Summary
Anna Yuryevna Kikina (Russian: Анна Юрьевна Кикина; born 27 August 1984) is a Russian engineer and cosmonaut, selected in 2012.[1] She is the only female cosmonaut currently in active service at Roscosmos.[2] In June 2020, fellow cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko said that Kikina was expected to fly on a fall 2022 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) and perform a spacewalk during the mission.[3] In September 2021, RIA Novosti reported that Kikina had been assigned to the Soyuz MS-22 mission, set to launch on 21 September 2022, for a 188-day mission.[4]
Anna Kikina | |
|---|---|
| Анна Кикина | |
 Kikina in 2021 | |
| Born | 27 August 1984 Novosibirsk, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
| Status | Active |
| Nationality | Russian |
| Occupation | Cosmonaut |
| Awards | Hero of the Russian Federation |
| Space career | |
| Roscosmos cosmonaut | |
Current occupation | Engineer |
Time in space | 157 days, 10 hours and 1 minute |
| Selection | TsPK-16 Cosmonaut Group |
| Missions | SpaceX Crew-5 (Expedition 68) Soyuz MS-29 |
Mission insignia |   |
SpaceX Crew-5 edit
In December 2021, Roscosmos Director General Dmitry Rogozin announced she would fly on an "American commercial spacecraft" in September 2022, while a NASA astronaut would take her seat on Soyuz making her the first Russian cosmonaut to fly a Crew Dragon and the first Roscosmos cosmonaut to fly aboard a U.S. spacecraft since 2002.[5] In October 2022, the commercial flight launched as the SpaceX Crew-5 Crew Dragon.[6]
On 11 March 2023, the SpaceX Crew-5 returned to Earth after 157 days.[7] The flight lasted about 19 hours, and their capsule landed in the Gulf of Mexico.[8]
Education edit
Kikina graduated with honors from the Novosibirsk State Academy of Water Transportation Engineering.[9] She also earned her degree in economics and management.[10]
Personal life edit
Kikina was born in Novosibirsk. She worked as a tour guide in Altai region, as well as a swimming and paratrooper instructor.[10] She also worked as radio host for Radio Siberia.[11]
In spring 2021, toy manufacturer Mattel released a Barbie astronaut doll in Kikina’s image.[10]
Kikina is married to Alexander Serdyuk, a physical training instructor at the Cosmonaut Training Center.
References edit
- ^ "Russia's 2nd Post-Soviet Female Cosmonaut in Line for Space Station Mission". themoscowtimes.com. 3 September 2014.
- ^ "Russia's only woman cosmonaut inspires one-of-a-kind Barbie doll". collectSPACE. 16 March 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
- ^ "Россиянка-космонавт может полететь в космос через два года (English translation: "Russian cosmonaut can fly into space in two years")". Gazeta. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- ^ "Кикина может побить рекорд пребывания россиянок в космосе" [Kikina can break the record for Russian women in space] (in Russian). RIA Novosti. 26 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
- ^ "Roscosmos: Anna Kikina may be Russia's first cosmonaut on U.S. Crew Dragon in 2022". TASS. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
- ^ "Распоряжение Правительства Российской Федерации от 10.06.2022 № 1532-р ∙ Официальное опубликование правовых актов ∙ Официальный интернет-портал правовой информации". publication.pravo.gov.ru. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
- ^ "NASA's SpaceX Crew-5 Mission". blogs.nasa.gov. 11 March 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
- ^ "Four astronauts fly SpaceX back home to end 5-month mission". The Associated Press. 11 March 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
- ^ "Cosmonaut Biography: Anna Kikina". Spacefacts. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
- ^ a b c Beyond, Russia (4 October 2022). "Meet Anna Kikina - the ONLY Russian woman cosmonaut currently in active service (PHOTOS)". Russia Beyond. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
- ^ Ryabikova, Victoria (9 July 2020). "For the first time in eight years, a Russian woman will fly to the ISS. Who is she?". Russia Beyond. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
