mission lasted from August 19 to August 27, 1982 as a research cosmonaut aboard the Soyuz T 7 spacecraft and the Salyut 7 orbital station. And its second space flight took place from July 17 to July 29, 1984 as a flight engineer of the Soyuz T 12 spacecraft and the Salyut 7 orbital station together with Vladimir Dzhanibekov and Igor Volk.

On July 25, 1984, for the first time in the world, a woman-cosmonaut Savitskaya made an exit to open space after being outside the spacecraft for 3 hours and 35 minutes.

“This was the main, key element of my second flight. In fact, in order to ensure the priority of our country in this important section of space activities, so that the first Soviet woman went into outer space, "she said.

According to Savitskaya, the idea to go into outer space came to her after her first flight into orbit in 1982. “I saw the spacesuit, I saw the compartment, I understood that this could be done. And given that the Americans began to fly on Shuttles and in a year and a half were going to include a woman in the crew, I, of course, understood that any normal leader space program in America, of course, I would have decided this "cell" unoccupied, such a milestone achievement, would have been included in my program, "she said.

The first Russian woman on the ISS

Elena Serova is the fourth woman in Russian cosmonautics in Earth orbit and the first Russian woman on the ISS. It took Elena about eight years to make her dream come true - in December 2006 she was enrolled in the cosmonaut corps of RSC Energia as a candidate for test cosmonauts.

In September last year, Elena started as a flight engineer of the Soyuz TMA-14M manned spacecraft. On March 12, 2015, the Soyuz TMA-14M crew returned safely from the expedition. The Russian woman spent 169 days on the ISS.

On Thursday, August 30, at one of the modules of the International space station(ISS) an emergency occurred, which led to serious disagreements between the members of the 56th expedition. An air leak was detected at the station.

The press service of Roscosmos said: “The crew of the station examined all the modules and identified a microcrack in the living compartment of the Soyuz MS-09 manned transport spacecraft and, with the help of a repair kit, is carrying out work to eliminate the problem.”

Soyuz MS-09 is docked to the ISS. Three members of the expedition are to return to Earth on it. Of course, the depressurization of the ship is a serious problem.

There are currently six people in orbit: Expedition Commander Andrew Fustel (USA), his compatriots Richard Arnold and Serena Aunyon, Russians Oleg Artemiev and Sergei Prokopyev, and German cosmonaut Alexander Gerst.

Air leaks on the ISS began to appear at about 12.30 Kiev time. At first, the crew members decided that the depressurization had occurred in one of the ISS modules. It turned out that the sensors recorded the leak at about 02.00, but the flight controllers on Earth did not attach any importance to this, since the air pressure was decreasing at an insignificant rate.

Around 14.00 new Head of Roscosmos Dmitry Rogozin officially confirmed: “We had an emergency situation on the ISS tonight, an air leak, a drop in pressure. Steps have been taken to determine where the leak is coming from. It turns out that all this is on the Russian segment, not on the American, and not even on the segment, but on the Soyuz MS spacecraft.

Rogozin, referring to the opinion of Russian experts, put forward a version according to which the leak was caused by a crack as a result of a micrometeorite hitting the ship. He noted that a special commission will be created to investigate the incident.

The head of Roscosmos assured that nothing threatens the life and health of the ISS crew, and the Soyuz spacecraft "Likely to be retained as a result of the use of a repair kit to contain this leak."

NASA also made an official statement in which the Americans confirmed that the air leak does not pose a danger to the crew of the orbital station.

At about 4 pm Artemyev and Prokopiev, during negotiations with the Mission Control Center (MCC), received an order to go to the Soyuz with a video endoscope to determine the parameters of a microcrack. After some time, they sent photographic and video materials taken on board the ship to Earth. MCC allowed them "Go for a snack".

Interfax, referring to its source in Roskosmos, claims that the Russian cosmonauts found two holes 2 mm in size in the Soyuz household compartment and sealed them with Kapton tape. They received the appropriate instructions from the MCC on duty. At the same time, he asked to do the job "Without fanaticism and very carefully." Less than an hour later, NASA announced that the air pressure drop at the station had resumed.

And again Interfax, but with reference to its source at NASA, reported: “Adhesive tape is not enough to completely block micro-cracks. The pressure began to decrease again at a rate of 0.6 mm Hg per hour. The cosmonauts compensate for the pressure loss by pressurizing air by 10 mm Hg from the tanks of the Progress cargo spacecraft docked to the ISS.

The renewed leak has led to a disagreement between NASA astronauts and Russian cosmonauts. The source said: “Expedition commander Andrew Fustel insists that the Russian side's proposed patching scheme requires more detailed consideration. He suggests waiting 24 hours to explore all possible repairs. "

During talks between the Mission Control Center in Houston and Fustel, he confirmed that the equipment continues to record air leaks. Andrew also said that Artemyev and Prokopiev insist on the same repair scheme - using adhesive tape.

The commander of the expedition refused to participate in such repairs and forbade Arnold and Aunyon to do so. Fustel insisted on waiting until Roscosmos and NASA agree on a common action plan. Nevertheless, "The Russian cosmonauts decided to obey the order from the Mission Control Center in Korolev and to patch themselves." This was reported by Interfax.

On the evening of August 30, the Russian MCC decided to suspend the repair work and continue it the next day, RIA Novosti reports.

"Sergey, leave everything as it is, and tomorrow we will give further recommendations."- said the employee of the MCC to Prokopyev. It was decided to close the hatch between the Soyuz and the ISS for the night.

An Interfax source said that Russian cosmonauts injected a sealant into the crack, which will harden for 10-12 hours. “The flow is stopped, the pressure has ceased to drop. However, the sealant is bubbling. This phenomenon does not cause concern and is within the normal range, ”the source said.

The BBC Russian Service asked for comments to Russian cosmonaut Maxim Suraev... He believes that the formation of a microcrack on a ship is an extraordinary event.

“I don’t know how serious everything is there, how much pressure is dropping or not dropping. But again, there is a complete set of tools, and this is taught on the ground, how to find this crack, how to patch it up, there are specially designed adhesives, instructions, special equipment. That is, nothing criminal, but this is a rare case ",- said Suraev.

In his opinion, the bad thing about this story is that "Lost percentage nitrogen "... According to Maxim, oxygen can be replenished without any problems from the stocks that are regularly delivered to the ISS by cargo ships. In addition, the station has a special installation that decomposes water into hydrogen and oxygen. But nitrogen will need to be delivered to orbit if necessary.

When this "RG" number was signed for publication, the Soyuz TMA-14M manned spacecraft was already "under steam" at the Baikonur cosmodrome. The time was counting down: start - at 00.25 Moscow time.

On board - an international crew, two Russians and an American. But the most important thing: in the same team with Alexander Samokutyaev and Barry Wilmore, flight engineer Elena Serova flies to work in zero gravity. After a 17-year hiatus, a Russian woman finally flies into space!

An excellent professional, clever - her male colleagues speak about her. And they add: and also a beauty. Elena is not just the fourth woman-cosmonaut in the country who will share with them all the hardships of a complex, albeit literally stellar life. It is she who will become the first Russian woman to cross the threshold of the ISS and register at the station for 170 days.

On the eve of the start, Elena Serova gave an exclusive interview to the "RG" correspondent.

Elena, Russians have not flown into orbit for the last seventeen years. Is it true that Svetlana Savitskaya, the first woman-cosmonaut to walk into outer space, told you: "Hold on, they can put a spoke in the wheels to the last!"?

Elena Serova: Yes it's true. Svetlana Evgenievna told me to "hold on to the last." And I am very grateful to her for the moral support.

Have you met with Valentina Tereshkova? What is her parting word?

Elena Serova: Valentina Vladimirovna came to see off our crew at the Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City. She wished us a successful start, good work at the station and an easy landing.

Do you have a "personal" callsign? Or is it the same as for the entire crew?

Elena Serova: Yes, I have my own callsign. But our crew has the call sign of the commander "Tarkhany", and I will work with the call sign "Tarkhany-2". This is the law.

What is the most interesting for you in the flight program?

Elena Serova: Everything is insanely interesting to me. The crew has a large scientific program- 59 experiments. It is difficult to highlight anything. For example, there are very important studies to study the effect of microgravity on the human body. Their results will be extremely useful when planning missions to other planets.

We will monitor the dynamics of the radiation situation along the flight path and in the station compartments. In particular, the accumulation of dose in the spherical and anthropomorphic phantoms, which are located inside and outside the station. In general, I'm not afraid to say that there are just unique biotechnological and geophysical experiments ahead.

Will you keep your blog or diary in orbit?

Elena Serova: Necessarily. Both.

Are any special elements developed psychological support for a female astronaut?

Elena Serova: There is no such profession - a woman astronaut. There is a profession of a test cosmonaut. The selection of astronauts is very tough. Certain abilities must be built in so that we can fulfill the flight program efficiently. And the floor has nothing to do with it.

And the "elements of psychological support" are the same for all crew members. These are regular video conferences with loved ones, communication with friends and family via IP-telephony. This is watching your favorite films on board and reading interesting books in your free time. For example, I really love Russian science fiction.

Are you planning a lesson from space for schoolchildren?

Elena Serova: There will be several sessions of radio amateur communication with schoolchildren. This is a great opportunity for the children to learn more about the work and life of astronauts on board the station, ask questions and get comprehensive answers. In addition, educational films will be made as part of the Great Beginning project. Our crew will tell you about the purpose of some experiments and demonstrate how they are implemented in zero gravity conditions.

Will you have a spacewalk?

Elena Serova: No. The flight program does not provide for such an opportunity for me.

I know that an astronaut can take 1 kg of "personal" cargo with him to the station. What have you taken?

Elena Serova: I seem to have even less. I took mostly photographs, various notes, gifts for other astronauts.

You have been preparing for this flight for eight years, practicing. Is it very difficult to wait for your finest hour?

Elena Serova: Yes, indeed, many years have passed since the beginning of training in the cosmonaut corps. But when you work, putting all your strength and soul into your work, time flies very quickly.

Some astronauts say that the hardest part of space training is survival training. Others - fighting sleep in the isolation chamber and changing into a spacesuit in the descent capsule when it seems impossible to move ... And what was the most difficult for you?

Elena Serova: I always say this: any job cannot be easy. To achieve the best result, you must constantly work on yourself, overcome yourself. This is the most difficult test.

You have two degrees: an engineer and an economist. And now you are an astronaut. What attracts you the most in your work? An engineering start? Mathematical clarity? An opportunity to test your endurance in extreme conditions?

Elena Serova: The ability to realize in oneself the intellectual and physical component one hundred percent. I enjoy my work immensely. The cosmonaut's profession involves working with complex and specialized equipment. You need to be able to quickly and competently analyze any situation to solve the most difficult problems. You need to keep in mind a huge amount of information. But I know that this is very important information, so it is easy to digest.

We had a desert survival program. I have gained invaluable experience of survival in almost any extreme conditions. Now, for example, I know that in the desert you can get water even from a camel thorn.

More than 50 American women and only three Russians have visited orbit. You will be the fourth. Are you worried? Are you proud?

Elena Serova: The fact is that there was not a single Russian woman on board the ISS. And I am very grateful to God that I will live and work aboard the International Space Station.

Is space flight the pinnacle of an astronaut's career?

Elena Serova: The pinnacle of any career is retirement. And for an astronaut, as for any pilot in love with the sky, it is very important to fly as long and often as possible.

They say that space couturiers have made very beautiful space clothes for you. Tell us what is included in your "star" wardrobe.

Elena Serova: Yes, indeed, the Falcon spacesuit, which is always sewn individually for each cosmonaut, is simply perfect. I personally tested it for two hours in a pressure chamber and did not feel any discomfort. According to the current regulations, this procedure is performed by each cosmonaut. Perhaps this is the most stylish "suit" of my star wardrobe.

You have long hair. How will you take care of them at the station, where there is not only a shower, but also "free" water?

Elena Serova: So are my American astronaut colleagues. They even made a five-minute training film that clearly shows how to perform this procedure for long hair quickly and efficiently.

Do you think a woman will enter the first crew to fly to Mars?

Elena Serova: There is a great saying: man proposes, but God disposes. Wait and see.

What are they talking about in the space kitchen?

Crew of the Soyuz TMA-14M spacecraft after trying on spacesuits: everything is fine! And the mood too. Photo: RIA Novosti www.ria.ru.

Elena, your husband is also an astronaut. In a space family, what is more talk about in the evenings in the kitchen? About new ships, about a child's marks, about rent? ..

Elena Serova: Yes, a little about everything. Don't think that we are having any special conversations. We discuss the past working day, plan weekends, pay utility bills, etc. We live, work, solve everyday problems. Everything is like everyone else.

Admit it, have you dreamed of flying into space with your husband?

Elena Serova: A very good idea, but space flight is not a pleasure trip. Astronauts literally risk their lives every day. Working in space is a daily hard work, a huge responsibility.

Your daughter, who is also named Lena, is eleven years old. What did she tell you before the flight?

Elena Serova: She is a very wise girl for her age, with a great sense of humor. And she told me the same thing that she says from an early age: "Mommy, I love you very, very much!"

Are you a strict mom? Do you have any kind of parenting program for your daughter? Or - how will it go?

Elena Serova: I believe that you cannot control a child. You need to be friends with him and talk, support him in difficult times. Often, the parents' own selfishness does not allow understanding elementary things: the child needs to be able to hear, consider the potential in him and help to reveal him.

What are your hobbies in your free time?

Elena Serova: I have very little free time. I like to read popular science literature, for example the magazine "Science and Life". Watch various popular science documentaries... I am fond of astronomy, history, archeology. In general, I love everything that is cognitive and new. The world does not stand still, science is moving forward, making more and more new discoveries. And it is interesting for me every time to discover the world in which I live, to learn more about the history of the Earth. He who knows his past knows his future.

direct speech

Oleg Ostapenko, head of Roscosmos:

There is no division into male and female astronautics. There is simply manned astronautics. Maybe some subjective element played a role here. I don't see any problem. There are enough capable girls in Russia. The doors to the cosmonaut corps are open. Welcome!

Who flew

They say that at one time the Americans voluntarily ceded the palm in women's astronautics to us. Back in 1960, distinguished female pilot Jerry Cobb was the first to pass the initial space test barrier, but in July 1961, NASA closed the women's flight training program.

But now the American women are flying with might and main: more than fifty astronauts worked in orbit.

But over the past more than half a century, only three women have visited space. But, of course, what!

Valentina Tereshkova became the world's first woman astronaut. She made her space flight on June 16, 1963 on the Vostok-6 spacecraft. It lasted almost three days. During the start, Valentina said famous phrase: "Hey sky! Take off your hat!"

Svetlana Savitskaya welded and soldered in open space. Photo: RIA Novosti www.ria.ru.

Svetlana Savitskaya was the first of the women twice, in 1982 and 1984, to work in orbit. She is the first in the world of the fair sex, who went into outer space. Savitskaya, together with cosmonaut Vladimir Dzhanibekov, carried out the first works on cutting, welding and brazing outside the station, which are of great applied importance for the development of astronautics.

Elena Kondakova became the first star "long-liver" .. Photo: RIA Novosti www.ria.ru.

Elena Kondakova flew twice, in 1994 and 1997: she spent 178 days in zero gravity and became the first stellar "long-liver". And the second time she flew as a specialist on the American ship Atlantis.

Elena Serova joined the cosmonaut corps in 2006. Before her, Nadezhda Kuzhelnaya had been preparing for the flight for ten years, but she was forced to say goodbye to space, and did not work in orbit.

And in total in the country to space flight 16 women were trained. On a par with men, no indulgences. As, however, and now.

Among the current candidates for astronauts there is also one girl - Anna Kikina.

The malfunction was corrected after docking

Participants and organizers of the next expedition to the International Space Station (ISS) breathed a sigh of relief - the manned transport ship Soyuz TMA-14M with an unopened solar battery, launched from Baikonur six hours ago, docked to the ISS automatically, a representative of the Roscosmos agency said.

The participants and organizers of the next expedition to the International Space Station (ISS) breathed a sigh of relief - the manned transport Soyuz TMA-14M, which launched from Baikonur six hours ago, docked to the ISS automatically, a representative of the Roscosmos agency said.

The cosmonauts who arrived at the ISS opened the transfer hatches and "sailed" to the station, a representative of the Mission Control Center (MCC) said later. "The new arrivals were warmly greeted by the crew on the ISS. At the moment, the new arrivals pass along the so-called emergency route. It is customary that the new owners of the ISS must first carefully study the so-called emergency exit route," the MCC said.

Earlier, a representative of the MCC told reporters that one of the solar panels for some reason was not disclosed.

“Fortunately, there was no need for the cosmonauts to intervene in the Kurs rendezvous and docking system.

As it became known later, the jammed solar battery on the Soyuz TMA-14M manned spacecraft, which delivered a new crew to the ISS, opened after successful docking to the station. "Two minutes ago, at 6.50, the battery opened," Oleg Ostapenko, head of Roscosmos, told reporters.

The Soyuz TMA-14M manned spacecraft with an unopened solar battery, launched from Baikonur six hours ago, docked to the International Space Station (ISS) in automatic mode. Earlier, a representative of the Mission Control Center told RIA Novosti that one of the solar panels was not revealed for some reason.

Recall that for the first time after a seventeen-year hiatus it flies into orbit. Elena Serova's company in the Soyuz capsule is made up of Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Samokutyaev and NASA astronaut Barry Wilmore.

The Russian manned spacecraft Soyuz TMA-14M took off from the Baikonur cosmodrome, entered the calculated orbit and docked automatically to the International Space Station. For the first time in the past 20 years, the new expedition includes a female cosmonaut from Russia. Elena Serova will take part in the research and experimentation program on board the station.

The Soyuz TMA-14M spacecraft with the 41/42 international crew on board on the night of September 26, took off from the Baikonur cosmodrome. It is planned that the Russians Alexander Samokutyaev and Elena Serova, as well as the American Barry Wilmore, will spend 169 days on board the orbital station.

The crew was informed about the onset of weightlessness by the mascot of the ship: the plush Olympic hare is a kind of indicator of weightlessness. Its crew was presented by the daughter of Elena Serova.

The representative of Roscosmos said that after entering orbit, all crew members feel good. After a six-hour flight, the spacecraft docked to the ISS in automatic mode, despite the fact that one of the two solar panels did not open.

On board the astronauts of Expedition 41/42 were met by Maxim Suraev, Gregory Weisman and Alexander Gerst. The arriving crew will have to carry out an extensive program of research and experimentation. Samokutyaev together with Maxim Suraev will go into outer space.

Russian woman astronautElena Serova

This crew differs in that it includes Russian Elena Serova. She became the first Russian woman after a 20-year hiatus to go on a space flight.

Before the start, she promised that she would regularly call her husband -